Daily Prayer (and study) 12/2/07

How about a quick study of some of Christ's disciples.... We see them listed in similar groups each with an apparent leader. Group 1 Peter, James, John and Andrew with Peter as the apparent leader of the group. Group 2 Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew. (Philip always listed first). Group 3 James, Lebbaeus, Simon and Judas Iscariot. (James always listed first). Group one seems most intimate with Christ, Group two there at most major events and Group three mostly unknown except the sin of Judas Iscariot who betrayed Christ.

Peter, James and John were the most intimate with Christ. Let's look at Peter first.

Peter has been called the disciple with "the foot shaped mouth". I can relate there.... He was a fisherman who was eager, aggressive, bold and outspoken. He had a habit of "revving his mouth with his brain in neutral." His name was Simon but Jesus called him Peter (Luke 6:14). Simon Peter, Simon and Peter are all used in scripture referring to him. In greek the word petros it means a stone, a piece of rock. In Aramaic it was Cephas. Funny because by nature Simon was not dependable. Made bigger promises than he could keep. He would bite off more than he could chew and then bail out. (I love Peter...he reminds me of myself) He was foolish, but Christ's nickname reminded Peter what he must become. OK, split personality time.... When Jesus refers to Peter's secular life He calls him "Simon" Concerning Spiritual things He calls him "Peter" Rock. When Peter acts like his "old self" and fails, Jesus calls him Simon again. But in obedience he is called Peter. I am sure he enjoyed Christ calling him "Rock" so he must have cringed to hear Jesus call him Simon when he was messing up. When Simon Peter denied Christ on the night He was betrayed, he wept bitterly and returned to fishing eventually. On the shore after Christ rose from the dead and prepared a meal of fish and asked Simon if He loved Him( John 21), it was the last time Christ would call Peter..."Simon" after that he was restored and never called Simon by the Lord again.

Peter was from a small village on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee called Bethsaida, but they moved and the family fishing business was centered in Capernaum. (Both cities are ruins today.) They caught sardines, barbels (a carp type fish that was up to 15 pounds), and musht. Musht are still cooked and served in restaurants along the Sea of Galilee today and often called "St. Peter's fish"

Archaeologists have found a church in Capurnaum believed to have been built over Peter's house.

Simon Peter was married. In Luke 4:38 Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law. In 1 Corinthians 9:5, Peter took his wife on a mission trip. The Bible doesn't mention if they had children or not.

Matthew 10:2 calls Peter first or leader of the apostles..."protos" in the Greek.

No apostle speaks in the Gospels as much as Peter and the Lord speaks to Peter more than any other apostle. No other disciple is rebuked by the Lord as much as Peter and NO ONE else has the nerve to rebuke the Lord except Peter. Peter was also the only disciple the Lord called "Satan". The Lord was at time harsh with Peter. Simon Peter had the right natural talents and life experience along with the proper character qualities the Lord chose and would mold into the "Rock" who would carry on after Christ was gone.

Peter was a true leader of strength and love who lead Christ's church after He ascended into heaven. Scripture doesn't record Peter's death but church history says he was crucified. It says he was first forced to watch the crucifixion of his wife. He reportedly called out to her "Remember the Lord". When it was Peters turn, he pleaded to be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die as his Lord had died. Peters own words in 2 Peter 3:18 say "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Let's remember his words...

(Information came from "Twelve Ordinary Men" by John MacArthur)

Father- Thank You for Your providence in setting men over us to shepherd us in the faith. May they have a love for us sheep as the Lord did. May they care for the sheep and help them grow, not fleece the sheep and lead them to slaughter. Give us men who will carefully feed us the Truth of Your Word in the Scriptures. Certainly where there are sheep, there are wolves who desire to devour. Protect us from the evil ones who desire to destroy our faith. We know that Peter has been called the Rock by You Lord Jesus, but may we always remember that You are the cornerstone that Peter the Rock rests on. On Peter other saints and more on top of them even up to today when we are little stones in the wall that is Your church. The church is growing and being built and this church is Your body. May each part of the body grown and be healthy and serve the rest of the body as You intended. You know our needs Lord, meet them according to Your plan for our lives serving You and serving the body of Christ that is founded upon Christ the Cornerstone and Peter the Rock and all the faithful who continue in the Truth.

Let any founded upon their own thoughts and ideas not in agreement with the Cornerstone crumble and fall into useless rubble.

We praise Your Name with all our heart and soul. To the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit we give our whole hearted worship. Amen!