Peter: A Disciple
of Christ
TEXT: Matthew 4:19
Matthew 4:19 New International Version (NIV)
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
INTRODUCTION: While still on campus, we were appointed as
executives to serve the department for a year. One of the meeting days, one of
us raised a point and said, "We are supposed to be collecting 'something'
for serving in these offices." I quickly objected and silenced him to
leave if he can't serve humanity.
One of the notable Bible
Character is the man called Peter. Peter was born in Bethsaida (Jn 1:44). However, he was living in Capernaum in
Galilee at the time he was called into apostleship (Mk 1:21ff). He was in a
fishing business
with James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Jn 1:40ff). When
Peter was called to be an apostle, Jesus changed his name from Simeon to
Cephas, which name means “rock” (Jn 1:42; Mt 16:17).
Peter’s original name in Hebrew
was Simeon (Jn 21:15-17; Act 15:14; 2 Pt 1:1). His father’s name was Jonah (Mt
16:17) and his brother’s name was Andrew (Jn 1:35-42). He was married, though the name of the wife
unknown (Mt 8:14,15; Mk 1:30) and his wife went with him as he moved from one
place to another throughout his life (1 Co 9:5). Peter, and others did not
negotiate nor complained before following Christ.
Peter had the tendency to act first before then think later; it was this
same Peter who cut off the ear of one who came to arrest Jesus, Jh ;
it was also he suggested that they build shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah
on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Peter was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and was the first
to start Christian churches throughout the world (as assigned by Jesus). Peter
by the power of the Holy Spirit spoke vehemently to the crowd and about 3,000
souls were saved a day (Acts 2:41) and performed several miracles (Acts 3:1-10)
and was active in ministry of sharing the news of Jesus Christ. Peter also
wrote two letters named after himself (first and Second Peter) to Christians
being persecuted throughout the world.
APPLICATION/CONCLUSION
We as followers of Christ should
also have the same attitude of following Christ with the totality of our lives,
without any complain or excuse or just
the way we have seen in the life of Apostle Peter.
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