I have been a Christian for over 40 years. During that time I have read the Bible countless times. I have heard thousands of sermons. I have read hundreds of books. I have attended seminary and more Bible studies than I can ever remember. As a result of all the exposure to the Word of God I have come to a conclusion--Peter gets a bad rap!
In all my years of hearing sermons preached where Peter is a significant character in the story, he almost always gets depicted in a poor light. I have often heard pastors say that Peter had a bad case of “foot –in-mouth disease” or they have said he was impetuous, overly zealous, and too quick to jump into things without thinking. Peter is often set up in sermons as the example of a person who does the wrong thing.
In Matthew 16 Peter boldly declares the true identity of Jesus by saying; “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Just seven verses later Jesus is telling him; ““Get behind me, Satan!” In Matthew 26 Peter proudly declares, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you,” but we see Peter’s three denials in verses 69-75 of the same chapter. In Matthew 14 we find the story of Jesus walking on the water. The disciples are in the boat on wind tossed seas far from land in the middle of the night. Jesus comes to them walking on the water and the disciples were afraid thinking they were seeing a ghost. Peter shouts out above the wind, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (v.28). The Lord calls him and Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk on water towards Jesus. Soon he is distracted and worried about the waves and the wind and begins to sink until he cries out to Jesus to save him.
Most messages about Peter point out his downfalls in all three of these stories related in scripture. Peter is the guy who can’t seem to do anything right. He speaks before thinking. He appears proud and impetuous. He is too prone to doubt and worry.
I disagree with the common assessment of Peter. I like Peter and he is by far my favorite disciple. Sure he made some mistakes and spoke out of turn from time to time. Yes he made what seemed like rash decisions (like chopping off the ear of Malchus in the garden). He was overly eager at times. Everything he did though reminds me a lot of myself and a lot of others I know.
The thing that draws me most to Peter is he was not afraid to try. He failed many times but each time he got up, dusted off his robe and came right back. He didn’t run away in shame. He never gave up. He did not let his failures stop him from becoming all that God had planned for him. Many of us would have hung our heads in shame after the second or third rebuke from the Lord and say, “this is just not for me.” But not Peter!
The first time we see Peter he is in a fishing boat with his brother and the Lord called to them and said, “Follow me.” Peter does not question a thing. He gets the boat to shore, ties it up at the dock and walks away from the only livelihood he has ever known. He is the first called disciple. From that point on his life was in for major change. He had everything to lose and did not give it a second thought and followed in obedience.
The story that captivates me about Peter (before Pentecost) is the walking on the water incident. While many use that story to speak about doubt and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus (excellent points to expound, by the way), I am fascinated by the first part of that story. Peter and his fellow disciples are out in the middle of the sea at night and the wind is howling and the waves are rocking the boat. Peter was a fisherman and he knew the hazards of the sea probably better than any of them. But, he sees Jesus. He calls to the Lord and says, “If that is you, please command me to come out to you.” Jesus calls him and (here is the good part) “PETER GOT OUT OF THE BOAT!”
Imagine Peter stepping out of that boat for a second. The sea is boisterous and deep and it is dark all around. Peter does not stop to think about the laws of physics and gravity. He does not dwell on the fact that he knows anything outside the boat will sink. He does not even think about his own safety. All he knows is that Jesus is out there walking on the water and he believes that if Jesus commands it he can do it as well. “PETER GOT OUT OF THE BOAT!” That is one of the most amazing, bold, courageous, faith-filled statements in all of scripture in my estimation. I know if I was out in the middle of the ocean with a storm brewing and Jesus told me to get out of the boat and walk on water, I would have serious issues with that. I don’t know if I could do it. I would be looking for a life-jacket and would be tying a rope around myself that was secured to the boat.
There are a lot of ways that the Lord is telling each of us today to “get out of the boat.” Maybe it is the call to overcome our fear of evangelizing. Maybe it is standing for truth as a college student in the face of a hostile and anti-Christian professor. Maybe it is accepting the call to ministry or missions. Perhaps it is a call to lead your family in the way of truth as a spiritual leader. Maybe it is taking that bushel basket off your head and letting your Christ-like light shine in the workplace. Maybe it is the call to stand by your Christian principles when friends ask you to participate in things you know that Christ would not be pleased with.
Peter was many things and he was imperfect as we all are, but he was obedient and was not afraid to take risk if it meant drawing him closer to the Lord he loved. Peter is also the only other person (besides Christ) who can say he actually walked on water, albeit briefly. Peter went on to great things as the book of Acts and his two epistles tell us. He did eventually die for his faith by being crucified upside down. He never let shame or failure stop him from his pursuit of being a faithful and obedient disciple. He has my greatest respect.
“PETER GOT OUT OF THE BOAT!” What is the boat Christ is calling you to step out of in total faith today?
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