Peter was a fisherman called by Jesus to be one of his disciples. He witnessed many of Jesus' miracles and teachings. Peter was one of the three disciples closest to Jesus, along with James and John. However, Peter also made mistakes, such as denying Jesus three times after his arrest. After Jesus' resurrection and ascension, Peter became a leader among the early Christians and helped spread the gospel message.

1. Laindon Bible Class
15th February 2017

2. Our series on Simon Peter
1. His background and calling
2. During Jesus’ ministry
3. Denials and conversion
4. After Jesus’ ascension
Peter 2

3. The story so far…
• The calling of two brothers Andrew and Simon, fishermen, sons of
Jonah, living near Capernaum in Bethsaida
• The threefold calling of Simon (married, about 30 years old)
• The massive catch of fish that broke their nets and filled the ships
• The changing of his name to Peter (a rock)
• Jesus’ continuing use of his original name Simon (from Simeon, God
has heard)
• Peter’s return to fishing after the death and resurrection of Jesus
and the second massive catch of fish that did not break the nets
Peter 3

4. The main events during Jesus’ ministry
[excluding Peter’s denial]
• One of the three: Peter, James and John
• Peter walks on the water to meet Jesus but starts to sink
• Testifies to Jesus as the Christ
• Rebukes Jesus for saying he would die and then rise again
• Witnesses the transfiguration of Jesus
• Asks Jesus how often he should forgive his brother
• Peter’s reaction when Jesus washes his disciple’s feet
• Sleeps with the others in the Garden of Gethsemane
• Cuts off the ear of the High Priest’s servant
• Peter runs to Jesus’ tomb
Peter 4

5. Peter, James and John
• John mentioned especially (eg John 19:26)
• Jesus visits Peter’s house and heals his mother-in-law (Matthew
8:14-15)
• Amongst the first four disciples mentioned in lists (eg Matthew
10:2)
• Were taken separately by Jesus on three occasions:
• At the healing of Jairus’s daughter
• Witnessing the transfiguration
• In the Garden of Gethsemane
• Questioning Jesus on the Mount of Olives, includes Andrew as well
(Mark 13:3)
Peter 5

6. Peter walks on the water to meet Jesus
• Recorded in two gospels (Matthew 14:25-33 & John 6:17-21)
• Asked Jesus “bid me come unto thee on the water”
• “…when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning
to sink”
• “…he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”
• “…immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and
said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
• Think of the event from Jesus’ point of view…
Peter 6
Lessons for us: Our faith must be founded on Jesus and when it fails we must look to him

7. Testifies to Jesus as the Christ
• Also recorded in two gospels (Matthew 16:13-17 & John 6:66-69)
• “But whom say ye that I am?”
• “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”
• “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
• “Will ye also go away?”
• “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the
living God.”
Peter 7
Lessons for us: Our conviction concerning Jesus is the foundation of our belief and pleases God

8. Rebukes Jesus…
• Recorded in two gospels (Matthew 16:21-25 & Mark 8:31-35)
• “Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.”
• “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou
savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
• “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose
it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Peter 8
Lessons for us: Our service to God will not be without pain and suffering, which we must accept

9. Witnesses the transfiguration of Jesus
• Recorded in three gospels (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-10 & Luke
9:28-36)
• “Lord it is good for us to be here”
• “For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.”
• “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
• “Arise and be not afraid”
Peter 9
Lessons for us: When we contemplate God’s glory we will feel afraid but in it we put our trust

10. How often should he forgive his brother?
• Recorded in (Matthew 18:21-22 & Luke 17:3-4)
• “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
till seven times?”
• “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but,
Until seventy times seven.”
• Parable of the unmerciful servant
Peter 10
Lessons for us: We cannot expect from God what we do not put into practice ourselves

11. Jesus washes his disciples feet
• Recorded in John’s gospel (13:3-15)
• “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.”
• “Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”
• “Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and
my head.”
• “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet,
but is clean every whit”
Peter 11
Lessons for us: If we submit ourselves to God through Christ we should not doubt his capacity to save

12. In the Garden of Gethsemane
• Recorded in three gospels (Matthew 26:37-46, Mark 14:33-42 & Luke
22:40-46)
• “And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to
be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”
• “And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith
unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray,
that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh
is weak.”
• “Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and
take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand”
Peter 12
Lessons for us: We must watch and then sleep in Christ, awaiting his return

13. Peter cuts off the servant’s ear
• Recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 26:51-54, Mark 14:47-49,
Luke 22:50-51 & John 18:10-11)
• “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high
priest's servant, and cut off his right ear.”
• “Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the
cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”
• “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall
presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”
Peter 13
Lessons for us: We must submit to Our Father’s will and accept our trials

14. Peter runs to the tomb
• Recorded in two gospels (Luke 24:10-12 & John 20:1-10)
• “Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to
the sepulchre. So they ran both together…”
• “…stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves”
• “…departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.”
Peter 14
Lessons for us: We must look for the signs of Christ’s coming and ponder them as we wait

15. Some conclusions…
• We are not convinced that Peter was impulsive but rather a man of
great heart
• His aspiration was not always matched by his achievement
• He loved much but he also was fearful in adversity
• We shall see in this series, God willing, that he was shaped by his
experiences and became a man of great faith
• We too should learn from our experiences and our trials
Peter 15