Mentoring Men for the Master

LEARNING LOUD LESSONS FROM LOUD-MOUTH PETER “AND GO TELL PETER TO MEET ME”

After Jesus arose from the dead, He met with individuals, small groups, and large crowds (1 Cor. 15:6), but He summoned only one person by name to meet Him – Simon Peter – Mark 15:7.  Why?  The Bible does not explicitly say, but I believe it was because we have much to learn from “Loud-Mouth Peter,” which the saga of his life cogently reveals as follows:

  1. PETER ALWAYS INSISTED ON BEING FIRST IN EVERYTHING:
  1. He walked on the water first – Matthew 14:29.
  2. HE was the first to confess Jesus as the Messiah – Matthew 16:16-18.
  3. He vowed to Jesus’ face that he was “ready to go with Him to prison and death.” – Luke 22:23.
  4. At the same time Jesus warned that Satan would sift him as wheat (Luke 22:31), but Peter did not let that stop his prowess.
  5. Contrary to his pledge, Peter denied Jesus three times around a “fire of charcoals” and the cock crowed as Jesus had predicted- (verse 61).
  6. Peter was in hiding while Jesus was being crucified.
  7. However, he accompanied his buddy John to the empty tomb after His resurrection and saw the grave clothes – John 20:6-7.
  8. Later he saw Jesus with the rest of the disciples and heard Thomas’ astounding confession – John 20:28.
  1. EVEN THOUGH PETER HAD ALL THIS EXPOSURE TO JESUS, he decided to quit following Him for he evidently was overwhelmed with guilt and assumed he had “blown it.”
    1. He went back to his old ways of fishing – John 21:3.
    2. He took six other disciples with him – John 21:2-4.
    3. They fished all night but caught “NOTHING” until they obeyed Jesus and caught 153 fish. – John 21:3
  1. SUDDENLY THE RISEN LORD APPEARS ON THE SCENE where Peter was fishing.
    1. Jesus was seeking Peter, though Peter was running away from Him.
    2. Significantly he built a “charcoal fire,” cooked fish, and invited the disciples to breakfast. Why the “charcoal fire?”
    3. Peter had already jumped naked into the water to go to Jesus. Had he repented?
    4. All seven of the disciples ate breakfast prepared by Jesus. 
  1. HOWEVER, THE PRIMARY PURPOSE FOR JESUS COMING was to meet Peter privately and restore him to fellowship and His ministry. How did He do it?
    1. He took Peter aside.
    2. He significantly called him “Simon.” Why?
    3. Jesus asked him three questions. Why three?
    4. His questions were, “Simon, do you agapao me, do you agapao me, do you phileo me? Peter answered, “Lord, you now I phileo  He could not bring himself to say he was totally committed.  Why?
    5. Jesus then commanded Peter, “Feed my lambs – your converts; “Shepherd my sheep – disciple them; and “Feed my sheep” – sanctify them by the Word – John 17:17.
    6. Then Jesus told Peter he would die by crucifixion.
    7. Peter responded, “How about John” who had been looking on? Jesus answered, “Don’t worry about John If he lives until I return, but you just “FOLLOW ME.”
    8. Did he?