Subscription Lists
Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Simon Peter – Prominent Prophet of the Apostles (6 of 10)
Focus Text: John 1.41-42
In a very real sense, each one of us is a work in progress. So was Peter, especially when the following exchange took place: “‘Most assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you [Peter], when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’ This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Then Peter, turning around…” saw John and said to Jesus “‘…But Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.’” (John 21.18-22).
What prompted Peter to speak this way? Was it jealousy? Was it a fond hope that his fellow disciple would not suffer the same fate which was predicted for him? Perhaps we will never know Peter’s motive but what we can know is this: Jesus thought it best not to answer Peter’s question but rather to charge Peter again with his responsibility of following Him. Whether Peter loved John to the extent necessary to ask Jesus this question out of concern for John is an unknown, but we can know that Peter grew to love deeply and to demand that same love of others. Herein, we see yet another trait of Simon Peter; he became a man of tremendous love! There are three great texts which we will introduce briefly to show Peter’s ultimate view of love.
“Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” (1 Peter 2.17). To love the brotherhood is to love the collectivity of the saints, and to love the saints is to love Christ. Peter grew to understand that love was the badge of discipleship even as Christ has said it should be when He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13.34).
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” (1 Peter 4.8). Fervent love is intense love; it is unfeigned love (see 1 Peter 1.22 KJV). That type or degree of love was and is the only type that “will cover a multitude of sins.” It was the type of love that Jesus had for Peter; it is the type of love that believers must have for one another if they are ever to grow and get beyond superficial fellowship and into the deep fellowship of the Spirit of Christ.
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1.5-7). Frequently styled the Christian graces, Peter did not omit love as a grace, but perhaps he included it last to signify the perpetual pursuit of perfect love which must typify our own personal growth.
Peter was a man of love; only love could have sustained him during and through the trials to which he was subjected. Our duty is to love even as he was loved by Christ our Lord!
Questions:
1. What questions had Jesus just asked Peter before He spoke of the manner of death that Peter would experience?
2. What is the brotherhood? Why must we love it? Why will we love it?
3. Does love ignore or deny sin? If not, how does love cover sins?
4. Does perfect love exist in any individual alive today? Has perfect love ever existed in any individual? If so, in whom? How does this shape our view and pursuit of love?
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Today's Little Lift" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.