Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ … 2 Peter 1:1, NIV

 

We are living in interesting times! There is so much uncertainty in the world around us these days. But in this world, the Lord uses us, his believers, to shine his light in the darkness. This thought leaves me afraid sometimes; I do not always feel like a bright shining light in the dark. It is for this reason that I am so grateful that the Lord made use of ordinary people when he had the Bible written – people like Simon Peter.

 

Peter is somebody I can identify with easily. When we first read of him in the Gospels, he and his brother, Andrew, were ordinary fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. It was not a dream job, not an exciting hobby like for the people with fancy ski boats going to Sodwana Bay looking for sailfish. No, it was backbreaking hard work to try to survive in the Roman Empire in the days of the first century AD. The fishermen were not popular in their towns. They smelled like the fish they caught and cleaned, and people tended to pass them by as far as possible. Fishermen would have learnt their trade from their fathers and their whole existence would be spent near the water, teaching their kids the same trade. This would continue until the day they were too old and broken in body to go out on the water again. This was what they expected from life, nothing more.

 

One day, however, everything in Peter’s life changed forever. That was the day he met Jesus. Jesus invited Peter and his brother, Andrew. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.' (Mark 1:17)

 

Peter would spend the next three years with the other disciples, being trained by Jesus in the principles of the kingdom of God. Peter would rise as a leader amongst them. He would be known for a child-like faith in Jesus, which could lead to hasty words and deeds. He was the disciple who dared to walk on water with Christ. (Matthew 14:28-31)

 

Peter has made many mistakes along the way of following Christ. He was quick to promise to die with Christ when the time came. (Luke 22:33) But when his words were put to the test, he failed spectacularly. When he put all his trust in his own strength and faith, he could not walk the talk.

 

But Jesus remained trusting in Peter. After his resurrection, he went out of his way to confirm Peter in his calling: He repeated the first call: “Follow me!” (John 21:15-19)

 

Simon Peter has made a huge contribution to the founding of the church in the first century. Church tradition has it that he was captured and brought to Rome to be tried for his faith. He was condemned to death and chose to be crucified upside down. On top of his grave in Rome, St Peter’s Cathedral was built. Peter’s most important discovery was his confession in Matthew 16:16: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” He put his trust in this Jesus and followed him as Lord for the rest of his days. On this confession of faith, Jesus still builds his church, now and forever more, and the promise is that the gates of hell will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)

 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Help me to build my life on this confession of faith and follow you wherever the road may lead. Amen.