May 7, 2021 (Friday)
Peter was an outspoken extrovert, born to lead others. His brother, Andrew, followed Christ and then brought Peter to the Lord. It’s common for Bible characters to go by two names, use a nickname, or like the Apostle Paul, to have one name in Hebrew and another in Greek. Peter’s original name was Simon, but Jesus called him Cephas ( John 1:42 ), which is an Aramaic word that translates to Peter ( Petros in Greek).
When Jesus said to Peter, “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church,” he was continuing a conversation in which he asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” wih a reply coming from Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Then Jesus said, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” Actually the Greek word translates to English as more like “rocky,” or “rocklike.” The Rock upon which Christ’s church is built is not Peter alone, but upon everyone who believes in Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” It is that confession about Christ that is the foundation of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is more than that. There is no church without people, so the foundation — the rock — upon which the church is built is people who accept Christ and follow Him as their Lord, believing Him to be the Messiah — the Christ — the Son of God and Savior of all who call upon Him.
By default Peter became the spokesman for the twelve disciples, because he always spoke up as the others were thinking about what to say. Gradually he became their spokesman. After Jesus was crucified and had appeared to them, Peter said, “I’m going fishing,” and the others said “we will go with you,” which shows that they respected his leadership among them.
He was given to overstatement and impetuousness. As Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, he refused, saying “you shall never wash my feet,” but when Jesus said, “if I don’t wash your feet, you will have no part of me,” he then said, “not just my feet, but my body as well.” Sadly, when Jesus was being tried, he denied knowing Him, but Jesus appeared to him after His resurrection and again by the sea side, asking Him to say aloud that he loved Him, and giving him a mission to “feed my sheep.”
When the day of Pentecost arrived, and the followers of Jesus witnessed in other languages, Peter preached a mighty message about the Christ and 3000 people accepted Christ that day. He later authored two books that bear his name in the New Testament. Scholars agree that he also gave Mark the information that comprises his gospel. In other words, he is the true author of Mark’s gospel.
The song below is sung by Miriam Jarrels Clark
Anonymous
Date Unknown
I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee, my Lord;
I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, my God;
I love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know;
But how much I love Thee my actions will show.
I’m happy, I’m happy, oh, wondrous account!
My joys are immortal, I stand on the mount:
I gaze on my treasure and long to be there,
with Jesus and angels and kindred so dear.
O Jesus, my Savior, with Thee I am blessed.
My life and salvation, my joy and my rest.
Thy Name be my theme, and Thy love be my song;
Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my tongue.
Oh, who’s like my Savior? He’s Salem’s bright King;
He smiles and He loves me and helps me to sing:
I’ll praise him, I’ll praise Him with notes loud and clear,
While rivers of pleasure my spirit shall cheer.