Peter...Peter...Peter... Bless his heart...how many of us can relate to this impetuous character we grow fond of as we come to know him through our reading in the gospels.

“Peter was one of us”, as many might suggest. There are so many things about him that we can relate to and appreciate; and my goodness even his flaws and failures along the way ought to be a source of encouragement for us all as we see how God’s love, grace, and mercy continued to work and transform this fisherman with all his ‘rough edges’.

There are books and movies and TV shows that have been written about him where much liberty has been taken to add to and bring life to this character who is not fictional. I have no intentions of doing that with him here today because all I have to go on is what I read in scripture. And from what we do know of him, it’s safe to say that when he had his first encounter with Jesus, Peter was not looking for some kind of ministry to pursue, let alone looking for a ‘good church’ to get his family planted in. He was simply minding his own business while out laboring all night trying to make a living catching fish... when the ‘incident’ occurred. You can read about it in Luke 5:1-7.

May I point out here...Peter did not ‘find Jesus’; on the contrary, Jesus found him. And what some might call a ‘miracle’ with the surplus of fish Peter and his crew hauled in after ‘toiling unsuccessfully’ all night, some kind of ‘light’ must have come on inside of Peter. The next thing we read is how he throws himself down at the knees of Jesus and begs Him to ‘depart from him’...for he can only see his own sinfulness in the presence of the Lord {8}. But Jesus is quick to do just the opposite, encouraging Peter to ‘fear not’ before informing him that God has other plans for his life that will now take precedence over catching fish; because now ...he will become a ‘catcher of men’ (10).

If you glance over at the companion text of this story found in Matthew 4:19-20, you’ll see where Jesus bids Peter and his brother, Andrew, to “Follow Me.” Would you please underline vs. 20 there as we are told how quickly they responded to this call...as in ‘immediately they left their nets and followed Him’. I like Luke’s version here as it states: “they forsook all...and followed Him” (Luke 5:11). And so begins Peter’s ‘walk with Jesus’.

I don’t want to make this all about Peter today and will fast-forward about three years to where just prior to Jesus’s departure, we read of another encounter that Peter has with Him, perhaps near the same shoreline where they first met. Most likely you are familiar with many of the ‘highs and lows’ that Peter has in his efforts to follow Jesus, sometimes...even attempting to take the lead. How many of us need to be reminded from time to time...that God does not ‘need’ us...nor does He need our ideas and advice. What God desires are surrendered hearts where we simply learn to ‘trust and obey’ Him so that He...can do a work not only IN us...but through us. But make no mistake about it...it’s gonna be All Him doing the work...and ‘No flesh will ever glory in His presence’. (1 Cor. 1:29)

Now before we listen in on this final dialogue between the two, I want to remind you of the epic failure that Peter had after Jesus was taken into custody which led up to His crucifixion. Jesus even gave Peter a heads-up as to what was going to go down, suggesting this was to be another ‘test’ of sorts. You might read Luke 22:31-34.

What I find interesting in this passage is the revelation that ‘Satan has asked for Peter, that he may sift him as wheat’ (31). There is much I could address in regards to this ‘dialogue’ (between Satan and Jesus) but for now I will only point out that Jesus did not ‘rebuke the devil’ nor tell him to mind his own business or ‘go away’; not to mention that Jesus did not ‘deny this request’. Jesus just tells Peter: “I’m praying for you”...and then: “After you have returned to Me...”

I need to pause here and ask you to allow that last phrase to penetrate your heart for a moment. If Jesus uttered those words to you today, how many would be tempted to immediately respond with: ‘but I never left you Lord...I go to church every Sunday and read my Bible daily and tithe and don’t drink or cuss or cheat on my spouse...” Why you might even be ‘casting out devils and prophesying in the name of the Lord’, doing all kinds of great things for God...like those good folks in Matt. 7:22-23 were doing. How could Jesus even suggest we had ever ‘left Him’?

And true to his nature, Peter immediately responds with another profession of faith, resolve, and determination that 'he will do'... just the opposite and is ‘ready to die’ for Jesus (33). Can I just say that words are just that...words; as in ‘talk is cheap’ (Matt. 7:21). God’s people have always had a habit of saying one thing, but doing another. (Ex. 24:3,7; Matt.15:8; Hebrews 3:10)

So now Peter’s test comes and you can read what happens in Luke 22:54-62. We see that Peter is now ‘following Jesus... at a distance’ (54). [dramatic pause here]. Does not sound like one who is ‘abiding’ any longer.

The next thing we see is where Peter is near the fire (56). Fires (heat) have a way of revealing what is in our hearts as we are refined and purified. ‘Fiery tests’ have a way of bringing impurities to the surface, like when gold or silver metals are being refined. It’s how we respond and what we do...with those impurities when they do surface...that will determine whose child we really are...and will quickly identify what it is that you truly ...’love the most’. In fact, Peter would even write about this later on in his first letter- 4:12.

You know how that story plays out...and in his biggest test to date, Peter has his most disappointing fail... as he denies knowing Jesus...three times. How many of you can feel and taste...those ‘bitter tears’ in Luke 22:62?

Which leads me in closing to John 21 and the 4th and final question by the Lord that we are studying. Much has transpired since Peter’s fall and once again...we see how Jesus seeks out Peter on the shores of Galilee with another encounter similar to their first meeting. And what was the question Jesus would soon ask Peter...three times, in fact?

“Peter...do you love Me?” (15-17)

Do. You. Love. Me?

Meet me back here tomorrow?