Peter at the Cross: An Eyewitness Tells All

STUDIES FOR LENT AND OTHER TIMES

AN EYE WIT

TA R E S T S E P CRO E H T

NES ST ELL SA LL

DAVID MULREADY

CONTENTS Introduction IX Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 13

Day 14

Introducing Simon Peter the eyewitness An introduction to the letters of Peter 1 and 2 Peter New birth through the resurrection of Jesus 1 Peter 1:1–12 Living as obedient children 1 Peter 1:13—2:3 Being a living stone 1 Peter 2:4–12 All in submission!

1 Peter 2:13—3:7 A Christian community in an antagonistic world 1 Peter 3:8–22 Living and suffering for Christ 1 Peter 4 The exhortations continue!

1 Peter 5 Growing up in our precious faith 2 Peter 1:1–11 Reminders of the truth 2 Peter 1:12–21 A profile of false teachers 2 Peter 2 How then should we live as we wait for the Lord’s return?

2 Peter 3 The background to Peter’s first speech Acts 2:1–13

1 4 7 10 13 15 18 21 24 27 29 32 34

36

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Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

Day 22

Day 23

Day 24

Day 25

Day 26

Day 27

Day 28

Day 29

Day 30

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Peter’s first speech Acts 2:14–36 The consequences of Peter’s first speech Acts 2:37–47 The background to Peter’s second and third speech Acts 3:1–11 Peter’s second speech Acts 3:12–26 The consequences of Peter’s second speech Acts 4:1–7 Peter’s third speech Acts 4:8–12 The consequences of Peter’s third speech Acts 4:13–22 The background to Peter’s fourth speech Acts 5:12–28 Peter’s fourth speech Acts 5:29–32 The consequences of Peter’s fourth speech Acts 5:33–42 The background to Peter’s fifth speech Acts 10:1–33 Peter’s fifth speech Acts 10:34–43 The consequences of Peter’s fifth speech Acts 10:44—11:18 Jesus foretells his suffering, death and resurrection Mark The hours leading up to the crucifixion— the Last Supper Mark 14:12–26 The hours leading up to the crucifixion— Jesus’ prayer John 17

38 40 42

44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64

67

69

Day 31

Day 32

Day 33

Day 34

Day 35

Day 36

Day 37

Day 38

Day 39

Day 40

The hours leading up to the crucifixion— Gethsemane and Jesus’ arrest Mark 14:32–52 The hours leading up to the crucifixion— Peter’s denials Mark 14:27–31, 66–72 The hours leading up to the crucifixion— the three trials Mark 14:53–65; 15:1–15; Luke 23:6–25 Jesus’ crucifixion (1) Mark 15:16–32 Jesus’ crucifixion (2) Mark 15:33–47 Jesus’ resurrection (1) Acts 1:1–3; 1 Corinthians 15:1–8 Jesus’ resurrection (2) Mark 16:1–8 Jesus’ resurrection (3) John 20:19–31 Jesus’ resurrection (4) John 21 Jesus’ ascension Acts 1:1–11; Luke 24:50–52

71

73

76

78 80 82 84 86 88 90

Questions for group discussion or personal reflection 92 Days 1–4 92 Days 5–10 92 Days 11–16 93 Days 17–22 93 Days 23–28 94 Days 29–34 94 Days 35–40 95

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Eight sermon outlines Sermon outline 1 New birth through the

resurrection of Jesus

1 Peter 1:1–12 Sermon outline 2 A Christian community

in an antagonistic world

1 Peter 3:8–22 Sermon outline 3 Growing up in our precious faith

2 Peter 1:1–21 Sermon outline 4 Peter’s third speech—

Salvation in Christ alone

Acts 4:8–22 Sermon outline 5 Peter’s fifth speech—

Salvation for Gentiles too

Acts 10:1—11:18 Sermon outline 6 The hours leading up

to Jesus’ crucifixion

Mark 14:12—15:20 Sermon outline 7 Jesus—Rejected, suffered

and crucified for you and me

1 Peter 1:1–25 Sermon outline 8 Christ is risen—How then

should we live?

1 Peter 1:1–25 If being used in Lent: Sermon 7 on Good Friday and Sermon 8 on Easter Sunday.

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96 97

99

101 103

105

107

109

111

INTRODUCTION The events surrounding the suffering, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ are central to Christianity. The biblical record of these events has been watered down, and even contradicted by some church leaders, so that what is left is almost unrecognisable. However, Christians of every denomination who take the Bible seriously celebrate these events at Easter and throughout the year as they seek to live in a way which pleases the Lord.

It was in 1965 at an Easter Conference at Lake Macquarie on the NSW Central Coast run by Crusaders when, as a 17-yearold, my eyes were opened to begin to understand what Jesus’ death and resurrection was all about. It was then that I became a Christian by repenting and trusting in Jesus’ death as the payment for my sin.

This book of 40 daily Bible reflections explores these events through the speeches and letters of the leading Apostle Simon Peter (often called simply Peter). Peter was an eyewitness of all that Jesus said and did during his three years of public ministry.

He was also at Jesus’ Last Supper, betrayal, trials, crucifixion and he witnessed Jesus’ physical resurrection and ascension. Like me, he let God down, but, enabled by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Peter went on to make a huge impact for Christ in his generation and in the 2000 years which have followed.

The book of Acts includes a summary of some of Peter’s early speeches. He also wrote two letters to scattered Christians of the first century. Christian writers of the second century, and other writers since, are of the view that Mark depended heavily on Peter’s eyewitness recollections in the writing of the second Gospel.1 Peter’s record of the events surrounding the cross of

1. Fee, GD & Stuart, D 2002, How to Read the Bible Book by Book, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, p. 279; Lane, WL 1974, The Gospel of Mark, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, pp. 7–12; Cole, RA 1961, The Gospel According to St Mark, Tyndale,

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Christ has been a huge help to many as they explore the truth about Jesus. Two good books about Peter are The Importance of Peter in Early Christianity by Paul Barnett and A Fragile Stone by Michael Card.

How to use this book: These 40 reflections can be used by individuals during Lent or over any six week period. The reader can either use them every day or miss Sundays. Bible study groups may like to use the book with the aid of the sets of questions on pages 91–95. If a church decided to use this book, sermon outlines have been included which could be used in preparing sermons on the Sundays of Lent or at other times. There are also suggested hymns/songs for use on those Sundays.

My prayer is that as people use this book, the Holy Spirit, who inspired the writing of the Bible so long ago, might also impact the lives of many as they are reminded of the events surrounding the cross.

David Mulready Gerringong, NSW.

Colorado Springs, pp. 34–50; Barnett, P 1991, Mark: The Servant King, Aquila Press, Sydney, pp. 9–10.

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Day 1

INTRODUCING SIMON PETER THE EYEWITNESS In this series of reflections on the cross we are depending on the eyewitness account of the Apostle Simon Peter (referred to simply as Peter from this point) through his five speeches recorded in Acts and his two letters, as well as the various mentions he gets throughout the four Gospels, Acts and Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

It makes sense for us to get to know a little about Peter before we accept his eyewitness evidence of the events surrounding the passion of our Lord. ·· Peter and his brother Andrew, sons of Jonah, came from the fishing town of Bethsaida, on the north shores of the Sea of Galilee, not far from Capernaum where he later lived (John 1:40–44; Matthew 16:17; Mark 1:21–29). ·· He spoke Aramaic with a strong Northern accent (Mark 14:70). ·· Andrew (and possibly his brother Peter) was a disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:39–42). ·· Peter was a fisherman (Luke 5:1–3). ·· He was married and he had a mother-in-law! (1 Corinthians 9:5; Mark 1:30) ·· He was one of the first called by Jesus to follow him (Mark 1:16–18). ·· He was appointed and commissioned as an apostle (Mark 3:13–19; 6:7–12). ·· Jesus named him Peter (Petros is Greek for ‘rock’ and Cephas in Aramaic). Jesus knew that Peter would become ‘rocklike’ (Mark 3:16; Matthew 16:18; John 1:42). God was called Rock (Isaiah 17:10) as was Abraham (Isaiah 51:1–2).

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·· Peter is shown through some of the 160 references to his name in the Gospels to be impetuous, volatile and unpredictable. But he changed. ·· He was one of Jesus’ inner circle (Matthew 17:1–3, 26:36– 38). ·· He witnessed Jesus’ teaching (Mark 6:1–2). ·· He witnessed Jesus’ miracles (Matthew 14:15–33). ·· He wasn’t afraid to seek information from Jesus (Matthew 18:21; Mark 13:3–4). ·· He was open about declaring his faith in Jesus as the Messiah (John 6:68–69). ·· While Jesus was being examined before being crucified, Peter betrayed him by denying that he knew Jesus (Matthew 26:31–35, 69–75). ·· While there is no specific reference to Peter being at the foot of the cross, other disciples were and it is most likely that Peter was as well (John 19:25–27, Matthew 27:55–56). ·· Peter was a witness to Jesus’ resurrection (Luke 24:12, 34–49; John 20:1–9, 21:1–14; 1 Corinthians 15:5). ·· He was also present when Jesus ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50–53; Acts 1:1–11). ·· After denying Jesus at his trial, Jesus recommissioned Peter for the task of ministry (John 21:15–23). ·· Peter appears to have been the leader of the apostles and often their spokesperson (Galatians 2:9–16; Acts 1:15–26; 15:1–21). ·· Empowered by the Holy Spirit Peter had some ‘success’ in ministry (Galatians 2:8, Acts 2:38–41). ·· Peter was imprisoned three times for Christ (Acts 4, 5, 12). ·· He was bold and uncompromising in declaring the truth about Jesus (Acts 4:29–31; 5:29, 40–42; 8:18–25). ·· God performed at least three miracles through Peter (Acts 3:1–10; 9:32–43). ·· He was humble (Acts 10:25–26). ·· On occasions he disagreed with other leaders (Galatians 2:11–14).

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·· While Peter’s death is not recorded in the New Testament, it is widely held that he died in Rome during the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Nero in 65 AD. Jesus was probably referring to Peter’s death in John 13:36 and 21:18–19. ·· Peter’s two letters were probably written in Rome not long before his death.

Here is a picture of a man who witnessed all that Jesus said and did. As we explore his evidence for Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can be confident that his testimony is accurate and reliable.

PRAYER Almighty God, who inspired the Apostle Peter to confess Jesus as the Christ and Son of the living God: keep your Church firm in this faith, that in unity and peace it may proclaim one truth and follow one Lord, your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and always. Amen.2

2. Prayer for Saint Peter’s Day (June 29), An Australian Prayer Book, AIO Press, Sydney, 1978.

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