When Peter met Jesus..Encounters with Jesus

Greetings lovely readers, this the next post in our series about Encounters with Jesus written by Bruce Cooper at Reasoned Cases for Christ. I highly recommend Bruce’s site which is a rich resource for Christian Apologetics. The link is here https://bcooper.ca/about/

Peter – the Witness of Christ
In the New Testament, one of the most undeniable realities revealed is the profound impact Jesus had on those with whom He interacted, and possibly other than the Apostle Paul, no individual illustrates this more prominently than Simon Peter.

While the Gospels provide a primary account of their interactions, insights into Peter’s experiences with Jesus can also be found in other New Testament books. These include quotes from Peter in Acts by Luke, references in Galatians by Paul, and the two books authored by Peter himself, 1st and 2nd Peter.

Peter’s endearing qualities shine through as he openly expresses his emotions and convictions, making it easy for others to identify with his eagerness and devotion, particularly in his heartfelt belief in Jesus.

As an eyewitness to Jesus’ approximately three-year ministry, including significant events like Jesus’ teachings, feeding the multitudes, miraculous healings, Jesus walking on water, the transfiguration, and even Peter’s own denial and restoration, the profound impact of these experiences on Peter’s character becomes evident.

I would also submit that one cannot help but comprehend how an individual such as Peter, or any individual for that matter, who was exposed to these realities, could NOT be changed. 

And then we have the foretold death, resurrection, forty days of appearances and the ascension of Jesus into the sky and the waited for imparting of the promise of Jesus, the infilling of God’s Holy Spirit at Pentecost, thereafter. If ever there were misgivings or fears, all misgivings and fears would be forever extinguished following these witnessed realities.

One does not have to ponder long on how the transformation within Peter himself was manifested as recorded in Acts 2:14-41.

While pondering over the many recorded exchanges between Jesus and Peter, because of brevity requirements, I tried to focus on one particular exchange that stood out from the others. It was not an easy selection because of how pertinent so many of their exchanges are but I did settle on one as found in Matthew 16:13-20 (NASB).

In this passage, Jesus asks His disciples who they believe Him to be. Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, confesses, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Jesus responds by acknowledging the divine revelation Peter received, stating that this revelation was not from flesh and blood but from God Himself. He then goes on to pronounce a blessing upon Peter and declares, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it”.

This interaction signifies a turning point in Peter’s understanding of Jesus’ identity and mission. The term “rock” in Jesus’ statement is a play on words, as Peter’s name, Petros, means rock. Jesus is not establishing the church on Peter himself but on the truth of Peter’s confession – that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

It is this particular truth that is the foundational rock on which faith and trust in Christ exist. 

The author of Hebrews states this reality in Hebrews 1:1-4 where he states: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they.” Emphasis is mine.

Peter’s journey of faith,his transformation, and his witness speak and testify to this eternal truth.

This is the life-changing transformational impact and change that Jesus had on Peter. And what a witness it is!

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!