Image from outlookmag.com
As he (Jesus) walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-22)
Good day dear Friend; today is Friday and I almost started to type "Good Friday.." and that was last week! I share this as a bonus devotional about those who followed and served Jesus. I am basing a lot of what I share from the book by William Barclay called "The Master's Men." I pray this bless our following Jesus and that it serve to draw us nearer to Him.
Peter reminds me of me in some ways, sadly, not the holy ones. He tends to be impulsive and speaks his mind, then thinks about what he says or it is pointed out to him. He was known as Simon, the brother of Andrew. Both were fishermen who owned their own business. Peter was married, for one of Jesus' miracles was to heal his mother-in-law (and we won't go there with any mother-in-law jokes especially since I had the best mother-in-law in the world!). Barclay says that he was called Simon on domestic occasions such as references to Simon's house, Simon's fishing boat, and when Cornelius is directed to Peter it is Simon for whom he is told to inquire. In those intimate moments with Jesus, Jesus calls him Simon, such as in his call story as found in Luke 5 (vss. 3, 10). I also should add that Peter was called Simeon in two occasions; Acts 14:14 when James calls him that name; and in his second letter, 2 Peter 1:1, he is referred to as Simeon. Simeon is the original Hebrew form of his name. But, it was Jesus, in the story found in Mark 3:16 and Luke 6:14, Jesus calls him the Rock on which He would build his church. Cephas is also another form of Peter, I should add. Cephas is Aramaic for a rock.
During our time in the Holy Land, we traveled to Capernaum and saw the ruins of what is believed to be Peter's house. This served as Jesus' headquarters when He was in Galilee. Josephus, a noted historian was also the governor of Galilee and he writes this about Galileans: "They were ever fond of innovations, and by nature disposed to changes (get a busload of those for our churches!), and delighted in seditions... They were ever ready to follow a leader and to begin an insurrection." He also says that Galileans were quick to get angry and to quarrel at a drop of a hat, but they were also known as the most chivalrous of men. The Talmud says this of Galileans: "They were ever more anxious for honor than for gain." Barclay adds, "Quick tempered, impulsive, emotional, easily roused by an appeal to adventure, loyal to the end--Peter was a typical man of Galilee.
Peter was also a part of the three-man inner circle along with James and John; so he witnessed and experienced things the other 9 did not such as the raising of Jairus' daughter, the Transfiguration, and were sent to prepare the celebration of the Passover. We can credit Peter with being among the first to make "the great discovery," that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. He also received "the great promise" that he would serve as the foundation of Jesus' church. Peter also received the "great rebuke" for trying to stop Jesus from being executed. And the darkest time in Peter's life was "the great denial" when after having sworn great loyalty to Jesus, he denied Him three times before the rooster crowed just as Jesus had foretold.
Peter is said to be the first pope of the Catholic Church. He is known for being bishop of the church in Antioch and served in Asia Minor. Peter ended up in Rome and was martyred there, being crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.
A man of great love and devotion; his life serves to inspire us to do all we can for Jesus. We all have faults, but Jesus can build upon those to do the work of God in our midst.
PRAYER: Loving God, may Your blessing be upon this dear reader today. Bless them to be a loving and loyal follower of You in all they seek to do. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Do something so outrageous for God that He will change your name!
Eradio Valverde
