Episode 5 Simon Peter

This week's episode of "I Believe He's Not Done Yet" with Bill Nalen focuses on Simon Peter, whom some claim is Jesus' favorite disciple. The episode discusses two different versions of how Jesus called Simon Peter to follow him, including a miraculous catch of fish. It also explores Peter's love for Jesus and his willingness to follow his commands. The episode concludes with Jesus washing the disciples' feet and Peter's denial of Jesus three times. The importance of serving God in our daily lives is emphasized. Welcome to I Believe He's Not Done Yet with Bill Nalen. Hello everyone, this week we are looking at what some claim is Jesus' favorite disciple, Simon Peter. The first we read about Simon is when Andrew, his brother, came to him after following John the Baptist, and seeing Jesus was John the Baptist, went and told Simon, and told him we have found the Messiah, and he brought him to Jesus, where Jesus told him his name was now Cephas, or Peter, and he was called Simon Peter then. This was according to the book of John. In Luke, we see a different story. Luke 5, starting at verse 1, says, One day, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Genesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water's edge two boats left there by fishermen who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little bit from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boats. When they had finished speaking, he said to Simon, put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch. Simon answered, Master, we have worked hard all day and night and haven't caught anything, but if you say so, I will let down the nets. When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners and other boats to come and help them, and they came and filled their boats so full they began to sink. When Simon saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinful man. For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, Don't be afraid, from now on he will fish for people. So they pulled out their boats and followed him. So we have two different versions of how Jesus called Simon and Peter to follow him. We see that Jesus performed a miracle for them to catch so much fish that Simon exclaimed, I'm a sinful man. But Jesus replied with, Come follow me. And Jesus forgave him. We know that Peter followed Jesus and was with him when he was teaching and performing miracles and healing others. One thing I want to bring up is that it must have been amazing to see Jesus and see the miracle of the fish and for them to pretty much quit what they were doing so they could follow Jesus. I don't know about you, but I don't think I've ever saw or heard anyone powerful enough that I would leave my family and my job and follow them. Jesus must have wowed them so much that they didn't care what they were leaving. They wanted to follow him. Second point I want to make is just think of this part. Simon and Peter was with Jesus for close to three years. And like I said, watch Jesus speak, watch him perform miracles. It must have been an amazing sight to see all this in person. We know from so many Bible passages how much Simon Peter loved Jesus and worshipped him. We won't comprehend the knowledge and wisdom that Jesus shared with the people then and the effect it had on Peter and all the disciples. We next hear about Peter when Jesus is going to wash their feet. Let's read that passage from John. It was just before the Passover festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come to God and was returning to God. So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus replied, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. No, said Peter, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. Then, Lord, Simon Peter replied, not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well. Jesus answered, Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet. Their whole body is clean, and you are clean, though not every one of you. Washing one's feet back in those days was an act of humility for both the person washing the feet and the person whose feet was being washed. It was an act of mutual admiration for Jesus to wash their feet. He was saying it was no better than each of them. Peter, by telling Jesus he would rather serve Jesus than have Jesus serve him, but Jesus wanted it to be shown that he wasn't to be above them. This to me also showed how willing Peter was to follow Jesus' commands. Let's finish reading this chapter, verse 11. For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done? he asked them. Do you call me teacher and Lord? And rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash others' feet as well. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed when you do them. Again, this is Jesus telling us that no one is greater than another. That makes me think that, you know, we all, some of us work jobs and we serve our boss. We serve a customer. We serve a client. We do whatever they want us to do to make them happier, to make the sale, whether it's selling a car or floors or whatever it is that you're selling or you're marketing a brand or whatever it may be. But when you go to work, are you serving your boss or are you serving God? And I think if you thought about it, we should be serving God so that even if we're doing some things that we may not necessarily like to do and would grumble and complain about our job or what we might have to do on our job, we're serving God. Verse 18, I'm not referring to all of you. I know those who I have chosen, but this is to fulfill the passage of scripture. He who has shared my bread has turned against me. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly, I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me. You know, so many times in the Bible, it seems like Jesus is trying to tell us something, but we aren't sure what it is that he's referring to. I don't know what the number is and I should look it up, but I believe that there's many prophecies and scriptures that were fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross for us. And there were so many different times that he would mention this fulfills the scripture from blank person. Verse 22, after he said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, very truly. I tell you, one of you is going to betray me. His disciples stared at one another at a loss to know which one of them he meant. One of them, the disciple to whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to his disciples and said, ask him which one he means. Turning it against Jesus, he asked him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, it is the one whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in this dish. Then dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas. As soon as Judas took it, Satan entered him. So Jesus told him what you were about to do, do quickly. But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said to them. We skip to verse 36. Simon Peter asked him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus replied, where I am going, you cannot follow, but you will follow later. Peter asked, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Then Jesus answered, will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times. I'm sure many of the disciples had no idea what Judas was going to do. Here's the guy that hung out with Jesus for three years, like the rest of them, took care of their finances. So they probably had no idea that this guy was going to do what he did. But then we look at Peter, Peter was so willing to follow Jesus that he would follow him any later, even to lay down his life for him. Now think about that one. Peter was willing to die for Jesus. Would you be able to do that? To be honest with you, I can't answer that question. I would love to be able to say, of course I would, but I have to be honest. I question that and I shouldn't, I should be saying the same as Peter. Why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you. Peter seems very willing to follow Jesus and gave up his life for him. But in one sentence, Jesus says, you will follow later, but then warns Peter that soon he will disown him three times, which to me must have hurt Peter. How many times in our life have we disowned Jesus? Maybe not outright saying it, but maybe in our actions and our thoughts, or maybe yes, even in our words, Jesus called Peter out for this, but he loved Peter. And I know he forgave him just like he will forgive us if we ask for forgiveness. Peter did go on and deny he was with Jesus and was one of his followers three different times and the rooster crowed, and I'm willing to bet this hurt Simon Peter greatly. Here Jesus prophesied that you will disown me three times. And know that when Peter heard that rooster crowing, that he thought, oh my God, I did exactly what he said I would do. John 21 verse 15, when they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these, meaning the fishes? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, feed my lambs. Again, Jesus said, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He answered, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said, take care of my sheep. The third time he said to him, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you. Jesus said, feed my sheep. Mary truly I tell you, when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and leave you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death I wish Peter would glorify God. Then he said to Peter, follow me. We know Simon Peter went on to write two books in the Bible. We know he went on to start the Catholic Church. We know he went on to be the first Pope of the Catholic Church. And yes, he was crucified, but not in the way Jesus was. Simon Peter was placed upside down on the cross and crucified. To me, Simon Peter was a great role model. He had a willingness to follow Jesus and to spread his word no matter what the consequences were. I mean, he started the Catholic Church. He was their first leader, but he was also crucified upside down. I can't imagine that happening and the suffering that he went through. Simon Peter would be a great person to look up to and to learn from. And my prayer today is that someday we can all be like Simon Peter. Thank you all for listening and God bless you. You've been listening to, I Believe He's Not Done Yet with Bill Nelan. Thanks for listening. Goodbye.