Lesson 302 - Junior
Memory Verse
"God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34).
Notes
Four Fishermen
A gentle breeze is blowing; gulls are soaring overhead; the warm rays of the Judean sun are beaming upon us as we walk, in our imagination, along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. A glance down the beach reveals a Figure coming toward Peter and Andrew who are fishing. "Follow me,” His voice calls, "and I will make you fishers of men” [MAT:4:19]). As if nets, fish, and work mean nothing, Peter and Andrew leave them all and follow the Stranger, whom we recognize as Jesus. Going on down the beach, we see two other brothers, James and John, leave their work and follow the Lord.
Now that we have met the four fishermen, let us single out Peter and review a few years of his life. Let us talk to him, and listen as he speaks -– sometimes wisely and at other times very unwisely.
Peter's Words
You were very willing to leave your fishing tackle and follow Jesus, were you not, Peter? You were a consecrated person. On another day, as we stand near by, we hear you say to Jesus, "We have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” [MAT:19:27]). Didn't you know that one follows the Lord because of love for Him? and didn't you know that "following Jesus” means being willing to forsake houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for Jesus sake? Everlasting life awaits those who truly follow Jesus.
Twice we hear strong confessions of your faith in Jesus, from your very own lips: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” [MAT:16:16]). But another time we are startled by your answer to Jesus after He had told you that He must suffer, and die, and rise again the third day. What was it that caused you to rebuke Jesus: "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee” [MAT:16:22]). Jesus rebuked you for that, Peter. Perhaps you did not know that your friend Matthew would write it down in the Book, where millions could read it.
His Faith
There was that other day, very early in the morning, as Jesus walked toward your ship when it was tossed with the waves [MAT:14:25]). Your faith in your Master caused you to say, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” By faith you stepped out of that boat and walked upon those waves to go to Jesus. But fear crept into your heart as you looked at those huge waves -– and down you went.
How much like people of today -– we go along smoothly for a while, walking on the waves, as it were. Suddenly a trial or temptation comes along and we get our eyes off Jesus for just an instant, and down we go. But if, like Peter, we are close enough to Him to reach out our hand and say, "Lord, save me,” His strong arm will lift us, and we shall again be on top of the waves. Our waves may be slight persecutions from school friends; but, to a child, sometimes those things seem as big as waves of the sea.
A Sad Experience
Peter, as the Lord is praying that sad night in Gethsemane, we are very much disappointed that you were sleeping instead of watching, for that one hour [MAT:26:40]); and again, a little later on, we see you following afar off [MAT:26:58]). We shudder as three times we hear you actually deny your Lord and Master. We feel very sorry indeed as your face shows your deep regret; when the cock crows, you remember the words of Jesus, "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice” [MAT:26:75]). What a cowardly thing you did! We see you as you weep so bitterly, and we also go out of the room and weep with you. That will never happen again, will it, Peter? You have learned your bitter lesson, haven't you? Your Master has not denied you, Peter, but He stands ready to forgive.
How do we follow Jesus today? Are we following afar off? Would we also betray Jesus if someone pointed a finger at us and said, "Thou also art one of them” [MAT:26:71-73])? or, perhaps, "This boy also loves Jesus”? Let us search our heart and make sure that we are not ashamed to own Jesus as our Lord.
Peter the Stone
But oh! How much we admire you later on, Peter, when you are in Jerusalem, as you stand forth with boldness and declare unto the council and the high priest, "We ought to obey God rather than men” [ACT:5:29]). And then, although you are beaten for your boldness in preaching Christ, we see you rejoicing that you are counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name [ACT:5:41]). We say within ourselves, "Oh, that we had just a little of that same spirit!”
You are no longer weak, are you Peter? It must be because you were one of those who obeyed the command of Jesus to tarry in Jerusalem until you would be endued with power from on High. You were in that upper room when the sound came "from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance [ACT:2:2-4]).
We are amazed as we listen to the sermon you preached on that outstanding day. We can hardly believe that it is you, Peter, for you preached with such force and power. About three thousand souls are added to the Church through that one sermon [ACT:2:41]). The prophecy of Christ has come to pass: "Thou shalt be called Cephas,” which means "a stone” [JHN:1:42]).
Power to Heal
We marvel at the great miracles, which take place. Through the power of God the lame man at the Temple is healed [ACT:3:6]). You are very careful to take no credit for this, but you give God all the glory. We see sick people stretched upon beds and couches waiting for you to pass by, Peter, so that your shadow might fall upon them and they might be healed [ACT:5:15]). We witness, too, in our mind's eye, the raising of Æneas, who had been sick of the palsy for eight years; the dead woman, Dorcas, restored to life once more! What marvellous miracles these are!
To Every Creature
There is still something, Peter, you must learn. It matters not how far along in the Christian life one has gone, thee is always something more to learn. No one yet has reached the fullest measure of grace, knowledge, and power with God.
While you are in Joppa, Peter, just after raising Dorcas to life, you have a very strange experience. Through a dream, the Lord shows you that God is no respecter of persons. He loves all men and women, Jews and Gentiles alike, and wants the Gospel of the Lord preached to all people. Jesus had told you and the other Apostles to preach the Gospel to every creature [MAK:16:15]). Now Jesus shows you through the dream that you should not call the Gentile people common or unclean. Although the Jews are God's chosen people, and it was contrary to the Law for a Jew to keep company with one of another nation [ACT:10:28]), there is no difference with God. He wants all people of the world to hear the Gospel and be saved.
When you awake, Peter, and wonder just what the dream means, three men stand at the gate and ask for you. The Spirit of God tells you to go down to them and go with them, doubting nothing. Forgetting all about your hunger, you obey the Voice and go to the gate, and say, "I am he whom ye seek.” You invite them in to stay overnight, and the next day you and the others go to Cæsarea. There you are to have an opportunity to preach Christ to the Gentiles.
What You Have Taught Us
Many helpful lessons you learned from your Master, and you have passed them on to us. We are indeed grateful to you, Peter, for what we have learned from the study of your life. When you sinned, you were quick to repent and return to your Lord. We have read your First and Second Epistles, and we are inspired and blessed by your writings. The council in Jerusalem before whom you spoke [ACT:4:8-12]) said that, although you were unlearned and ignorant, they realized you had been with Jesus. He was your great Teacher, wasn't He, Peter? It was from Him that you received your wisdom, your boldness, and your power to preach Christ.
You are one of the twelve Apostles, Peter, and your name is inscribed upon one of the twelve stones of the foundation of the City of God. We expect to see you up there in that City some day.
"We will talk it o'er together by and by,
When we reach that holy city, you and I,
How through grace we've overcome, and have reached
The heavenly home;
We will talk it o'er together by and by.
"There with Moses and Elias, and with Peter and with Paul,
We'll recount the triumphs of redeeming grace;
Best of all, we'll see our Saviour, hail and crown Him
Lord of all,
And unite His praise to sing through endless days.”
Questions
1. Tell of some of the miracles performed by Peter.
2. When and where had Peter received power to do these things?
3. Who showed the vision to Peter?
4. What was Peter's occupation before Jesus called him?
5. Tell something of Peter's failure.
6. How do we know he was restored to salvation?
7. What is promised to those who forsake all to follow Jesus?
8. Tell some of the hard things endured by those who followed Jesus.