Lesson 5
9/26/02
SCRIPTURE: John.21: 15-19 Acts.2: 14-40
YOUR THOUGHTS: When Jesus stood on the beach, who was the first to recognize Him?
Look up other passages in the Bible where Peter’s personality shows
What kind of personalities did the other disciples have?
MY THOUGHTS: Have you ever gone camping? I’ve asked that question before and the common answer was “ are you kidding! Give me a soft bed and running water. That’s my kind of camping”. That’s true, there is nothing like the comforts of home or an eloquent hotel when you’re on vacation. The place of comfort or relaxation for a devoted camper is sitting around the campfire. In this lesson, I’d like to discuss a very important conversation between Jesus and some of His disciples in the very place that I just alluded to. This conversation was geared to the disciples in general, but to one disciple in specific, his name was Peter.
When the word disciple is ever mentioned, Peter’s name seems to come to my mind. The reason is that he stood out among the others. The Scriptures give us few occasions where he was the first to respond to what Jesus said. I’ll use one example that was written in Matthew.14: 22-28. After Jesus fed the multitude of five thousand, he told the disciples to get into their ship and go to the other side while He went into the mountains to pray. Evening was approaching and the winds and the waves were increasing. That’s when Jesus starts walking up to them on the water. The disciples cried out in fear until Jesus identified Himself and said, “ Be not afraid”. Peter was the first to react. He needed to walk out to Jesus while the others were ether to afraid to move or were content with hearing Jesus’ voice and stayed put. Peters attempt to go out to meet Jesus is a very vital lesson for us. Don’t sit there and say “Jesus come to me and then I will know you”. Go to Him with the desire to find out who He is. Make the attempts to read His Holy Word then ask Him to come to you. You will only know Him if you desire to want to know Him.
In John.21: 15-18, after Jesus left the cold dark tomb, He appeared on the beach to prepare Peter and the few disciples that were there that a rough but rewarding future awaits them. Peter was singled out because Jesus knew that he would have a very important responsibility to fulfill. Jesus gave Peter an opportunity to redeem himself from an earlier event where he denied knowing Jesus three times. (Luke.22: 34). Isn’t that neat the way Peter’s heart breaking confession of denial turns completely around to confessing his love for Jesus. After that campfire experience, Peter’s aggressive personality became an important asset in starting the first church. I think Jesus was very clear when He told Peter that he must feed His lambs, tend and feed His sheep. Our responsibility today is to allow the power of the Holy Spirit to energize that personality that God gave you for the good of the church. If you’re like Peter, get into an activity that needs your leadership skills. It was not an accident when Jesus challenged Peter at the campfire. Peter was chose to be a spokesman for the church. Jesus knew his heart and He also knows yours. He definitely has a plan for you. Go out and make a difference in your church or in your community.
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