While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18, 19)
Peter. Good old Peter.
Yep, the Disciple of Jesus. The fisherman turned fisher of men turned shepherd of the flock of Christ.
Peter, the bold, brash, perhaps proud guardian of the mission.
Peter, the over confident. Peter, the talk first, think second. Peter, the crushed and broken and frightened and regret-filled.
The first four books of the New Testament are not only an in-depth account of the life and earthly ministry of Jesus, they are also an unvarnished look into the lives of people that surrounded Jesus. People like Peter. Especially Peter.
Much has been made of this man. Peter, by his own account in the book of Mark, exposes the good and the bad. The account of Peter’s statements, his actions and his personal journey are in full view; and consequently, under extraordinary scrutiny.
Over the last two months I’ve spent considerable time exploring the life of this man. In doing so I’ve come to realize that the convenient criticism that I’ve felt for Peter has often been unchecked against the tendencies of my own soul.
I’ve come to imagine what it would be like to publically post my thoughts and actions related to my walk with Jesus over the past three years. My moments of grand public proclamation, and my blunders of word and deed that would defame and distort the cause and the claims that I deeply believe and cherish.
What if doubt-filled and dread-filled moments were chronicled? What if my spontaneous reactions and my “baked in” biases were exposed? What if it was my journal that you were reading, my failures that were on display?
The life of Peter serves me best when I’m relating and not critiquing.
The open book on Peter’s life is intended to illuminate my own soul. The path is lit all the way through the tears of confession and brokenness, to the hope-filled sprint to an empty grave. It is restoration and vision and commissioning that Jesus imparts to Peter… and that shows the way for me. It is Peter in the pulpit with the power of the Holy Spirit in his soul that inspires me and that reflects the heart of God.
Authentic. Raw. Real. From the pen of Peter to the journal in front of me.
Peter is not my biblical dissection project; he’s my brother and friend. He’s my companion and guide. He’s my mirror and my fellow pilgrim… to grace… to life… to power.
It’s my journal that Peter wrote; and it serves as a trustworthy map to the bottomless and fathomless grace of God.
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