What can we Learn from the Life and Ministry of Apostle Peter?

BQ NO. 33 - WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF APOSTLE PETER?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

Apostle Peter was one of the key disciples of Jesus. He was called into ministry along with his brother Andrew (Matthew 4:18). Peter was a fisherman by family training and occupation and is believed to have been from a humble family. He was not given to novelty compared to, say, Mark or John.

Peter is believed to have authored the two epistles by his name and was the head of the Jerusalem church that was predominantly Jewish. He headed an apostolic council consisting of James the brother of the Lord and John. James [not to confused with Apostle James] was the writer of the Epistle of James. Apostle James was martyred by Herod during the great persecution that led to the dispersal of the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:2). He could therefore not have written the epistle of James.

John is the author of the 4th Gospel as well as the three letters of John. He finally received and wrote the Revelation of Jesus on the Island of Patmos to which he had been exiled by Roman authorities. 

Tradition has it that John died at a ripe old age, being the last living apostle. 

Now back to Peter. 

Despite his denial of Jesus Peter was assigned leadership of the Jerusalem church. He was a courageous man but often acted involuntarily and hastily (John 18:10). 

Jesus indicated to him that he will lead the church but will also be martyred for his faith.

Peter was a member of the inner circle of Jesus' disciples, indicating that he was perhaps a trusted steward who kept secrets (Mark 5:3; Luke 8:51).

Peter also witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, an exclusive event by which Jesus authenticated His Messianic ministry with the aid of two witnesses; Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17).

Peter is perhaps most remembered for his denial of Jesus ahead of the latter's crucifixion. We should however remember that inspite of his weakness ahead of Calvary, Peter delivered one of the most powerful sermons ever recorded in the Bible leading to a harvest of 3,000 souls (Acts 2:14-42).

The post-Pentecost Peter was therefore far more courageous, full of the Holy Spirit. Peter was later arrested and locked up by the Roman authorities under the connivance of the infuential Jewish religious leaders.

He was dramatically rescued by an angel of God and reunited with the Jerusalem brethren who were earnestly praying for him (Acts 12:1-18).

Peter later heals a crippled man at the Temple (Acts 3:6)..

Unlike Apostle Paul, Peter was married and his wife travelled with him during his missionary journeys (1Cor.9:5). Little is however known about his family.

During his visit to Antioch, Peter was sharply rebuked by Paul when he shied away from mingling with Gentile believers after the brethren sent by James arrived.

This was in total contradiction to the revelation by Christ during the vision recorded in Acts 10. Little is reported on Peter in Paul's letters. It is however evident that Paul spent fifteen days with Peter before commencing his missionary work (Gal. 1:18).

Was Peter the first pope as claimed by Roman Catholics? The Bible does not affirm this claim. Although Jesus alluded to Peter's pastoral responsibility when He commanded him to shepherd the flock, some consider this directive as a representative instruction on the apostolic authority and oversight responsibility for the Church and that Peter was simply receiving the instructions on behalf of the other apostles.

It is difficult to conclude with certainty that the shepherding duty was exclusive to Peter. Paul was also called by Christ to oversee the Gentile ministry which incidentally covered a far larger geographical territory than Peter's ministry that was apparently restricted to the Jerusalem Church.

Peter perhaps needed the assurance from Christ to show that Jesus had indeed forgiven him for denying Him. 

What an amazing truth to know that our Master does not treat us as our sins deserve! (Psalm 103:10-11). God does not treat us as our sins deserve. 

Is it not amazing that Jesus was justified to reject Peter for denying Him but He stuck with him! God graciously spoke well of David despite his many sins (Acts 13:22).

What a privilege indeed that God is willing to use us as we are, sinful, weak, often fearful, resentful as Jonah was (Jonah 4:11) yet He still calls us His servants, His saints; His stewards!

This is not a celebration of sinfulness or disobedience but a sincere  acknowledgent of our fallibility by which we daily fail God's perfect standards even as we earnest seek to serve Him!

We serve under God's grace and none of us deserves to stand in His Presence.

So was Peter the first pope and did his apostolic authority flow continously through the papal order of the Roman Catholic Church?

The claim to papal continuity since Peter cannot be proved from Scripture or even by reading through church history.

This is not to suggest that Peter was less significant. We need to debunk the unbiblical myths surrounding the apostolic stature of Peter.

So what do we learn from the life and ministry of Apostle Peter? I have four key moral lessons.

1) God is not a respector of persons. He says that He will have mercy and compassion on whom He wills (Exodus 33:19; Romans 9:15). 

Peter represents the commoner called to royalty; the uneducated and unskilled in the religious circles whom God calls to ministry.

Scripture teaches that God has called the lowly or foolish of this world to confound the things which are mighty (1 Cor. 1:27-28).

Someone said that God does not call the qualified but qualifies those He calls.

2) Peter exemplifies the raw, imperfect, incomplete man or what some may call God's "work in progress". This is basically what we are before a perfect and holy God.

Romans 8:28-30 reveals that God uses the process of sanctification of saints to refine us so that we are ultimately conformed to the likeness of His dear Son. We can never attain spiritual perfection under the sun but we are confident that God will ultimatly accomplish His divine purposes in us and through us for His glory.

The claim to papal infallibility by Roman Catholics is therefore unbiblical.

3) God seeks trustworthy men and women to whom He assign the secrets and mysteries of His Kingdom (Matthew 13:11; Luke 8:10; 1Cor.13:2, 14:2).  Paul instructed Timothy to commit the gospel message into the hands of faithful men who will teach others (2Tim.2:2).

Peter was among the three disciples that Jesus confided in. The Bible teaches that ministers are stewards of God's grace on whom God counts to discharge faithful ministry work (1Cor.4:1-2).

Can you and I be trusted with the things of God and shall we be found faithful by our Master?

Bible scholars say that Peter was martyred for his faith. The statement by Jesus in John 21:16-17 has traditionally been accepted as indicative of the ultimate sacrifice that Peter would pay. 

We may not all suffer martydom but each of us has an opportunity to make personal sacrifices for the kingdom of God. These may come as opportunity costs at our disposal or even the investment of our time, skills and talents.

Jesus taught that our obedience will come at the cost of self denial and sacrifices. This is what the cross symbolizes (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34, 10:21; Luke 9:23).

Are we willing to walk the extra mile to the glory of God?

4) Peter struggled with religious legalism and racial prejudice even after Pentecost. He continued to see ministry through narrow racial prejudices. It had not dawned on him that Gentiles were entitled to the grace of God in Christ in the same way that Jews were. God taught him a hard lesson through the vision in Acts 10:8-15.

At one time, Peter shied away from identifying with Gentile believers in Antioch and Paul sharply rebuked him for his hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-21).

Religious legalism and ethnic or race discrimination are some of the leading vices that negatively impact on church ministry today. Some Christian leaders are unable to break from its shackles.  

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021