Simon Peter's Ordination

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Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus.  The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”).  He immediately led him to Jesus. Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon?  From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).  John 1:40-42(MSG)

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.  But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.  So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”  Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”  But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”  Luke 22:31-34

If ever there was a portrait of a conflicted man it is Simon Peter.  The fact that we know this man by two names owes to Jesus renaming the Apostle.  But the struggle was Peter’s, not the name.  From the Gospel accounts, and even the epistles we find Peter’s epic war with his own nature.  He had an intense desire to follow and serve Jesus, but, like all of us, he had his baser instincts that caused him to shrink-back from the very Lord he loved. 

Peter could boast one evening that, if need be, he’d die for and with Jesus; before the rooster crowed in the morning, we hear him cursing that he doesn’t even know the carpenter.  Peter would embrace serving one day and fall to cowardice the next day.  He was impetuous and often wrong.  But when he was right, people just had to step out of the way, because the power of God worked in his life like the crashing of waters over the Niagara Falls.

His parents named him Simon…a good Jewish name.  Jesus nicknamed him Cephas, or Rocky, in connection with how Simon would answer Jesus’ direct question to the disciples; Jesus asked them who do YOU say I am?  Simon Peter is the one who got an A+ on this test; he said:  You’re Messiah, the son of the living God.  You’re the One we’ve all been waiting for.

Here we have a man who could be so spiritually-connected and holy, living in the same body with a fearful, survival-minded weasel shamefully avoiding the possibility of being known as a disciple of Jesus…will the real Peter…or Simon please stand up?  The fact is BOTH are Simon Peter, the conflicted, but consecrated servant of God.  And when Peter stands up, we stand with him…because we ARE him.  Each of us has Peter inside…a human nature, willing to rebel and deny Christ…and a spiritual image of the Living God, stamped on our souls, calling us to look and live higher.  We ARE Simon-Peter!

In Luke’s Gospel text for this morning there are just six sentences.  In that is the germ of Peter’s ordination, his call and sending into the ministry.  At first Jesus calls him by the human name his parents gave him, Simon.  Jesus tells him his human nature will be under assault by the evil one, Satan.  Then Jesus gives him assurance that he’s being prayed for in heaven, and Simon’s call is to repent of his own sins, and then strengthen all the other conflicted servants.  He is called to be the leader of the band. 

But then, by the sixth sentence Jesus reminds him that even Peter – the rock – will be subject to abject failure.  Peter is not going to be the infallible “pope” – he’s going to continue the struggle with that old man inside who is fearful sometimes, and wonderfully-powerful at other times.  He will be Simon-Peter.

For You Today

All who have called upon the glorious name of Jesus Christ in humble faith have a new nature birthed in them by the presence of God’s Holy Spirit living within; they’re just like, and no-different from, Simon Peter.  It never means the old nature has been taken away; it does mean we’ve been given the tools to fight the good fight and win over that old nature. 

Today’s simple question is…are you still fighting the good fight?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[i] Title Image:   Rembrandt's The Apostle Peter (Public Domain - via Wikimedia Commons)

[ii] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from The New Living Translation©

Apostle To the Apostles

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Mary Magdalene gets some pretty gaudy press.  She’s labeled a prostitute among other things, and a Jesus groupie.  One thing most people (me included) are surprised to hear is her being called an “apostle”.

Of course the term “apostle” is applied to such stalwart servants of Jesus as Peter, James and John; these are the “messengers” of God, the apostles, ones sent by heaven above to change the world.  Mary was just a hanger-on, somebody to wash feet and cook…right?  I mean, what else could she do?  She didn’t have the best reputation and she wasn’t one of the boys.  What kind of resume´ could Mary Magdalene bring to the table?

Well, for starters (if you’re making comparisons):

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     ...Mary didn’t cower outside of Pilate’s home when Jesus was arrested, denying she’d ever known him – like Peter.

·        .....Mary never thought Jesus was crazy – like Jesus’ brothers.

·        .....Mary didn’t scatter and hide with the rest of the “apostles” when they nailed the Christ to a cross.

·        .....And Mary never persecuted the church like Paul, who wrote a third of the New Testament.

No, Mary was certainly NOT like the other apostles; Mary was an apostle TO the apostles.  Jesus chose Mary to deliver the most important message one human ever gave to another.  Jesus said to her: …go find my brothers and tell them….

Mary’s “apostle-ship” is no different than Peter, James, John, Paul and the others.  They were great sinners too; forgiven, called and sent!

And, just in case there’s any doubt, remember Mary washing Jesus’ feet?  Here’s what Jesus said about Magdalene, that great sinner:

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love.  But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”  Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”  Luke 7:47-48 (NLT)

Add that forgiveness to Jesus’ calling Mary to “go tell” and you have an apostle’s resume´ as valid as any of the boys Jesus called.

So…the point is…

The point is not about who can stand in a pulpit on Sunday at 11am.  The point isn’t about ordination, titles and bragging rights.  The point is about standing in our calling, despite the approval or disapproval of those who presume to judge.

Mary preached the Gospel; she told what she’d been told to tell!

And isn’t it just that simple?

For You, Today…

How’s your resume´? 

A little spotty? 

Are you not a poster child for the credential-minded?

Stand firm in the Lord.  Forgiveness never checks our pedigree; God looks at our repentant heart and willing hands.

And mouth.

You sins are forgiven – now…GO tell!