Peter - A Common Man with an Uncommon Courage

Wouldn't it be great to sit down and talk with Matthew about taxes? Or how about discussing the high cost of medical care with Luke? Maybe, like me, you would like to sit and watch Peter and Andrew mend their nets and listen to some of their stories. Just imagine what they could tell!

Unfortunately, we can’t do those things until we get to heaven and then I imagine that Peter and Andrew won’t be allowed to tell some of their more interesting exploits.

I really wanted to know Peter better as a person, so I began to search the Bible for information about him. I also searched in “The Search for the Twelve Apostles” by William Steuart McBirnie, Ph.D. This is a good book for someone interested in both historical, legendary, and Biblical accounts of the apostles. My search revealed a lot of things I hadn't considered before, some very surprising. I began to think about Peter and the great events surrounding him in a very different way.

Peter was the perfect name for this symbol of the common man. He was a strong, hardworking man. He was what some term “a real guy” or “macho”. He loved the outdoors and his life’s work, fishing. He must have been muscular because you don’t haul in nets filled with fish if you weigh 100 pounds.

Peter liked feeling the warm sun on his skin. I am certain of this. For instance, after the crucifixion, he was out on a boat naked (possibly in his undergarment). When Jesus approached, Peter jumped into the water to keep Jesus from seeing him. I don’t believe it was the first time Peter had been on his boat in his Skivviesä.

Peter also loved his family, especially his wife. How many men today would have their mother-in-law living in their house? And how many men would call a doctor for said mother-in-law if she was sick? In the general population, not many, is my guess. Peter surely must have loved his wife.

Like many physically active men, Peter was impetuous. Impetuous men tend to live in a whirl of activity and give gray hair to those who love them. If life wasn't a whirl before, it certainly was after he met Jesus. Peter stepped out of a boat on a wind-tossed sea, never thinking he could drown until he felt the water rising around him. While the scripture doesn't say so, I can just see the other disciples scrambling and reaching for Peter and yelling at him, “What do you think you’re doing? Are you crazy? You can’t walk on water!” He didn't stop to think . . . he just did it. In fact, I have heard it suggested that Peter may have begun to sink because all the other disciples were yelling at him that he couldn't do it and he better get back in the boat! Ever hear the expression “Don’t rock the boat?” Peter did.

Heaven knows what his wife said when she heard the story. I suspect she just shook her head and sighed. It wasn't the first time he had done something foolish and it wouldn't be the last. Remember later on, he cut off a man’s ear attempting to defend Jesus. Not the actions of a cautious man!

Despite Peter’s obvious human failings, only once does the Lord rebuke him. Peter so loves Jesus that when Jesus begins to explain what is going to happen to him in Jerusalem, Peter immediately begins to oppose his speech. He doesn't want Jesus to die, refuses to allow Jesus even to talk about it. But Jesus tells him in no uncertain terms that Peter is not looking at things with the right perspective. Peter “savourest not the things that be of God. . .”

But there is more to Peter than muscle, impetuosity and lack of vision. He is also a thinker. He was curious and constantly questioning everything, searching for answers. In all the gospels Peter is asking questions of Jesus or answering questions put to him by Jesus. Yet, when everyone else is making guesses as to who Jesus is, Peter answered with certainty, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Is this the same Peter who denied he even knew Jesus at the end? Yes, but Peter was, after all, just a common man and fear is a very natural and common human response in moments of crisis. Besides, he hadcut off that guy’s ear. No telling what kind of snit that fellow was in, even though Jesus did make it grow back. And there was Peter, just trying to calm down and get warm by the fire and who should recognize him but a relative of the very man whose ear he had whacked off!

One can only wonder what Peter was thinking at that moment but the scripture makes it pretty clear he was thinking fast. Pretend he didn't know Jesus and no one would know he was the sword happy disciple. After all, if they crucified Jesus for preaching and healing, what would they do to Peter! Peter was not stupid.

In spite of all that, Peter fell on his face and repented, not for being afraid but for allowing fear to control him. No wonder Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom. Here was a man who knew his limitations and weaknesses and how to deal with them. Here was a man of strength, integrity, determination and courage. This was a man whose character had been shaped by the Lord himself. This was a man who, on the Day of Pentecost, would boldly stand and shout to the multitude, “REPENT! This is That!”