We first met Peter when he was in the fishing business on the Sea of Galilee. As Jesus strolled down the shore, “he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ‘Follow me,’ Jesus told them, ‘and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:16-18).
For three years, Jesus mentored and molded Peter and the others, preparing them to carry the Gospel north and south, east and west, until His church took root around the globe.
We remember Peter’s proudest moments, and we recall his failures and frailty. Of course, we remember the threefold denial on the night before the crucifixion. And we remember Jesus’ merciful threefold restoration. “Do you love me?” … “Do you love me?” … “Do you love me?” … “So, feed my sheep” … “Feed my Sheep” … “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).
Jesus’ restoration of Peter was followed by a prophecy concerning Peter, one that was soon fulfilled. Jesus looked lovingly into Peter’s eyes and said, “ ‘Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.’ He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, ‘Follow me’ ” (John 21:18–19). Peter faithfully followed His Lord all the way to martyrdom.
A little more than thirty years after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, tradition says Peter was imprisoned by Nero, the evil emperor of Rome. When Peter was told that he would be crucified, he argued that he wasn’t worthy to die as Jesus had died. He convinced the executioner to tie him to the cross, upside down.
Before his death, and maybe from a Roman jail, Peter addressed the church… he addressed us: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3–5).
Ours is a “living hope … imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.”
Thank you, Peter!
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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