What Would Peter Do?

Peter is such an overlooked character in the bible.

We tend to focus on Paul more often then not as he wrote many of the books in the New Testament. Not only that, his miraculous conversion resonates freshly in our minds.

However, by taking a look at a few biblical events involving Peter, we can learn not only a lot about him, but also a lot about ourselves.

EVENT #1: Jesus confronts the original twelve disciples shortly after many of the other disciples had decided to stop following Jesus because of a "hard" teaching that they couldn't understand.

John 6:67-69 "You do not want to leave me too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy one of God." (NIV)

We can see clearly here that faithful Peter not only confesses his belief in Jesus, but he is also the first one to answer Jesus.

EVENT #2: Jesus walking on the water. After seeing Jesus coming towards the boat, the disciples were terrified until Jesus reassured them that it was He.

Matthew 14:29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (NIV)

Again, we see that it is Peter who acts first. As we know he eventaully cries out to Jesus when he starts sinking but that doesnt take away from his original act of faith.

EVENT #3: Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish. After the resurrection, the disciples were fishing but didnt catch any fish. Jesus appeared to them and told them to throw the net to the right side of the boat and they caught a huge number of fish.

John 21:7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. (NIV)

Once again, we see that it is Peter who is the first to act. The KJV translation says that he "cast" himself into the sea. It almost sounds like he got so excited when he saw Jesus that he just flung himself into the water.

EVENT #4: Jesus arrested and being led to appear before the Sanhedrin.

Matthew 26:58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. (NIV)

Now, when the situation gets a little messy, a little uncertain, a little scary, we see that faithful Peter is now following Jesus "at a distance."

THE QUESTION: When the trials and tribulations begin, do we follow Jesus at a distance?

Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (NIV)

God didnt call us to love and follow him only on Sunday, or only when our wallets are full, or only when our kids are behaving, or only when we need something.

My prayer for all Christians who struggle in their daily walk with Christ, is that we would seek and accept His will for our lives; that we would fully consecrate every fiber of our being to Him who has called us to bear witness to His name; that when the trials begin, we would fling ourselves overboard in faith and follow Jesus in the midst of the raging storm. All the praise and glory be to Jesus for He will never let us sink. Amen.