Signora Sheila

Simon Peter, how can we not love him? Delightful in his spontaneity. Lovable in his gregariousness. Transparent and enthusiastic. Quick to act, and react. So sure of himself, yet at times timid and even cowardly. There is something genuine and endearing about Peter and his ways. 

Simon Peter, with his transparent humanity, is the disciple with whom many of us most identify. Full of contradictions, he was willing to serve, yet often presumptuous. So quick to defend and jump to the rescue. And to get himself into trouble.

Peter was a man of many contradictions. Yet there was something genuine and endearing about him and his ways.

We know little about him beyond the Gospel accounts, but he is generally been described as a tall, stout man with a weathered complexion and thick dark curly hair and beard. As the typical fisherman of humble origins that he was. Born in Bethsaida (the house of fish), his father Jonah fished for a living, as did his brother Andrew. And together with their partners, Zebedee and his sons James and John, they fished the Sea of Galilee.

Simon answers the call

When we read in Matthew 4 of Simon, Andrew, James, and John leaving everything to follow Christ, it can seem as if they followed almost sight unseen. But when we look closer, we see that they had already spent time with Christ, walking along and learning. They had even attended the wedding at Cana together in John 2.

The cost of following, though high, was a calculated one. They knew what they were doing, and even more importantly, who they were following.

They already saw Christ as their rabbi and teacher, and as such he had influence in their lives, as evidenced by the fact that he changed Simon’s name to Peter. Think of God changing Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, and Daniel to Belteshazzar.

Simon the reed to Peter the rock

Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter.

John 1:42

The names Simon and Peter reveal much about the man, and the plan Christ had for his life. A plan to transform him from Simon, a wavy wavering reed of a man into Peter, a strong disciple with a rock-solid faith.

But the apostle, at first, seemed anything but rock-solid.

He had to grow beyond the basic character that matched his birth name. In many ways Simon embodied that name. Like a reed, he stood straight and tall, ready to fight for his beliefs or defend those he loved. Yet he was also vacillating, unsteady, and quick to change, like a reed blowing in the wind.

Great faith, but impulsive

He had great faith, but he often applied it impulsively.

• He impetuously stepped out of the boat onto the water, but quickly gave way to doubt, Matthew 14.
• He received praise for declaring that Jesus was the Christ. And then he was rebuked for contradicting the Lord’s words about his own suffering and death, Matthew 16.
• He bravely swore that he would rather die than deny Christ, and even cut off a man’s ear to defend Him. But he fled in fear when Christ was arrested and denied Him 3 times, John 18, Matthew 26.

Tenderhearted and loving

But Peter was also tenderhearted and affectionate. As quick to repent as he was to impulsively jump in or presume.

• He proudly refused to let the Lord wash his feet at the Last Supper – and then contritely, asked that his hands and head be washed as well, John 13.
• In weakness he betrayed Christ, but then went out and wept in bitter sorrow, Luke 22.

All in all, he was a man of strange contradictions.

• Self-sacrificing, he left everything to follow Christ, Mark 1.
• Yet he also tended to be self-seeking, wanting to know how he would be rewarded, Matthew 19.
• Yet he tended to be self-seeking, wanting to know how he would be rewarded, Matthew 19.

But it wasn’t until his baptism at Pentecost that he became the rock that Christ intended him to be.

With newfound wisdom and maturity, he wisely took the lead in finding a replacement for Judas. And by Acts 2 he had become a strong and mighty preacher with a powerful message. And one who refused to stop preaching the Good News, even when threatened. Acts 4.

From a wavering reed to a solid rock

From a wavering reed, the lowly fisherman had become a rock-solid and influential apostle. A solid pillar of the church and leader of the apostles, strong and steadfast declaring, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard,” and “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:28-29.

Historians tell us that by the time of Peter’s death almost all of the apostles had been martyred. And they also say that in fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy in John 21:18, Peter was stretched out by his hands, dressed in prison garb, and taken where he didn’t wanted to go. It is said that he asked to be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to be crucified as the Lord had been.

The wavering reed had become a rock-solid apostle. One who rejoiced to be counted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. And who never stopped teaching and preaching that name until the day of his death.

The lowly fisherman who became a great fisher of men. And if Christ could change Peter that much, He can also help us become strong in Him!

Sources:

• From Disciple Simon to Apostle Peter
• Apostle Peter Biography
• St. Peter the Apostle

Images of Peter all by http://www.LumoProject.org from FreeBibleImages.org.