Peter Before the Out Pouring

Readings: Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 16:13-17, 17:1-9, 2 Corinthians 4:6,7

Peter, a disciple of Jesus was a guy that so many of us can relate to. He was very honest and sincere; but also very human. He embodied the best in us, and fell short as well. Let's look back to a day when Peter was first getting acquainted with Jesus. He working as a fisherman along the shore of the Sea of Galilee when Jesus came by. Peter was on the shore washing his nets. Jesus stepped into his empty boat and asked Peter to push the boat out a bit. From there Jesus taught the people. After ward He said to Peter,

The Miraculous Draught of Fishes James Tissot

"Now go out where it is deeper, 

and let down your nets to catch some fish." 

"Master," (Peter) replied, 

"we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. 

But if You say so, I'll let the nets down again." 

Luke 5:4, 5 NLT

Wow! Was Peter ever surprised! There were so many fish that the nets were beginning to tear! They had to get extra help. When Peter realized what had happened, he was awestruck and fell to his knees before Jesus, saying:

The Miraculous Draught of Fishes by Raphael

"Oh, Lord, please leave me... I am too much of a sinner to be around you." 

Luke 5:8 NLT

Peter had very humble beginnings with the Lord. From early on, he began to see that Jesus was different from him. What kind of a person could do miracles like this? In the light of Jesus' glory, he recognized his own sin. His understanding would continue to grow as he witnessed more and more of the glory of Christ.

Later, Jesus asked His disciples "'Who do men say that I am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'"

At this point, "Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven..." Matthew 16:13- 17 NKJ

Wow! God, the Father Himself revealed who Jesus really was to Peter! Peter was seeing that Jesus was not an ordinary man, not even a prophet, but Christ... Messiah... the SON of the LIVING GOD!

Transfiguration by Carl Bloch

Six days later, "Jesus took Peter, James and John... led them up on a high mountain by themselves and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him... behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a  voice came out of the cloud, saying 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!' And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, 'Arise, and do not be afraid.'" Matthew 17: 1-7 NKJ

After this day, not only Peter, but James and John knew beyond a shadow of a doubt who Jesus really was. In fact "as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them 'Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead'" Matthew 17: 9 NKJ

What a treasure they beheld that day with their eyes, ears, their whole being; lit up by such an amazing experience! And yet they could not tell anyone until later. They must have felt so full of the Glory of God and yet humbled in their own humanity. It reminds me of a verse that Paul (who also experienced the glory of Christ) wrote:

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, 

who has shone in our hearts the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels (jars of clay), 

that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." 

2 Corinthians 4: 6, 7 NKJ

As amazing as the transfiguration was, there was more, much more to come. The verse above was written after the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. A little side note... in the background of this blog is an antique amphora from Turkey that I have. It represents us, as human beings and the treasure of Christ that we hold in earthen vessels... simple jars of clay.

This is a three part message. Next, in part 2 we will cover more of Peter's humanness when Jesus predicts Peter's denial of Him, then Peter denies Christ and after Jesus' death, burial and resurrection He goes fishing. The third post we will look at Peter after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.