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First-century Jerusalem was a cosmopolitan city of great splendor and beauty and also the focus of life-changing events.
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One day, at Solomon’s Colonnade within the temple of Jerusalem . . .
What’s going on here? Got to get closer . . . Hey, ouch, you’re standing on my foot!
Why don’t you move somewhere else, then?
Shhh! He’s starting to speak!
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People of Israel, what’s so surprising about this?
And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?
Hey, isn’t that the crippled beggar?
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But he’s been lame from birth! How is it he’s standing up?
It’s a miracle!
I can walk,
and even jump!
How is this possible?
I myself helped carry him to the Beautiful Gate of this temple.
This man has been healed by God, to bring glory to his servant Jesus!
Who are these men?
He’s been begging for alms there every day as long as I can remember!
Don’t you know? They’re Peter and John. They were friends with that fellow Jesus, who was killed on the cross.
People of Israel, you killed Jesus, but God raised him from the dead. We have seen it with our own eyes . . .
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Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed . . .
and you know how crippled he was before.
before your very eyes.
has healed him . . .
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Faith in Jesus’ name ...
Now God calls you, people of Israel, to repent of your sins. Turn back to God, and he will wipe away your sins.
Can it be true? Was Jesus really sent from God?
This man, Peter, he’s awesome! What a speaker! What a message! God raised Jesus from death and will send him to us again at the right time, just as the prophets promised!
Jesus came to turn each of you from your sinful ways.
Wait till I tell Dad about this man Peter!
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It’s the priests and Sadducees, and they’re bringing the captain of the temple guard!
Run!
Or we might be arrested too! How dare you disrupt the temple peace by teaching this nonsense about the dead rising! Peter and John, you’re going to jail.
Oh no! Got to get away. Got to tell Dad . . .
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Everything Peter did . . .
Everything Peter said . . . Could it be true?
Remember when that man Jesus was killed on the cross along with the two criminals?
Dad
You ! beli won’t eve it!
What is it?
Wash your hands, sit down, and eat your dinner.
Yes . . .
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Mmf, could you pass the bread?
Today at the temple, two of his followers healed a crippled beggar!
Some of the women at the marketplace have been saying that this Jesus has come back to life!
Yeah, you should have heard Peter tell it! The colonnade was full of people, and he spoke with so much power . . .
That’s what they called him—Peter! He was awesome. Many people went away believing that God sent Jesus to wipe away our sins!
Mmf, could you pass the bread? Who—you mean Peter? Simon Peter? There, I told you so! Argh — cough . . . Well, that’s certainly not the Simon Peter I knew!
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You know this Peter?
How?
Sure, I know Simon Peter. Before coming to Jerusalem, we grew up in the same hometown in Galilee.
It was just a small village by the Sea of Galilee. In those days he was just called Simon.
He was a hotheaded boy, not really the studious type . . .
always getting into trouble.
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Like many of us, he grew up and became a fisherman.
He was always rough, good at his work . . .
but unpredictable in temper.
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And the more refined skills escaped him, skills like Jewish law, writing, and debating.
And then came the day a strange wild man started the chain of events that would change Simon’s life forever.
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It was a time of hope for the Jews in Israel. They were looking forward to the promised Messiah to free them from Roman rule. As each new teacher arose, the question of the day was, “Is this the Messiah?�
God has sent me to tell everyone about the true light.
Someone is coming after me, someone far greater than I am, because he existed long before me.
Now the strange wild man was teaching about the Messiah, and big crowds were going out to the Jordan River to hear his message.
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Among the crowd were three young men from the fishing town in Galilee.
Peter, who is that? Could he be the Promised One? I don’t know, John. The people are calling him John the Baptist. He seems to be a prophet sent by God.
John the Baptist, we are your followers.
I baptize you with water, but after me will come someone who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
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When news about the message of John the Baptist reached Jerusalem, the temple authorities sent priests and temple assistants to confront him in the nearby town of Bethany, by the Jordan River where John had been baptizing.
On behalf of the high priest, we must ask who you are. Are you the Promised One?
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I am not the Messiah.
Well then, who are you? Are you Elijah? No.
No.
Are you the prophet we are expecting?
Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us.
What do you have to say for yourself?
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I am a voice shouting in the wilder ness,
“Clear the w ay for the Lord’s co ming!”
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If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the prophet, what right do you have to baptize?
I am only a witness to the true Light. I am not even worthy to tie and untie his sandal straps.
The religious leaders could do nothing, but from then on they watched John the Baptist carefully and tried to find out about the one John was talking about.
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The next day, John the Baptist had a surprise for Andrew and his friend John.
Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! When I baptized him in the Jordan River . . .
I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.
I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the son of God.
I didn’t know he was the Messiah, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me,
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“The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
So Andrew believed what John the Baptist had said about Jesus. He and John decided to follow Jesus.
What do you want? Rabbi, let us come to stay with you so that you can teach us.
Come.
There’s a lot you must learn.
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Andrew and John listened to the teachings of Jesus from 4 p.m. and into the next morning.
And so it was Andrew who found his brother Simon.
I must go and find my brother Simon and tell him the good news about Jesus.
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Well, it’s about time. Where have you been, Andrew?
You left me in Bethsaida with a ton of work to do! I’ve only just finished getting this week’s fish stocks to Jerusalem. Simon, never mind all that. I’ve been in Bethany, near where John the Baptist is baptizing. Listen!
You’re so gullible, Andrew! What makes you think this is the one, and not just another lunatic?
We have found the Messiah!
Come with me to meet him, Simon! You’ll see!
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Rabbi, this is my brother.
Er . . . ah . . . Nice to meet you, Rabbi.
This is awkward . . . And why is he staring at me like that? Your name is Simon, son of John—
How on earth did he—uh, I bet Andrew told him my name.
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—but you will be called Cephas, or Peter.
Well, that was weird. Cephas means “rock.” Why would he call me that?
Stay and be comfortable, Simon Peter.
That day, Simon Peter heard Jesus talk about the kingdom of God. He became a follower of Jesus. 25
It was a day, not unlike any other ordinary day. But Peter had an extraordinary encounter that changed his life forever.
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Wow, I can’t wait to see what they’ve caught! They’ve been out all night!
They’re coming back! The fishermen are coming back!
Andrew, what’s going on? The sun’s only just come up. Why are all these people here?
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What have you caught?
Uh . . .
Actually . . . we caught . . .
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Nothing . . .
Oh look, Rabbi Jesus is walking this way.
Yikes, and all those people are following him! We’ll be stampeded.
Good morning, Simon Peter. I’d like to use one of your boats, if you don’t mind. Go ahead, Rabbi. We’re not using them at the moment.
Why would he want to go on a boat ride at this time of day? 29
Simon Peter, please help push the boat some distance into the water. Sure, if you say so.
So Jesus taught the crowd gathered by the Sea of Galilee that day. Repent, turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near!
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Amazing, he speaks with such authority.
And when Jesus finished teaching . . .
Ha, he’s crazy. Who catches fish in broad daylight?
Master, we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. ..
Now, Simon Peter, hop in. Let’s go out to deeper water, where you can let down your nets.
But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.
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I’d rather be at home sleeping right now.
Is this just a waste of time?
W-what’s going on? I can feel the nets shaking.
Not just that! The nets are so full they’re starting to tear! Hey, let’s get help! 32
W-wait, what’s happening?
Can it be?
Too much fish for the nets to hold? Come on, let’s go give them a hand!
We must row back to shore before this boat sinks. Come on!
How is this even possible? We have never had a catch like this in all our lives!
It was then that Simon Peter realized that the Rabbi Jesus was no ordinary man.
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Oh, Lord, please leave me—I am too much of a sinner to be around you.
Don’t be afraid! From now on, you’ll be fishing for people!
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That day, Simon Peter recognized Jesus as Master and Lord of his life. He left everything he knew and cared about . . .
in order to follow Jesus.
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As Simon Peter began his journey with Jesus, he witnessed many miracles. Jesus’ compassion was boundless.
So then Simon Peter’s life was transformed forever and he became who he is today?
Well, hold on a minute. The change didn’t happen overnight.
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It was getting late, and the disciples were worried.
Jesus, this is a remote place. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves. But they really panicked when they heard Jesus’ plan!
That isn’t necessary—you feed them.
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Is he crazy? I mean, we’re talking about 5,000 men, not even counting women and children!
Where does Jesus think we’ll find the money to feed that kind of crowd?
Bring them here.
But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!
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Lord, uh, unless you have a better idea, we should send the people back to the villages for dinner.
Have them sit down in groups.
Jesus did have a better idea.
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What a day!
I’m exhausted. I need a holiday.
How many baskets of food are left over now that everyone has eaten their fill?
Twelve whole baskets, everybody!
And everyone’s full. We can’t eat a single crumb more. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftovers. About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! 40
Now let me send these people home. I want you all to take the boat and cross back to the other side of the lake.
After telling everyone good-bye, Jesus went up into the hills by himself to pray.
Meanwhile, on the Sea of Galilee . . .
all was not well.
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Faster, everyone, faster. The wind is getting even stronger.
Impossible. We can’t bail the boat out fast enough. If the waves get any bigger, they’ll capsize the boat for sure!
! Hey, look, you guys, what’s that out there on the water?
A ghost! A ghost! It’s some kind of evil spirit. Help! It’s heading straight for us!
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Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here!
Hey, isn’t that the Lord’s voice? Can it be?
Woohoo! He has come to save us! Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water. Yes, come. Shut up, Simon, don’t be crazy! Who do you think you are, Simon? You can’t just step into the Sea of Galilee! 43
I can’t believe this is happening!
This was one of Simon Peter’s finest moments. He trusted Jesus absolutely, and he acted on that trust. So, an ordinary fisherman did a supernatural thing—he walked on water!
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This is awesome! I’m really doing it, guys! Walking on water!
Uh oh, maybe this was a bad idea . . .
But then, as the reality of his situation dawned on him, Simon Peter doubted, and, distracted, he took his eyes off his Lord. Save me, Lord!
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You have so little faith.
Why did you doubt me?
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Hey, the wind has stopped.
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Lord, you—you really are the Son of God!
Simon Peter was then convinced in his heart about who Jesus is.
Ah, so Simon Peter became great from then on!
Uh, no, not quite . . . You see, we’re so much like him—full of faith one minute but shaken and doubtful the next. No, God wasn’t done with Peter yet. He was still a work in progress. 48
Simon Peter’s journey with Jesus had its ups and downs. At times he grew in his understanding of God . . . only to fail miserably at other times.
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The region of Caesarea Philippi
While in Galilee, Jesus had clashed with the Jewish religious leaders from Jerusalem. The time was coming for his followers to decide on their path.
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What a beautiful place this is!
The people here hold many different beliefs. In the time of our ancestors, the Gentiles worshipped the false god Baal.
Hey, look, that must be the famous temple built by Herod the Great and dedicated to the Roman emperors.
I’ve heard that the Greeks here set this up as a sanctuary to their god of nature, Pan.
Pffft, we Jews have our own King.
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Jesus seemed to have chosen a setting that offered many religious options, past and present, in order to ask his disciples a very important question . . .
Well, some say John the Baptist.
And others say Jeremiah . . . Some say Elijah.
But who do you say I am?
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Who do people say that the Son of Man is?
or one of the other prophets.
You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!
You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
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Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
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Uh . . . Well, not exactly. There’s something else he needed to learn.
Wow, is that how Peter became the leader that he is today?
You see, in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus didn’t want it known that he was the Messiah.
Why?
Jesus knew that the people were expecting a Messiah that would deliver them from Roman rule. They were not expecting a suffering and crucified Savior. His disciples had the same wrong idea as well. 55
So from that time on, Jesus began telling his disciples plainly that he would have to go to Jerusalem . . .
and that at the hands of the elders, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law . . .
Jesus would suffer many terrible things.
but that on the third day he would be raised from the dead.
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Even death . . .
What’s got into Jesus? This is crazy talk! Hasn’t he come to be our King? What rubbish about dying!
But Simon Peter wasn’t ready for the eternal plan of God. He had his own plans and ideas about the glorious future that Jesus would bring, and it didn’t involve suffering or dying. Heaven forbid, Lord. This will never happen to you!
Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me.
At this crucial moment, Simon Peter was advocating Jesus to be the Messiah without the cross. And in resisting the cross, he was, like Satan, an enemy of God’s purposes. 57
You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
Jesus was talking about the lives his followers would lead, living for God’s purposes and plan, not their own. To Simon Peter’s credit, he accepted Jesus’ rebuke humbly. In fact, as they moved closer to the events of the cross that Peter wanted so desperately to prevent, his commitment to remain true to Christ at all costs intensified. 58
So that’s how Simon Peter became who he is today! Wait, no?
Not so fast! Simon Peter was still depending on his own strength to remain committed to Jesus. I’ve got an idea. Why don’t both of you continue elsewhere so I can clean up?
Yes, dear . . . so things got more and more intense for Simon Peter.
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After Simon Peter correctly identified Jesus as the Son of God, he and the other disciples continued to follow Jesus as he slowly travelled south through the regions of Galilee, Samaria, and Judea.
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As he travelled, Jesus performed many more miracles . . .
even bringing a dead man back to life.
He taught people about the kingdom of God . . .
and explained more to his disciples about his coming death.
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But he is too popular. The people will rise up against us if he is killed.
Meanwhile, as Jesus’ popularity grew and more and more people believed in him, Israel’s religious leaders became afraid and jealous and plotted to kill Jesus.
Then we will have to be cleverer than the people! I already know a weak link.
In fact, before the Passover celebration, the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Huh? What’s Jesus doing? We should be washing his feet.
Jesus knew that the hour of his death was close. In humility, he got up to serve his disciples. In the same way, he would lay down his life to save humankind. 62
Lord, are you going to wash my feet?
You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.
No, you will never ever wash my feet! That’s a lowly task only meant for servants! Simon Peter’s protest showed that despite his best intentions, he still misunderstood Jesus’ purpose. Peter was relying on his pride and sinful self-will to serve Jesus. Instead, Jesus told him, he had come as a servant. We need his washing in order to be cleansed from our sin.
Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.
A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean.
Then wash my hands and my head as well, Lord, and not just my feet! I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done. Humbly serve one another. 63
As the meal progressed, Jesus became more and more troubled, because he knew that one of them at the table was his enemy.
I tell you the truth,
Psst, John, who’s he talking about?
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one of you will betray me!
Lord, who is it?
It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.
Jesus identified Judas as his betrayer . . .
and permitted him to go and do the dirty job.
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Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. After Judas Iscariot left, Jesus taught the disciples about his death and about heaven. But they still didn’t understand where he was going. He promised to give them the Spirit of truth as a guide after he was gone.
Lord, where are you going?
You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later. Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers. Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
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Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you. Why can’t I come with you now? I’m ready to die for you.
No, that’s impossible! I’ll defend him to the end!
As night fell, Jesus withdrew to the olive grove where he and his disciples often went. Jesus told them to keep watch while he prayed.
But the exhausted disciples could hardly keep their eyes open. Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray, so that you don’t give in to temptation.
And Simon Peter failed Jesus at this crucial time. 67
Just then, the traitor Judas Iscariot led the Jewish leaders to the one they sought. But Jesus already knew everything that would happen.
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Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?
Over my dead body!
Lord, should we fight? We brought swords!
Hnh!
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No more of this. Put your sword back into its sheath.
Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?
Why didn’t you arrest me in the temple? I was there every day.
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But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.
!
No
Shhh, calm down! There’s more. How did Simon Peter prove himself? I’m not sure that he did . . .
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Come on, I know the high priest. We’ll follow them to his house.
No, we can’t abandon the Lord. Let’s go back.
Simon Peter and John followed Jesus to the house of the high priest, but Peter was not allowed into the courtyard with John and Jesus. And so he waited outside within the gates. 72
Hey, you’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?
Huh? No, I am not. Woman, I don’t even know him.
You must be one of them! No, man, I’m not!
Didn’t I see you out there in This must be the olive grove one of them, with Jesus? because he’s a Galilean too.
Hey, weren’t you the one who cut off my cousin’s ear? 73
Man, I don’t know what you’r e talking about!
He said, “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Oh my Lord, what have I done? You were right—forgive me, Jesus, what have I done?
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But that’s terrible! Simon Peter deserted Jesus when he needed him most!
Up until now, Simon Peter seems to have been just a lot of hot air and big talk.
You’ll be glad to know that’s not the end of the story.
Aw, don’t be too hard on him before you hear all the facts!
But Jesus died! His disciples couldn’t stop that! Simon Peter failed him! Yes, but that doesn’t mean that Jesus failed. Don’t forget that Jesus knew his death was part of God’s plan to save the world
Really? Okay, I’m listening.
—a plan in which Simon Peter would still play an important part!
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Pilate found Jesus innocent of treason against the Roman Empire. He wanted to release him. But the mob wanted Jesus crucified. So, Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. He was nailed to a cross, and after he died . . .
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Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross, wrapped in linen cloths, and buried in a tomb.
I can’t believe he’s really gone. And I let him down, John. I can’t forgive myself. You did your best, Simon Peter. Our Lord understood.
Early on the third day, while it was still dark, the tomb was discovered empty!
They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him!
Come on, we must see this for ourselves!
Huh?
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What on earth happened here?
Why would a grave robber steal his body and leave behind the cloths and the spices, which are of great value? And the head wrapping is folded up, separate from the other linen wrappings.
Do you think he really—? I don’t know what to think, Simon Peter! But he did say he would come back. And I believe he really was the Son of God, the Messiah, like he said. 78
We should gather the others and tell them what we found.
I wish I knew what was going on.
Later and in the next few days, the lives of Jesus’ followers were turned upside down.
From near and far came reports of the risen Jesus appearing to his followers.
He appeared to his followers, who had begun meeting together.
Peace be with you.
Lord! But how—? We locked the doors so that the Jewish leaders couldn’t arrest anyone else!
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Touch me and make sure I’m not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.
On this and other occasions, he even proved that he wasn’t a ghost. and he proved to one who doubted that it really was him, risen from the dead.
Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!
Yes, but we’re getting to the best part, Son. It shows how much Jesus cared for Simon Peter. Wow, so it’s true! That’s how Simon Peter found his life’s conviction?
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My Lord and my God!
Some of the disciples were told to wait in Galilee for more news.
I’m going fishing. We’ll come too.
Not a single catch all night!
We’d better head back to shore. It will be dawn soon.
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Who’s asking, anyway? Fellows, have you caught any fish? No.
Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!
Something about this seems very familiar . . .
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No harm trying, I suppose.
Wow, what a catch!
No wonder. We should have known. It’s the Lord!
The net is too heavy to pull up into the boat! We’ll have to drag it to shore.
I’m going ahead. See you guys back on the beach.
Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.
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Now come and have some breakfast!
This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?
And, after breakfast, Jesus had a very special conversation with Simon Peter. Yes, Lord, you know I love you.
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Then feed my lambs.
Simon son of John, do you love me? Yes, Lord, you know I love you. Then take care of my sheep. Simon son of John, do you love me?
Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.
Simon Peter felt hurt that Jesus asked him three times to affirm his devotion to him, but Jesus was really giving Simon Peter another chance after his three denials.
Follow me.
Jesus was asking Simon Peter to gather and look after his followers. Jesus entrusted this precious work to a man who had journeyed a long way with him and would continue to trust him and do his work until the end. 85
Forty days after Jesus’ crucifixion, he ascended into heaven. The disciples were told that someday he would return in glory.
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When Jesus talked to his disciples about his death, he also promised to send God’s Holy Spirit of truth to comfort and guide them.
Uh huh . . .
Jesus told his disciples to tell everyone about him and about the kingdom of God. I will send you the Advocate— the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.
Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he gave his disciples further instructions. 87
Meanwhile, Simon Peter began to live up to the task Jesus had charged him with— leading and looking after the believers.
True enough, as Jesus had promised, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in all believers, beginning on the day of Pentecost. That day the Holy Spirit enabled the believers to speak in the languages of all the nations living in Jerusalem, as a sign so that everyone might know that Jesus has truly risen and that he is the Messiah they have been waiting for.
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Call on Jesus’ name and be saved! Hallelujah, praise the Lord!
Jesus is risen from the dead!
They are praising God in Arabian! I hear the Egyptian language! They are praising God in Parthian!
Do you hear that? They are Galileans. How could they know Latin?
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And the Holy Spirit gave Simon Peter words of truth and life! People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.
But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!
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But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.
Can this be true? He speaks with such conviction.
Brothers, what should we do?
Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to all who have been called by the Lord our God.
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That day about 3,000 were added to the number of believers. And so you see how God worked in Simon Peter’s life. He transformed an ordinary man into a dynamic servant of God in order to draw many into his kingdom.
What an incredible God!
Yes. God was pleased to use Simon Peter despite his weaknesses, to look after God’s church and build God’s kingdom.
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Simon Peter is not so different from us. Right up to the final hours of his 3 years with Jesus, he struggled with failure. Yet as an expression of God’s marvelous grace, the resurrected Christ sought out Peter and restored his friend to a lifetime of useful service.
Do you mean that God can use us too?
Yes, because Simon Peter’s transformation into the dynamic man you saw and heard earlier today—happen because of God’s work in him. The rulers and temple authorities arrested Simon Peter and John today. I must find out what is to happen to them!
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The next day, in the Council meeting . . .
Bring in the prisoners!
I’m not sure. They had the apostles Peter and John brought in earlier this morning after yesterday’s What’s healing of the crippled man going on in from the Beautiful Gate. there?
Got to get inside . . .
These men are charged with disrupting the peace. People claim they healed a crippled man.
By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?
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Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene . . .
the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
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And yet they’re only fishermen, with no special training in the Scriptures!
Amazing! Do you see how bold these men are?
Remove them from the chamber! We have to stop this before a riot breaks out. Those men were friends of that Jew, Jesus. And they weren’t the only ones . . .
But no one can deny that they healed the beggar. All of Jerusalem is buzzing with the news.
Then we’ll strike a bargain with these fishermen.
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We will release you on one condition . . .
you must never again speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?
We can’t stop talking about everything . . .
we have seen . . .
That’s telling them!
and heard.
How dare you defy us? We can have you thrown in prison, whipped, and starved!
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The crowd outside is demanding the release of these two men . . . We may not be able to stop the people from rioting.
Let them go.
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And so, the apostle Peter went on to proclaim the gospel message and win many more people to faith in Jesus. He wrote many letters to Christian churches too, to teach and encourage them.
Peter the Rock was living proof of the strength of Christ, which enables us to be useful for his kingdom in spite of our failings and inadequacies.
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Life Is A Journey Peter is so much like us. Right up to the final hours of his 3 years with Jesus, he struggled with failure. Yet as an expression of God’s marvelous grace, the resurrected Christ sought out Peter and restores His dear friend to a lifetime of profitable service. As a result of Peter’s restoration, we see him just 10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven, preaching the great sermon on the Day of Pentecost in which 3,000 people gave their lives to the risen Lord (Acts 2:41). He then showed courage born of the indwelling Holy Spirit by boldly declaring Christ’s resurrection to the very people who had conspired to crucify the Son of God. Nevertheless, he also continued to do battle with his own heart. In Galatians 2:11, Peter was rebuked by Paul for aligning himself with men he knew to be in error. Peter, however, would move beyond his failings and would live out his life in service for the living Christ. Years later, perhaps, reflecting on so many spiritual battles fought and lost, Peter wrote: Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are (1 Peter 5:8–9). The lessons of Gethsemane had finally taken hold, so that Peter could use his painful life-lessons and provide us with the wisdom of 1 and 2 Peter, and, in the opinion of many scholars, the stories of the gospel of Mark from his own experiences with Jesus Christ. In 2 Peter 1:1–13, it’s as if Peter was reflecting on his episodes of failure by marking out a path for spiritual growth and dependence—lessons learned through pain and 100
failure. And, in fact, his final words are a penned reminder of how easy it is to stumble and fall: You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! (2 Peter 3:17–18) Peter was reminding us that coming to Christ is an event, but becoming like Jesus is a journey. Along the way, we will have ups and downs, like Simon Peter, but we can trust in the strength of Christ to enable us to be useful—in spite of our human failings and inadequacies. We can grow in Christ’s grace and knowledge. And we can, in prayer, find His mercy and grace to help us in our own times of need (Hebrews 4:16). Our struggle living the Christian life is a battle that lasts a lifetime—but it’s a battle worth fighting. It will be worth it all, as the song says, when we see Christ. For then we will fully be like Him, when we see Him as He is (1 John 3:2)—and the battle will finally be won in Him. —Extracted from the Discovery Series booklet Simon Peter: A Rock Moved by God
Download the PDF copy at http://discoveryseries.org/discovery-series/ simon-peter-a-rock-moved-by-god/
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AN INITIATIVE OF OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES
WE ASPIRE TO ASK THE WHY.
oice The v ian ist of Chr ople e p yo u n g l ow l e to f e peopl yo u n g
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