January Bible Study

Image Credits:

https://seedsoffaith.cph.org/2017/02/16/new-testament-2-lesson-12-jesus-walks-on-water/

Simon, son of John, comes into our radar in the Bible story as an ordinary, uneducated fisherman. His first contact with Jesus is through his brother Andrew, who introduces him to Jesus as the Messiah. Right then, Jesus names him ‘Peter’ meaning ‘rock’ (John 1:40-42). 

Having met Jesus, Simon – now Peter – does not hesitate to accept Jesus’ call to follow Him and become a fisher of men with Andrew, James, and John (Matt 4:18-22). This is not a surprise if we understand that they have been waiting for the coming of the Messiah. For those of us who can relate to it, Peter’s response to Jesus represents the call on our life that we have been waiting for – to fulfil the meaning, purpose, and goal that God made us for. 

And so Simon Peter begins his spiritual-formation journey that will show how he changes from a simple ‘Simon’ to ‘Peter’ because Jesus knew right from their first meeting how Peter would fulfil his God-designed destiny as a rock of Christ’s Church. It is an example of the new name Jesus gives to the one who will be His victorious disciple (Rev 2:17). 

Peter’s learning curve as a disciple is not an easy one. It calls for following Jesus with a different mindset of God’s heavenly kingdom. Peter approaches each new experience and learning with his typical old self. It is a constant challenge for Peter, with his loud, brash, and assuming character, to know God, to make Him known to all men, and to be imitated by men as he reflects Jesus’s character.

Priority
Early on, Peter learns the lesson on priority. Jesus heals his mother-in-law, and immediately, the whole town seeks Him out to heal the sick and demon-possessed. Early the following day, Simon and the other disciples have a hard time looking for Jesus. He has kept His priority to protect His solitude with the heavenly Father. Besides that, when Simon tells him that “everyone is looking for you” He tells the disciples that His mission priority is to preach the kingdom of God. So He travels and makes disciples, preaching and driving out demons (Mark 1:35-39). Peter discovers that whatever may make Jesus, he and the other disciples needed, busy and popular, “doing God’s work” may not be what God wants them to prioritise. 

Even as he learns about priority, Peter discovers what can happen when distracted. When Jesus allows him to walk on water, his focus is tested by seeing the waves and wind arousing his attention. Amid this “spiritual-high” experience, his human nature sabotages his faith. Jesus saves him, but rebukes his ‘little faith’. We can never be too confident of ourselves, even if we trust the Lord and walk with Him.  

“ … if we refuse to learn through our own experience(s), we cannot enhance others – we have no substance to support them.”

Humility
Peter faces constant and countless lessons with each life experience even as he walks with Jesus and his fellow disciples. Some tasks can be learnt from others’ blunders (such as James and John asking for the positions of authority beside Jesus in His glory), others through personal mistakes, to keep him humble. There comes a time when Peter, through his learning and experiences with Jesus, grows confident in his commitment and faith. His blind spot leads him to believe that even if others abandon Him, he will die with Jesus. He fails to fulfil what he claims – he betrays Jesus. It is a significant blow to his self-esteem and pride to discover the difference between what he may have thought about himself and what he will do. By Jesus’ grace, Peter and his faith survive the setback – because Jesus has prayed for Peter in this shaking that Satan intends for him. And so Jesus asks Peter to strengthen his brothers when he returns from his fall. Peter’s personal experiences as a disciple become the foundation for him to strengthen other followers in their setbacks. One takeaway is that if we refuse to learn through our own experience(s), we cannot enhance others – we have no substance to support them. It may be hard on our pride, but our ability to hang on in our faith and service to God may be due to the intercession of Jesus (and others) and not our great faith or faithfulness. 

Growth
Peter’s journey as a disciple transitions to apostleship, a time of ministry and leadership. It continues to be a life of lessons and self-discovery to grow on. Like Peter, as Jesus’ disciples, each of us needs to continually discover and learn where we need to grow, conform and transform. Even as a leader and apostle, Peter needed to be opposed and corrected by Paul for his double standard of eating with Gentile believers and separating himself from them when the circumcision group arrives (Galatians 2:11-14). 

The life-long need to be humble is a lesson Peter learns early as a fisherman when he first begins to follow Jesus. When he obeys Jesus to let down his net to catch fish after an unsuccessful night on his own, he experiences a moment of epiphany: “…Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:1-11). Our foundations are as necessary to stabilise us as novice disciples as seasoned and sturdy pillars in Christ’s body, the Church. 

Peter’s life of discipleship into apostleship confirms the truth of the many heroes of faith: God wants our availability and faithfulness; He alone provides the ability and the victory if we only hang on, as Peter does. 

Thoughts for reflection:

• Jesus calls Simon ‘Peter’ to show how he will be a rock in the building of the Church. Thinking over your discipleship journey, what is the crucial role God has called you to fulfil to contribute to building Christ’s church?
• Everyone is looking for Jesus (and His workers) to help and heal them. What is God’s priority for you to be doing in your service?
• How can the lessons learnt from Peter’s life be applied in your life?

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