Peter’s name is always first in the lists of Jesus’ followers. Christ spoke more to Peter than to any other disciple. To no other did he offer the promises, rebukes, predictions, warnings, encouragements, blessings and solemn commission that he offered Peter.

Peter was called twice, first as a disciple, then as an apostle.

Peter’s face is always a mirror and never a mask, and you can imagine his look of astonishment and incredulity as Jesus the carpenter tells this fisherman how to fish. ‘Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets’ (Luke 5:5). In the end, that’s all we have, the ‘say so’ of our Lord. Our calling is to obey his word.

One of the greatest callings of the Christian life – to let down our nets into the sea of humanity and catch people for Christ. He would do for others what Andrew did for him. Andrew brought Peter to Christ, then we hardly hear from him again.

From Peter’s lips came the great confession: ‘You are the messiah, Son of the living God’. This confession at Caesarea Philippi is the first note in the grand music of the Te Deum, ‘Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.’

If Jesus treated Peter that gently there’s hope for me!

…..

What faith, doubt, weakness, strength, courage, cowardice, what impetuous love! Take Peter out of the Gospels, and the story has lost much of its colour and interest. Leave Peter in, and let all the rest go, and still in what Christ said to Peter, and in what Peter said to Christ, and in what Peter did, you have a Gospel that can be preached to the ends of the earth.

Clarence Macartney, Peter and his Lord, New York: Abingdon- Cokesbury, 1937, pp. 10-11.

…..

A BENEDICTION.

May the rescuing hand that stretched out to help Peter when he was sinking help you in your distress; the comforting hand that rested on the heads of little children to bless them reassure you when you are afraid; the healing hand that touched the tongue of the dumb, the ears of the deaf, the eye-sockets of the blind, the diseased skin of the leper bring health to your body and soul; the hands that were nail-scarred on the cross usher you into eternal life. Amen.