Lesson 09/02/07

THE MISUNDERSTOOD FACTS IN PETER'S LIFE!

When we think of Peter we're prone to think of all the mishaps in his life. For it seems that no matter where we find Peter he is either sticking his foot in his mouth or failing to measure up to his calling. He walked on the Sea of Galilee but then, as with anyone with Attention-Deficit Disorder, he turned his attention away from Jesus and started sinking like a rock.
When Peter and the others were celebrating the Passover with Jesus everything was going fine until Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist and began to wash Peter's feet. It was at that moment that Peter said something to Jesus that no one had ever said to him. He said, "No way!" His statement, in the Greek, is emphatic: "You . . . my feet . . . wash? Never!" Jesus, of course, ended up washing his feet.
In the Garden of Gethsemane Peter, James, and John were asked to stay close so as to keep watch. Like soldiers they had been posted to keep watch for, in fact, real soldiers were coming to arrest Jesus. But they fell asleep and it was Jesus who continually watched out for them, and it was Jesus who first detected those who had come to arrest him.
Then on the day of Jesus' crucifixion Peter, who less than 24-hours earlier had insisted that he was willing to die with Jesus and would never disown him, did the very thing he said he wouldn't do - he disowned Jesus three times. In fact, the third time he swore by God that he didn't know the man.
On the face of it, the facts of Peter's long walk with Jesus don't look too encouraging. They suggest that here is a man hardly worth looking up to as a role model. But facts can either be misunderstood or downgraded as a sorry set of facts. Either way, in our shortsightedness, we fail to see or appreciate the long-range value of what appears to be a depressing set of facts.
But facts, even the depressing ones, or especially the depressing ones, have a way of forcing us to take a hard look at ourselves. On their best days, or rather our best days, they compel us to grow-up. This is exactly what the down-and-out facts did in Peter's life - in the end they strengthened his faith.
It is perhaps for this reason, having experienced being down-and-out for the count, that Peter in I Peter 5:8 - 11 encouraged the original recipients of his letter, and encourages us, with these words:
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
Here are the facts of two individuals in the class. Both would tell you that they are just ordinary people - maybe they would even tell you they are flawed. The facts, by themselves, don't tell you how they compelled these two to grow strong in the Lord. However, as you know, you will have the opportunity to explore the facts and perhaps catch a glimpse as to how these two were shaped by life.
The first has been in the class for a long time. But like Linda she normally arrives late and leaves early. Here name is Laura Tipton. Here are the facts:
- I was born in (small town) Iowa and I have lived in (small town) Iowa for more
than 1/3 of my life, at 3 different times. I grew up in (small town) southern
California and (rural) Minnesota. I raised my family in (small town) Iowa, then
moved to (metropolitan) Phoenix for the last 1/3 of my life.
- I was raised in a godly home with loving parents, 2 brothers and my baby
sister. My daddy died at age 51, when I was 24. My mother just celebrated
her 95th birthday.
- I embraced the faith of my parents and their parents before them, and
followed their tradition of church membership, though I didn't stay in their
denomination. I've been sprinkled, I've confessed, I've been confirmed, and
immersed.
- I went to a small Christian college, of my parents' denomination, in (small
town) Iowa, but only finished 2 years, because I obtained my Mrs. before I could
get to a B.A.
- I was married for 25 years to the father of my 3 sons, and they have blessed
me with 2 beautiful daughters-in-law and 5 grandchildren.
- As a result of my child bearing years, I am in an elite group of plasma donors
and am paid to give up some of it twice a week.
- God led me to meet Del 22 years ago, and we have been very happily married
20+ years.
What do the facts suggest to you? What fact, or which facts, would you like to explore? What questions do you have of Laura that would reveal how the facts compelled her to grow strong in the Lord?
The second person is Sue Beck. She and her husband are relatively new to the class. You met her husband a few weeks ago, now it is her turn to give her side of the story. Here are the unaltered facts that shaped her life.
- Born in Poland . . . moved to Phoenix in 1954 (my introduction to indoor
plumbing).
- When I was 5 years old, a magician gave my Dad a rabbit that was too big for
his hat (turned out to be pregnant), and we ended up with over 500 rabbits.
- My claim to fame: I was on the Ed Sullivan show.
- I am a C.K.D., and I own and run a custom cabinet shop ( for 19 years).
- Married Milo two and a half years ago . . . I have a rebuttal to Milo's "facts".
- I have two children (a girl and a boy), two stepchildren (a girl and a boy),
and two and 3/4 grandchildren (two girls and a boy).
- Milo to complete my pilot training.
What do the facts suggest to you? What fact, or which facts, would you like to explore? What questions do you have of Sue that would reveal how the facts compelled her to grow strong in the Lord?
Now let us take a fresh look at a familiar, but misunderstood, fact in Peter's life. It is found in Matthew 14:22 - 33. We read:
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
As was characteristic of Peter, he wanted to do something no one in their right mind would even think of doing and all for a very good reason - to be with Jesus. Plus, he saw Jesus walking on water and figured anyone could walk on water as long as Jesus called him to do it. And so he stepped out onto the water and guess what happened - go ahead guess.
At least half of you are thinking - "He sank like a rock." But that's not what happened! What happened is that he actually walked on water. He did what anyone up to that point in time would call impossible. What made it possible? Simple, it was the call of Jesus. Jesus said "come" and so Peter came and did the impossible.
But then he made a very common mistake. A mistake that everyone in this room has made and will make in the future. He took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the world around him. In the very midst of the new reality he focused on what was so very tangible around him and as a result he sank like a rock.
Now what makes me so certain that we will make the same mistake down the line - even though we know better. Because as a result of the Fall, we are not wired well-enough to fully buy-in to the fact that actually doing the impossible ought to be proof enough to last a lifetime. This is why transformation is a process and not a once-in-a-lifetime event; the rewiring of our nature takes time.
Now here is one of the misunderstood facts in Peter's life - sinking was bad for Peter. I mean, I'm sure everyone else in the boat laughed at Peter when he climbed back into the boat soaking wet. I suspect he even kicked himself a few time for even trying to walk on water.
But sinking was good Peter! It was good because he learned something the hard way, which is often the best way, and it strengthened his faith. He learned, better than the others, that when Jesus calls you to do something it is best to keep your eyes focused on Jesus and not let the world sidetrack you. For when we look at the world, at the circumstances around us, we will always have reason to doubt.
Now I want you to look at the same story as given to us in Mark 6:45 - 51. We read:
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
It is generally agreed, that much of Mark's gospel came from Peter. If so, why does Mark exclude the information we so readily associate with this story? Is it because Peter sank like a rock and he would just as soon forget the whole thing? No! It is because he walked on water and, in humility, leaves it for others to tell!

PETER: THE MAN AND HIS LETTERS 09/02/07 5

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