The Pebble and the Rock
peter and Christ
Chapter 1: Follow Me!
Chapter 2: Clean and Unclean
Chapter 3: Pride Goeth Before the Fall
Chapter 4: Was Peter the First Pope?
Chapter 5: The Pebble and the Rock
Introduction
Peter, next to Christ himself, is the, key figure of the Gospels. Paul, the champion of faith, makes his first entry into the historical record in the book of Acts. John remains an observer in the shadows until old age thrusts him into the role of sole surviving apostle and leader of the Christian Church. But Peter, from the first moment he met Christ, takes center stage, right, close to the spotlight.
Peter has been lionized and vilified by segments of the Christian Church, depending on one’s doctrinal slant. The Roman Catholic church makes him the first pope, celebrating his strengths and cherishing his flaws as it makes claims about him that may or may not be without warrant. Protestant denominations have played down Peter by emphasizing his very obvious weaknesses and missteps to elevate their apostle, Paul, to the preeminent spot among the Church’s early saints. Protestants dismiss Rome’s claims about Peter as ludicrous. No less an authority than Kittel’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament dismiss the Protestant objections out of hand in its discussion of Peter.
In view of this, most, if not all, secondary documents will be less than useful in giving insight into Peter the man. We are reduced to searching for clues in the biblical account. On the one hand, this is a very frustrating exercise, because, “These are the scriptures that testify about me,” the Savior proclaims. The focus of the Bible is Christ, not Peter. Yet what we can glean from this search will be certain, for these are the very words of God recorded by the Holy Spirit. A close reading will carry much weight.
The events of Peter’s discipleship are well-known. Peter walked on water. Peter wanted to stay on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter denied his Savior. Peter went to the Easter tomb. But read closer. There are themes, motifs, that underlie these events. Not the work of a clever author, these are the characteristics of a real person which reveal themselves in moments where instinct and passion overrule purpose and thought, the building blocks of his dynamic relationship with Jesus which show through.
Peter thinks in egocentric terms. The world revolves around him. People are to go from him. He will come to others. “Come-go” bears looking into as Peter and Jesus engage in a three year struggle over who will follow whom.
For a man in food production, fishing, eating is huge. Then add the fact of Peter’s Jewishness. “Clean-unclean” will be a fruitful search, going past the Gospel accounts into the book of Acts and beyond.
Peter is a good confessor, but who will he confess? One of our searches will be “Pride Goeth Before the Fall.” One has to admire Peter’s ability to take Jesus’ rebukes and his initiative which spurs Jesus to some of his greatest teachings in response to Peter’s questions and questionable confessions.
We would be remiss in not investigating Peter’s position of leadership among the disciples with a view of whether Peter is the first “Pope.” And that will lead us back to where we began, The Pebble and the Rock. Instead of sifting through all the occurrences of Peter in the Gospels, we will pursue these motifs.
Come-go
Read Mark 1.16-20 (Matthew 4.18-22)
This is not the first time Jesus has crossed paths with Peter.
Background
John 1.35-42
Where is Jesus at this time?
In the south, near the Jordan.
What has happened?
Jesus has been baptized by John.
Who are the first men Jesus meets?
Jesus had called his first disciples, Andrew and John, near the Jordan. They, in turn brought their brothers, James and Peter, with the memorable first meeting with Peter.
Why is this significant?
Three of these men are the inner circle of disciples with Andrew playing a significant role throughout the Gospels.
How is Peter singled out?
Jesus gives Simon the nickname Peter.
John 2.1-2
What does John already call the men accompanying Jesus from the Jordan to Galilee?
The disciples follow Jesus up to Galilee, witnessing the miracle at the Wedding at Cana. Here they are called disciples, though Jesus has not, as of yet, asked them to follow him.
Acts 1.15-26
What is necessary for the apostles to do and why?
After the Ascension, Peter takes the accustomed role of apostolic leader to fill the position Judas Iscariot left vacant by his suicide.
What are the qualifications for the “replacement” apostle?
They must be eyewitnesses to the life and work of Christ from his baptism until his ascension.
How does Peter show these are the same qualifications the original apostles had?
Peter clearly says the replacement is to be equal to us, witnessing the same things we did, from Jesus’ baptism to his Ascension.
Penetrating the text
What are Andrew and Peter doing?
Jesus comes across Andrew and Peter, busy casting their nets onto the lake, presumably close to the shore.
What are his exact words to them?
Come, follow me.
What does that mean? Can you draw a diagram illustrating it? Use a circle for the most important person, the square for the person who is less important. Use arrows to show their relation or the direction of their relation.
Jesus asks them to come, come to him, leaving their former life behind, and follow him. Jesus doesn’t call them into a static relationship with him, but into a dynamic, fluid, growing relationship. Jesus is going to go places. He wants them to come along.
What Gospel promise does Jesus give Andrew and Peter that they may obey his call?
He calls to them from the shore, inviting them to follow him. He gives them the promise, “You will be fishers of men.”
What are their reactions?
They leave their ship and nets and follow him.
What is the same in the account of Jesus’ calling of James and John?
Jesus utters the same invitation to them, with the same promise and experiences the same results.
A Savior for Peter
Shortly after Jesus’ calling of his first disciples, Peter experiences the impact of Jesus’ work in a very personal way, all in one day! Let’s follow Peter that Sabbath in Capernaum.
Read Mark 1.23-28
Why are the people amazed at Jesus in the worship service even before he performs a miracle?
Jesus is different from the other teachers—he has authority, preaching with certainty and conviction, proving his points from the Word, so unlike the teachers of the law.
What does the miracle impress upon them?
Jesus even has authority over demons.
What is their emotion at this time?
They are amazed.
Qambew means a little bit more than being amazed. It means to be fearfully amazed, spooked by what you’ve seen.
What would your feelings about Jesus be if you were in Peter’s shoes?
I would be a little bit scared, wondering what I was getting myself into. Awe and fear might be more the emotions rather than amazement and giddy wonder.
What was everyone else evidently feeling?
It certainly struck them, though the fear was overcome by the “newsiness” of it all as they spread the news throughout the countryside, setting up the events after the Sabbath is over.
Mark 1.29-31
Times haven’t changed much--what do friends often do after church on a Sunday?
People go out to eat together after church or have others over to their homes for dinner.
How considerate is Peter? Explain your answer.
Peter is so taken by what has happened that he invites Jesus to his house for the Sabbath meal, though his mother-in-law is burning up with a fever. The inference is that others, not Peter, told Jesus about this.
What might be fearfully amazing to Peter about what Jesus does?
He immediately heals the woman and she serves them all. Jesus is not just the Savior of the faceless people “out there,” but the personal Savior of Peter.
Mark 1.32-34
What other evidence is given that Christ in Peter’s life may bring a lot of complications?
That night, when the Sabbath is over, the whole town turns out at Peter’s home for all their sick to be healed. They are at the door. It must have been bedlam. Peter sees all this. His life is impacted. He senses how topsy-turvy things are going to get.
Read Luke 5.1-11
What does Jesus tell Peter to do and why is this nonsense to Peter?
Go out and fish in the deep waters. It was too late to catch fish. The bugs of the early morning were gone and so were the fish. And even if bugs were still present, they would not be out in the deep water—they’d be close to the bushes on the shore.
So why does Peter do it?
Because Jesus says it he will do it. He has faith in Jesus, taking Jesus at his word, no matter how absurd it might seem.
How big is the miracle and why is it so personal for Peter?
They have to get John and James to help them, and even with two boats the weight of the fish almost swamps the boats. Now Jesus is showing his power to Peter personally, for Peter.
What is Peter’s initial reaction to this miracle?
You guessed it--qambos grips Peter.
Why does Peter ask Jesus to leave him?
Now Peter knows what he is up against and he begs Jesus, on his knees, to leave him, for I am a sinful man. Jesus is to go away from Peter.
Can you diagram Peter’s request? Use a circle for the most important person in Peter’s eyes.
What did Jesus want Peter to do in their relationship?
Follow me.
What did Peter want Jesus to do?
Jesus to leave him, just the opposite of Peter following Jesus.
How does this story have a Gospel ending?
Jesus gives the promise that he will make Peter a fisher of men.
Read Matthew 14.22-32
What had just happened?
Jesus had just fed over 5000 people with a small boy’s even smaller lunch.
Why was Jesus so urgent in getting the disciples into the boat (John 6.14-15)?
The people Jesus had fed wanted to make him their king, someone who would take care of their every need without their working for daily bread. They were free-loading unbelievers, but because of their numbers and the passions they showed, a very dangerous mob.
How long had the disciples been awake (Mark 6.31-32)?
The fourth watch was 3-6 am. Assuming the disciples got up at dawn (6 am), they had been awake and engaged in strenuous exercise (sailing in the morning and rowing the boat this night) as well as the stress of dealing with so many people, for 22 hours. You’d be a little punch drunk, too.
What were the disciples thinking?
They were going to die.
What are they thinking when they see Jesus walking on the water.
They were going to die and this ghost might be the one to do them in.
What words of encouragement does Jesus speak which should soothe their fears?
It is I. Don’t be afraid.
What does Peter want Jesus to do?
Peter wants Jesus to tell him to walk on the water to Jesus.
Diagram this event using the circle and rectangle and arrows we’ve grown accustomed to.
Who is getting the emphasis, according to Peter’s words?
Peter. He’s the one who will be doing the action. Jesus is to remain static, a point to which Peter is walking.
How does Peter’s actions show this?
He turns his eyes away from Jesus and sees the wind-whipped waves and, when relying on himself, he sinks.
How does this story have a Gospel ending?
Jesus grabs him according to Peter’s plea and gets him into the boat.
Has Peter matured in his faith?
No, not really. Peter is still the main man and Jesus is just a static point. But at least Peter doesn’t want Jesus to go away.
Read John 6.66-69
Many of Jesus’ disciples (maqetoi), true followers, were deserting Jesus because they were offended by his Bread of Life teachings which insisted he was the only way to heaven.
How badly had this defection shaken Jesus?
He turns to his own disciples, the Twelve, and asks them if they are intending to leave him also. The form of his question begs them to give him a “no” answer.
What is Peter’s confession?
You are the Holy One of God. You have the Words of life. To whom shall we go?
How does this line up with the come-go motif in Peter’s life?
Peter sees his relationship to Jesus in terms of what he is going to do as opposed to a static, immobile Jesus.
Who is getting the emphasis, who is the agent, according to Peter’s words? Diagram it.
What diagram best describes Jesus’ command to Peter, “Follow me!”
Peter Jesus
How far has Peter come in his understanding of Jesus’ command to “Follow me!”
At least now Peter seems content to let Jesus be in command, though he doesn’t seem ready to grasp the dynamics of Jesus. Jesus won’t stand still. Peter wants him to.
Read Mark 8.33
Peter has just made his powerful confession of Christ (we’ll get to that later in the course). Then Jesus has started his instruction about his sufferings and death. Peter objects. Jesus rebukes Peter.
Look closely at Jesus’ words. Who is Jesus talking to?
It is obvious Jesus is talking to Peter, but he calls Peter Satan, because Peter is mouthing satanic temptations for Jesus, to avoid the cross as the price of mankind’s salvation.
Who must take the lead?
Jesus.
Who must follow?
Peter.
What diagram would express this relationship between Peter and Jesus?
Peter Jesus
What is Peter’s read of this relationship? Draw a diagram.
Jesus Peter
How close is this to the way Peter has been looking at things all along?
It is perhaps the farthest Peter has ever gotten in his conception of his relationship with Christ—totally backward with Peter calling the shots, doing the leading, and Christ following! It is typical of Peter in this regard—he is still in the driver’s seat.
What is Peter’s problem?
Self-centered egotism. His pride does not want to have to cling to a suffering Savior. He wants the crown of glory, not the cross of shame.
There is one more incident pertinent to this discussion before we get to the last, climactic one.
Read Mark 10.17-28 (Matt 19.27 and Luke 18.28)
Describe this young man.
He is sincere and religious. He seems intent on keeping the commandments. Seldom do the Gospel writers show Jesus’ inner emotions towards a person, but here they do—“he loved him.”
How does Jesus pop his bubble?
He tells him to put God ahead of his possessions—sell everything and follow me.
What is significant about Jesus’ words, “come, follow me”?
These are the same words Jesus used to call his twelve disciples. It doesn’t seem to be a phrase Jesus used often.
Why can’t this man follow Jesus?
He hasn’t even kept the first commandment, loving his great possessions more than he loves Jesus.
What does this say to the disciples?
Materialistic man cannot enter heaven.
How does Peter show he is starting to understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus?
Peter shows he is not putting things before Jesus, because they have left everything to follow Jesus. He knows he has to follow Jesus’ lead on Jesus’ terms. But he doesn’t want to lose out for doing so!
Can you diagram Peter’s conception now of what it means to follow Jesus?
Peter Jesus
Follow Me (Finally! Maybe)
The closing days of the Passion Week were horrendous for Peter. When Jesus wants to wash the disciples’ feet, Peter objects and is mildly rebuked by Jesus. Peter’s enthusiastic faith kicks in and wants Jesus to wash him from head to toe. He knows Christ deserves and demands whole-hearted allegiance in his followers. They want to give him nothing less.
It follows with Peter’s bragging claims that even if all fall away from the Christ, he never would. He would accompany Jesus right to the death. We might dispute Peter’s assessment of his own powers, but he has the right view of following Christ. Anywhere at any cost.
Then come the cursed denials of Christ right in the courtyard of the high priest. Peter claims not to know Christ. He denies having any part of him, something he feared when Christ was trying to wash his feet. He falls away from Christ (for in his predictions of the future, Jesus tells Peter, “When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers (Luke 22.32).”
What is Peter’s position now? Can he still be a disciple? After all this, has it finally occurred to Peter what it means to follow Christ?
Read John 21
Show how Peter’s actions in verses 1-14 reveal he is a true follower of Jesus.
He and the others obey Christ’s command to throw the net on the other side of the boat. Peter dives overboard and swims to be close to Jesus. He personally obeys Christ’s command to bring the fish, dragging all 153 of them by himself! Christ says “Jump,” and Peter asks “How high?”
Why does Christ three times ask Peter if Peter loved him?
Peter denied Jesus three times so Jesus asks this basic question three times as a way of reinstating Peter.
Actually, the questions are more devastating to Peter than merely repeating the same question three times. The first time Jesus asks if Peter agapos (agapw) him more than the disciples. This is the highest form of love, unselfish, the love of God made flesh. The second time Christ simply asks Peter if he agapos him. The third time Christ uses a word that describes merely the give-and-take love of friendship, fileo, filew. Do you love me more than these? Do you love me? Do you at least like me?
Do you detect a progression in Peter’s answers?
He doesn’t claim to love Jesus more than the others. Finally he gives up on himself entirely and relies totally on Christ’s knowledge of him—You know I love you!
John, in recording Christ’s words to Peter (vv. 18-19), tells us Christ is predicting the type of death Peter would die. Having followed this “come-go” motif in Peter’s life, it may be even a bit more telling than that. How is this descriptive of Peter’s entire stint as Christ’s disciple?
He has never wanted to go where Christ led him. Peter is headstrong and wants to do the going and coming.
What does Christ’s sudden words , “Follow me!” do for you as we have been following this theme in Peter’s life?
Like a flash of lightning we are back at the beginning, a miraculous catch of fish, the probing of souls, the inner struggle of Peter and the command to follow Christ the way Christ wants to be followed, single-mindedly, without conditions.
Peter still doesn’t quite get it. From verses 20-22, prove that he doesn’t quite get it yet.
He is more worried about what will happen to John.
Describe how Peter’s position as leader of the disciples might be a hindrance to him following Christ.
Peter feels responsible for the rest, he wants to be in control and know what is going to happen. This exaggerates his role in his own mind, while it diminishes Christ’s role.
How does Christ get Peter back on track?
He tells him “You must follow me.” Actually the Greek is an emphatic command. “You! Follow me!”
Can you diagram what Christ is expecting as a relationship between him and Peter, this one, last time?
Peter Jesus
There is an apocryphal Acts of Peter, written in the second century. No, it isn’t Gospel, but it is interesting to see the “come-go” struggle of being a follower of Christ still remembered. It is the famous Quo Vadis passage. Let’s take a look at it. Agrippa, a Roman magistrate, is going to put Peter to death. Xanthippe, his wife, is a Christian and tries to warn Peter of the danger he is in.
XXXV. And as they considered these things, Xanthippe took knowledge of the counsel of her husband with Agrippa, and sent and showed Peter, that he might depart from Rome. And the rest of the brethren, together with Marcellus, besought him to depart. But Peter said unto them: Shall we be runaways, brethren? and they said to him: Nay, but that thou mayest yet be able to serve the Lord. And he obeyed the brethren's voice and went forth alone, saying: Let none of you come forth with me, but I will go forth alone, having changed the fashion of mine apparel. And as he went forth of the city, he saw the Lord entering into Rome. And when he saw him, he said: Lord, whither goest thou thus ? And the Lord said unto him: I go into Rome to be crucified. And Peter said unto him: Lord, art thou (being) crucified again? He said unto him: Yea, Peter, I am (being) crucified again. And Peter came to himself: and having beheld the Lord ascending up into heaven, he returned to Rome, rejoicing, and glorifying the Lord, for that he said: I am being crucified: the which was about to befall Peter.
Can you diagram this relationship of Peter and Christ?
How does it line up with what Christ wants?
It lines up perfectly! Finally!
Our boy has done it! But you can imagine how he must have frustrated Christ!
Hard-won Lessons (Maybe)
Peter wanted a static Christ who was always the same and never led him into new or unforeseen circumstances. Today’s consultants might say Peter did not want to leave his “comfort zone.”
> What is Christ’s clear will for his Church on earth, and especially that little branch office of his at Green Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church, when it comes to new members or every race and economic class?
> How can we be like Peter struggling with an incomplete grasp of what it meant to follow Christ in that situation?
Peter, at his worst, wanted a Christ who obeyed him, who followed the script of glory that Peter wanted. Like a little idol in your pocket who brought you only good luck and happy times.
> How can we fall into that trap in times of severe illness or personal crisis?
> Is there a danger with congregations that emphasize only the glory of Christ and the victory of the Christian life? What is it?
Peter’s leadership role among the disciples got him into trouble.
> What is expected of a leader that is at odds with being a follower? How must this be reconciled in a role of Christian leadership, be it a council member, a pastor or a synodical president?
> Do you have to be in control of your own life? Why or why not?
Next lesson: Clean-Unclean
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Jesus Peter
Jesus Peter
Jesus Peter
Chapter 2: Clean and Unclean
Chapter 3: Pride Goeth Before the Fall
Chapter 4: Was Peter the First Pope?
Chapter 5: The Pebble and the Rock
Introduction
Peter is a central figure in the Gospels, second only to Christ. The events of his life are well-known, but a closer look reveals characteristics of Peter which are building blocks in his relationship to Christ.
Last chapter we looked at Peter’s struggle to grasp what it meant to be a follower of Christ with the “come-go” motif of the Gospels. Who would end up following whom? It was a pretty nuanced study. This chapter looks at something a lot easier to grasp—food!
For a man such as Peter in food production (fishing), eating is huge. Then add the fact of Peter’s Jewishness. “Clean-unclean” will be a fruitful search, going past the Gospel accounts into the book of Acts and beyond.
When we think of fisherman, we shouldn’t think of it in terms of a low-life occupation. It was dangerous and dirty. Most of the jobs held by non-Romans in the ancient world were. But it was a respectable, middle-class sort of thing. The towns and villages around the Sea of Galilee got most of their animal protein from fish. Rabbinical writings are full of praises for this or that type of fish and its preparation. As it has been up until recently, fish was a food affordable for all and blessed were those with full nets coming to market!
If we look at Peter’s Gospel, food is mentioned in two out of every three chapters of the Gospel according to Mark, including the pivotal chapters regarding Christ’s Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem, his suffering and death and his resurrection! Like any Jew bound by ceremonial dietary laws of his day, Peter was tuned in to food.
Clean-Unclean
Read Mark 7.1-23 (Matthew 15.1-20)
Jesus did not only have the disciples with him. Often he had “anti-disciples,” the investigators from the Sanhedrin (usually Pharisees), who were sent to tail him and flush him out, discrediting him as the Christ.
They come up with an infraction of the law on the part of Christ’s disciples. What is it?
They don’t wash their hands before they eat. The Pharisees had various laws about cleanness, notably washing your hands before you ate.
Is that really a sin?
No. It was a man-made law.
Christ reacts very badly to their objections. What is a hypocrite and how does he prove they are hypocrites?
One who appears to be a believer when he is not. Their hearts are far from God, because they adhere to the teachings of men rather than the commands of God.
What command of God had the Pharisees put aside? Explain it.
The fourth commandment—honor your father and your mother. For a payment to the Temple treasury (probably a fraction of what it would otherwise cost), they would be free from the responsibility of taking care of an aged mother or father.
Now Christ addresses the issue of clean and unclean food.
Who had instituted these dietary laws of the Jews in the first place? (see Leviticus 11.46-47).
God, not man
What astonishing statement does Christ make regarding clean and unclean foods?
Nothing you put into yourself can make you clean or unclean.
What biological proof does Jesus give?
The food doesn’t really enter a person, it merely is falling through him.
What does make a person unclean?
What comes out of his heart, the various vices Christ mentions.
How did Christ’s words strike Peter?
He specifically mentions that here is when Jesus does away with all the Old Testament ceremonial dietary laws. Whether Peter realized that at the time it occurred remains to be seen.
How could Jesus simply annul Old Testament ceremonial laws? What was the purpose of these Old Testament ceremonial laws?—see Galatians 3.23-25.
Note: Paidagogos (paidagogos) was a Greek slave entrusted to keep the wealthy teenage boy out of trouble, sort of like Jiminy Cricket to Pinocchio! The kid literally had to do what the slave told him to—go to school, do your homework, get home, don’t throw those dice in that dark alleyway and never, ever try to draw on an inside straight!
To keep the Jews Jewish until the Savior would appear.
Did the Jews need this paidagogos when they “reached age,” namely, when the Savior appeared? Explain.
No. They had freedom to live their faith as adults.
Can you prove it from this passage?
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Colossians 2.16-17
The Ceremonial Law is abolished in Christ. It no longer serves a purpose, just as you don’t look at the shadow when the person who casts that shadow is there. To keep the Ceremonial Law is neither morally commendable or damnable.
Read Mark 2.23-28 (Matthew 12.1-8, Luke 5.33-39)
While “clean-unclean” had not come up before, observances of the ceremonial law had. Most of the time Christ was at the center of it—he took a (the way the Pharisees looked at it) fiendish delight in healing people on the Sabbath, many times right during the Sabbath worship service! But there was one time when the disciples were not safe bystanders—they were in the Pharisee cross-hairs!
What day was it?
The Sabbath.
What was not permitted on this day?
No work of any sort was permitted on this day. The Pharisees counted work a little differently than the Israelites had throughout their history.
What was the problem with the disciples?—see Matthew’s account
They were hungry. Jewish custom did not consider taking a little bit of someone’s grain harvest as stealing.
Jesus cites the story of David at Nob. David had been warned by his friend, King Saul’s son, Jonathan, that Saul was intent on killing David. David quickly flees with his most trusted aides. They do not even return to the palace to get food or retrieve their weapons. He makes a beeline for the priestly city of Nob, where his friend, the high priest Abiathar, lives.
But David is unpleasantly surprised. There’s no food for him! There is only the Bread of the Presence which the priests would put in the Holy Place for a week and then eat when it was replaced with fresh loaves. Abiathar is puzzled that David is alone and without weapons. David lies to Abiathar, hoping to keep Abiathar from becoming hurt. (It is a futile hope—Doeg, a pagan shepherd of Saul, who happens to be at Nob that day, squeals on David and, after Abiathar is arrested, questioned and condemned by Saul, Doeg slays him and all the entire town of Nob.) Abiathar in good faith gives David both food and the sword of Goliath which had been kept there.
How is the disciples’ predicament exactly like David’s predicament.
They were hungry.
To compare David’s plight with the disciples’ plight almost seems mock heroic, but think about it. Would the Pharisees condemn King David, even for eating sacred food contrary to the given law of Moses?
No. He was their hope and inspiration, for they were also waiting for the Messiah to come, but as a second David, a royal, political ruler.
How could they condemn the disciples for simply eating ordinary, raw heads of wheat?
They couldn’t, without seeming utterly biased.
What was the purpose of all God’s laws?
To help man, not to be a burden to him.
This will make a big impression upon Peter, as we will see later, when the Christian Church is faced with a Pharisaic strain of living in its own midst.
Read Acts 10
Did Peter understand what Jesus had said in his parable about food going through a person, but what comes out of the heart makes a person clean or unclean?
For a considerable period of time, the apostles had only spread the Good News to Jews. Granted, the Jews may have been converts to Judaism, as the foreigners on Pentecost were, the Ethiopian eunuch and Simon Magus. They were observing, consciously or not, the ceremonial laws that prevented Jews from closely associating with Gentiles.
Describe Cornelius. Was he or was he not a convert to Judaism?
Centurion, a Roman commander of 100 men, devout and God-fearing. No. The “God-fearers” were not circumcised.
Was he an Old Testament believer?
Yes. God had heard his prayers.
What is significant about Luke’s mentioning that Cornelius sent “a devout” soldier who was one of Cornelius’ attendants?
Cornelius shared his faith, not only with family and family servants, but with those of his century.
The next day Luke shifts the scene to Joppa and Peter. What is Peter’s problem?
He is hungry and lunch isn’t ready yet!
What happens?
He sees a vision.
What is Peter supposed to kill and eat?
All sorts of unclean animals, really unclean animals.
How does the old Peter show himself?
He blatantly and forcefully refuses to obey the Lord.
How deeply ingrained were the ceremonial dietary laws in Peter?
These dietary laws were so ingrained in Peter that even in a vision when he is being commanded by the Lord, he instinctively recoils from getting near those animals.
Are there certain foods you would not even try? Why or why not?
Rattlesnake and all other foods which the punch line “tastes just like chicken,” come to mind.
Why would Peter have even more reason to dismiss certain foods out of hand?
These dietary laws were not the result of a mother’s instruction, family tradition or personal squeamishness, but these dietary laws were the result of God giving all his law to Moses on Mt. Sinai.
What was God’s punch line?
Don’t call anything impure that God has made clean.
How many times does this scenario play out?
Three times.
Does Peter go to Cornelius’ home because he has figured out the meaning of the vision? Why or why not?
Yes! He goes because, as he tells Cornelius, he shouldn’t call any man impure. It certainly didn’t hurt that the Holy Spirit tells him to go, because the Holy Spirit has sent the men to Peter.
How does Peter’s entry into Cornelius’ home get off to a bad start?
Cornelius bows to him, showing reverence. This is what the Gentiles did to show respect to men of high standing, but they also did this to their idols and Peter is clearly put off by it, for a Jew bows to no man.
How sold is Peter on all this, according to his words?
Not very. He simply raises no objections. He isn’t overjoyed to be there.
What does Cornelius reveal that changes Peter’s tune?
We are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.
Cornelius and his circle evidently knew some things about Jesus and were ignorant of other things. What did they and what did they not know?
They knew of Jesus’ life, but they didn’t know about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, as well as his post-Easter appearances.
What is the apostle’s role in all this?
Peter is a witness to all this and his is to tell of what he has seen.
What proof does Peter give Cornelius of the validity of his testimony?
Peter claims to be an eyewitness to all this and claims the prophets testify about it.
What is the heart of all the prophetic promises about Jesus?
All who believe in him will be saved.
Do you remember your answer whether Cornelius was a convert to Judaism? Can you pick out a phrase in verse 45 that shows you were right?
The circumcised believers. This sets them off from Cornelius and his circle, who were obviously uncircumcised believers.
What had happened to Cornelius and his circle?
The miracle of Pentecost had been repeated upon them, for they spoke in tongues.
Can you prove Cornelius and his circle were speaking in foreign languages?
Peter claims they have received the Holy Spirit just as he had and he spoke in foreign languages on Pentecost.
How did Cornelius and his circle become “fully Christian?”
They were baptized in the name of Jesus.
Peter has vividly learned a lesson about the scope and breadth of God’s love. He will subsequently stand up to a group of accusing Christians at Jerusalem who are angry that he has gone in unto uncircumcised people. But further pressure and controversy await. Now that “unclean” people have been admitted by God into his Church, how “unclean” can they still be?
“Judaizers” are active in Antioch, claiming one could only be fully a Christian if they were circumcised. Paul and Barnabas object and the question is taken to the elders in Jerusalem, a church council, if you will. Paul and Barnabas report about their considerable missionary activity among uncircumcised Gentiles and how the Word of the Lord grew. Then the Judaizers step forward with their claims that Christians must obey Moses. In the deliberation Peter plays an important role and the council decides that no other rules should be imposed upon the Gentiles than that they keep themselves from idolatry and eating blood.
Read Galatians 1.11-21
Some years pass. Peter has moved up to Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas are at work.
What was the custom at Antioch when it came to their fellowship meals?
Jews and Gentiles (uncircumcised believers) ate together.
What changed Peter’s custom?
Men from James’ circle in Jerusalem came up. It would appear that, being in Jerusalem, there were very few Gentile believers, so the church there was in the habit of keeping Old Testament dietary laws as a matter of habit or personal choice. When they came, Peter stopped eating with the Gentiles.
Why would Peter feel constrained to change his eating habits?
He felt pressured by the Jerusalem Christians, though there is no indication of overt pressure exercised by them. It is Peter Paul lays into, not the visitors from Jerusalem.
How dangerous was Peter’s example?
Very dangerous. Other Jews in the congregation were following his example and even Barnabas was caught up in it.
What was at stake?
The Gospel. People would get the idea that they had to believe in Jesus AND live according to Old Testament laws to be saved.
What does Paul think of Peter’s actions?
Paul says Peter is clearly in the wrong and calls his actions hypocritical.
Why would Peter have done this?
He still doesn’t like to be freed from Old Testament dietary laws. His learning curve isn’t the greatest, as we’ve seen from chapter 1.
What is the implication of Paul’s words?
Peter changed his tune, otherwise Paul would have been in the wrong and why should the Galatians listen to him?
Old Habits Die Hard (Always)
Peter knew it didn’t matter what a person ate or whether a person was circumcised or not. What mattered was whether a person believed in Jesus or not. Yet, at times in his life, Peter didn’t always show that knowledge, even putting a religious slant on his unwarranted actions.
We are no better. Other Lutheran denominations have had their “worship wars” going on for a number of years and the WELS, always slow on the uptake, is starting to enter into these troubled waters.
What is the important thing about worship?
Would these songs be OK for worship? Why or why not?
? Ave Maria
? My Sweet Lord (The Beatles)
? Anything sung to the tune of
“The Beer Barrel Polka”
What was obviously important to the early Christians was to provide a place where the Gentiles could be accepted, hear the Word of God and grow in their faith. “To place no obstacles in their way,” we might summarize the council at Jerusalem. What obstacles might we inadvertently be putting in the way of visitors to our church? Consider these things.
? Coffee Hour
? The first-time visitor sitting all by themselves with a cookie.
? Where everything is
? The centrality of the word
? How full are the pews
? How does the property look
? Is Bible study easy to get to for everyone
? The pastor’s always resorting to slang and culturally conditioned comparisons
Do people have to be like us before they can be Lutherans? Then how come they look so much like us?
How much does the pastor’s eating (or drinking or smoking) habits affect his ministry? Give some examples where it helps his ministry and some examples where it may hurt his ministry.
Next lesson: Pride Goeth Before the Fall
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Chapter 3: Pride Goeth Before the Fall
Chapter 4: Was Peter the First Pope?
Chapter 5: The Pebble and the Rock
Introduction
Peter is a central figure in the Gospels, second only to Christ. The events of his life are well-known, but a closer look reveals characteristics of Peter which are building blocks in his relationship to Christ.
Last chapter we looked at Peter’s struggle to overcome personal and religious prejudices regarding Old Testament ceremonial laws, especially dietary laws. Christ had really made them free. This chapter narrows the focus even more. We will look at the two confessions Peter made of Christ and give at least one incident where Peter’s questions initiated a teaching of Jesus. We will also look at Peter’s vain-glorious confessions about himself on Maundy Thursday.
To Whom Should We Go?
Read John 6.60-71
John 6 marks the high point of Christ’s earthly ministry. It starts out with the miraculous feeding of the 5000. Then comes the awesome account of Christ walking on water as Christ and his disciples flee the earthly-minded crowd which wants to make Christ its Bread King. But the crowd catches up to Christ back in Capernaum where Christ gives his sublime Bread of Life sermon. Christ is the real bread of life that gives eternal life. As people need to eat bread to survive, this eating of Christ is faith in him which gives eternal life.
How did Christ’s teaching go over with these people?
Badly! Many who had followed him stopped being his followers because of all this talk about eating Christ’s flesh and drinking his blood, pictures of the necessity of faith which they did not catch.
How does Christ make the situation only worse?
He speaks of his coming ascension and the necessity of listening to his Spirit-filled words.
Many people have pointed to these words of Christ to prove what means the Holy Spirit uses to convert people. Can you explain their point?
The words of Christ convey the Holy Spirit and eternal life through faith that the Holy Spirit works through that Gospel word of Christ. The Holy Spirit works through means—the Gospel.
Christ makes matters even worse—how?
By telling some of the people the hard truth that they don’t believe in him and he knows it! John can’t help making the connection with Judas Isacariot here.
How does a person come to faith, when all these people who seem to be following Jesus really don’t believe in him?
They are given faith to follow Christ by the Father. This is a cornerstone passage for the Bible’s teaching of salvation by grace, God’s undeserved favor, alone.
The results are predictable. But maybe so many stopped following Christ that it hurt him very deeply. Why does he ask his Apostles if they are going to leave?
Either he actually doesn’t know if they will leave or not or he wants to give them an opportunity to analyze why they are following him.
The way Christ phrases the question, what answer is he hoping to get?
No, they don’t want to leave Christ.
Look at Peter’s response and prove your answers from Peter’s words--Who is he speaking for?
The apostles—we.
Will they desert Christ?
No, there is nowhere else to go.
How did Peter know Christ had the words of eternal life?
He had been listening and believing in Christ’s previous words to the crowd.
How did Peter clinch his argument, showing it was unthinkable for any of the Apostles to desert Christ?
Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Holy One of God.
What is Peter confessing when he calls Christ “the Holy One of God?”
Christ’s divine nature—he is more than a human being. This was the claim Jesus was making that was turning off the crowd, that he was more than a human being.
How does Christ throw a wet towel over Peter’s confession?
He talks about one of the very Twelve being a devil.
Was it wrong of Christ to say this? Why would he say it?
No, it wasn’t wrong of Jesus to say this. It shows how hurt he is by the betrayal of so many followers deserting him. Peter’s confession on behalf of the Twelve might allow Judas Iscariot to blend in with the crowd, so Christ specifically turns the heat up on him, showing he knows what is going on behind the scenes. It is not a slam on Peter as much as it is needed to warn Judas.
You Are the Christ
It’s time to honestly confront the text.
Read Matthew 15.13-28
Locate Caesarea Phillippi on the map.
How far off the beaten path is Caesarea Philippi?
Really far off—it is in a totally different country—Philip’s territory. Granted, his holdings started on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, but Caesarea Philippi was almost at the foot of Mt. Hermon, the northernmost boundary of Palestine.
Why would Christ be there?
Christ was there to have some time away from the crowds, to have some time to privately instruct his disciples.
What is lacking in all the identifications people are making with Christ?
They are missing the fact of his divine nature.
What does Peter mean when he confesses these two things?
> Christ
Jesus is the Messiah, the God-appointed Savior of the world.
> Son of the living God
Jesus is true God, God the Son.
How did Peter get so smart?
It was revealed to him by the Father, who has given Peter faith.
Who is Jesus praising—Peter or Peter’s confession or a combination of the two?
Jesus is praising Peter’s confession as a teacher would praise a student’s perceptive answer, but it is impossible to separate the answer and the answerer!
What is the role of praise in a Christian’s life? Consider these scenarios.
Ø The pastor preaches a particularly powerful sermon—he has worked hard at it. After church a member thanks him for the sermon, the pastor replies, “Well, I don’t walk on water yet.”
Ø The youth choir sings such a winsome, wonderful song in church that the congregation breaks out in applause afterwards.
Ø The church council has a tradition of giving a going away banquet to outgoing members of the council, thanking them for their service.
Praise is something we Christians need—we seek the praise of God, that is, his justification of us that we might have a right standing with him. Praise from fellow Christians is also appreciated. When that happens, we recognize they are congratulating us, but even more so giving praise to God for working those accomplishments through us. It’s how God treats good works. He does them, the Holy Spirit is the powerhouse of all that is good in us, yet God praises us and graciously rewards us. The preacher seems uncomfortable with praise—maybe he protests too much and is putting too much stock in his own efforts. Spontaneous applause certainly encourages the children to keep up singing God’s praises. There is no reason why seasoned leaders won’t recognize that God is being given the glory for their long years of service. If that banquet gives them the big head, well, what a fool that congregation was to have voted them into office to begin with!
What is going to be built on Peter’s confession?
Christ is going to build his Church on the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
We are going to take an in-depth look at this passage in chapter five, but what does it appear Christ is giving Peter?
The ministry of the keys, the peculiar power to forgive sins to those who repent and to refuse to forgive sins to those who refuse to repent.
Why would he do that in this setting?
It is natural to think of the work of the Church in the same breath as talking about building the Church.
What is the only job of the Church?
To proclaim the forgiveness of sins. All other messages are foreign to its mission. All other works are incidental to its mission.
Why would this knowledge about Jesus being the Christ need to be kept a secret at this point in his earthly ministry?
People were eager to see in Christ a King of Glory and the information that he was the Messiah would be hopelessly twisted into an earthly King who would drive out the Romans. The Christ came to be a spiritual King who would drive out sin from his believers’ hearts.
How does Christ show what the most important part of his mission is?
He starts teaching the disciples of his suffering and death.
How detailed is Christ in predicting the future?
Very detailed—even his resurrection on the third day is mentioned.
Are there any details he is leaving out?
He does not mention the Romans and crucifixion.
What is Peter’s response?
He tells Christ that it will never happen to him. He is telling Christ to stop talking about it.
How does Peter show he thinks he has special privileges with Christ?
He takes Christ aside to speak to him, apart from the apostles.
What is really happening here?
A temptation is rising before Christ to avoid the way of the cross.
Why does Christ call Peter “Satan”?
This is what Satan has been trying to do since the first temptations in the wilderness, to get Christ to choose the path of glory to save the human race rather than follow the Father’s will and walk the path of shame and the cross to save the human race.
How does Christ amplify this teaching of the cross?
Every believer will take up his own cross of self-denial and shame to follow Christ.
Up to Seven Times?
Christ’s teachings do not come out in a concise, clearly thought-out way like we read teachings in a philosophy book. They came out according to the situation. Most often Christ’s teachings were drawn out or instigated by challenges from his enemies. Sometimes his teachings were the result of questions by his disciples.
Read Matthew 18.21-35, but first scan the chapter.
What has Jesus been teaching his apostles during this chapter recounted by Matthew?
Forgiveness. They were mistaken about greatness—a little child is the example—they were so wrong. They were like a lost sheep that had to be brought back and there are lots of people who are like lost sheep that sin against us; we are to go to them to bring them back!
Prove that Peter has been listening and assimilating Christ’s teachings.
He asks whether seven times in a day is the limit of forgiveness.
We show the scars of our teachers—who had been the teachers of Peter’s childhood and how does this show in his question to Christ?
The Pharisees had rules and answers to everything. Just follow the operating manual and everything would be all right.
What does Peter’s question occasion?
Christ’s teaching of the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.
Remember the definition of a parable? An earthly story with a heavenly meaning!
Who do the characters represent?
King (God)
First Servant (Me)
Second Servant (Those who sin against me)
What does the parable mean to you?
I am to forgive my fellow man when he sins against me, because God has forgiven me so much.
Is forgiveness such a good work that it earns God’s forgiveness of us?
No!
What, then, is the meaning of the “punch line “of the parable?
If I do not forgive my brother when he is repentant, it shows I have an unforgiving heart. An unforgiving heart is a heart untouched by God’s forgiveness, because it has rejected that forgiveness. An unforgiving heart lives in a person who thinks he is God, he doesn’t make any mistakes. He doesn’t need anybody to forgive him. What’s your problem?
Would Christ have taught this parable had Peter not asked the question?
Probably not. It is not taught in any other setting in the Gospels. So many of Christ’s teachings were taught in response to people’s questions. He is more of a passive teacher than a systematic and aggressive dogmatician.
I Never Will
When Peter confesses Christ, all is well. When Peter confesses Peter, let’s just say he isn’t really good at self-evaluations.
Read Mark 14.26-31 (Matthew 26.30-35, Luke 22.31-24, John 13.36-38)
Where are we in the events of Maundy Thursday evening with this episode?
After the Lord’s Supper/Passover, when Christ and his disciples are walking from Jerusalem to the Garden of Gethsemane, about two miles east of Jerusalem, on the path which leads down into and up form the Kidron Valley.
What must Christ tell the apostles?
About their coming failure to stand by his side.
How does he prove his words.
He proves them from Scripture.
Who is quick to make a confession?
Peter.
What is his confession?
He will be better than the other apostles—he will not fall away from Christ.
Prove Peter doesn’t know himself very well at all (see Mark 14.66-72).
He will deny Christ three times in the most cowardly ways with the filthiest language he can find.
How good is Peter’s confession and why?
It wasn’t worth the breath he wasted on it, because it was filled with self-pride and reliance on self. God was not at work at all in these words. In fact, Peter was again contradicting the words of God.
Whom Will We Confess?
When Peter confessed Christ, he received praise. When Peter confessed himself, he received trouble, grief and sin. Consider these scenarios.
? A high school girl wants to go on a weekend trip with her boyfriend’s family to an out-of-town wedding. It will be a long, four day weekend. The girl’s parents discover the boy’s folks are going to see old friends on the Sunday following the wedding—catch a Dodger Sunday day game and go to Little Tokyo for a long supper. “We both have good kids. They will be fine at the hotel with the swimming pool, weight room and HBO.”
Evaluate this confession and give cogent reasons why the girl’s parents should politely inform the other parents their girl won’t be coming on the trip.
The confession is a bad confession because it is putting weight on the supposed “goodness” of the kids. The sinful human nature will take any opportunity it can to drag a person down as far as he can go. Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” He expects his Christians, including parents, to steer their children away from situations where they may be tempted beyond what they can bear.
? A Mormon missionary unwittingly bumped into a very tired and out-of-shape Lutheran pastor who was finishing up his evening walk. The Mormon was a handsome lad, freshly scrubbed with a gleam in his eye. The Lutheran minister made no secret of his profession and calling, but the Mormon was unfazed. He kept trying to get an appointment to share the Book of Mormon with the minister, even though the minister politely reminded the man of the Bible’s words about adding and subtracting from the Bible landing a person in outer darkness. The Mormon kept hammering away, clearly enjoying the moment and not hearing a word that was spoken to him. Eventually the minister said he had to go. One went away proud, the other sad.
Explain why.
The Mormon went away proud that he had made his confession. The Lutheran minister went away sad that his confession of Christ had not been heard.
? A joint Reformation Festival was announced to the congregation. It happened to be on a Sunday when the quarterly voters’ meeting was held after service. The head elder took it upon himself to push the Reformation Festival and get a lot of the congregation to attend. “We’ve got to show the flag,” he concluded.
Evaluate his confession.
He is missing a lot of good reasons to attend, hearing the Word of God from gifted preachers and musicians, the sweetness of Christian fellowship, the opportunity to rejoice at the success the Gospel was making in other congregations. It seems he wants his congregation to look the best with the greatest attendance.
? “We have to give more to synod. We have to at least get up to the average per communicant giving in our conference,” the pastor pleaded with the voters.
“Let’s drop some delinquent members, then,” replied a voter.
Got a better suggested approach?
We give what we want to show our love for God. We want to avoid the sins of selfishness with how we divvy up our congregational income. We have been given so much by the Lord through our synod, we will want to show our love and appreciation for our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith by encouraging and supporting this ministry we have, in love, bound ourselves to support.
Next time: Was Peter the First Pope?
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