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Discussion 6
They Met Jesus: Peter

Peter is a participant in life, not a viewer of the action. He is overtly involved with all and by all who come his way. In today's vernacular he probably would consider himself an idea man (he is a natural leader) and impetuously would offer himself to the nearest "think tank." He must often find the discipline of submitting to the authority of Jesus difficult, yet he chooses Jesus as his captain. As a disciple he may often say "But, but," though eventually he always says "Yes, Lord," never "No." Once when Jesus gives his disciples the option of leaving him, Peter says, "To whom shall we go?" Peter understands that Jesus not only is his captain but the one who alone has the words of eternal life.

Peter
Matthew 14:22-33
1. What reasons may Jesus have for sending his disciples away at this point?
What would be the mood of the crowd after Jesus has fed the 5,000 (verses 15-21)?
Compare with John 6: 14, 15. Why would Jesus want to be alone at this time?
2. What difficulty do the disciples in the boat encounter?
Why don't Jesus' followers have "storm-free" lives, even when they obey him?
What comfort is there for us in the fact that when the disciples were in trouble, Jesus went to them?
3. Why should people today find it strange or impossible that the Son of God walked on water when in our time men have walked in space?
4. How do the disciples react to Jesus' walking on the sea?
Describe Peter in this situation. What reasons could Peter have for wanting to join Jesus on the water?
What characteristics in Peter does this incident reveal?
What series of emotions does he experience?
5. At what point does Peter begin to sink?
Why doesn't he drown?
What does Jesus say about Peter's experience?
For what is Peter criticized?
For what is he not criticized?
What do the others in the boat conclude?

Luke 9:18-26
6. What two questions does Jesus put to Peter and the others (verses 18-20)?
How do these two questions differ?
Which one demands a personal commitment?
How does Peter answer?
7. What does Jesus teach his disciples after Peter acknowledges him to be God's Messiah?
What does Jesus predict will happen to him as Messiah?
8. What does Jesus teach Peter and all of us about discipleship in verses 23-26?
What does it cost to be a Christian (Jesus' disciple)? What does it cost not to be a Christian?
Why would anyone be ashamed of Jesus or of his words?

Matthew 26:30-35
9. "'On the night of his betrayal, for what does Jesus try to prepare the disciples (verses 31, 32)?
How does Peter react to Jesus' statement?
What is Peter's estimate of himself and of his fellow disciples?
What is the intention of Peter's heart as revealed in his promises in verses 33, 35?
What does Jesus know about Peter which Peter doesn't know about himself?
10. Note that the other disciples also claim what Peter does.
What can we as Christians do about the promises we make to the Lord but fail to keep?
Do you think that the Lord is surprised when we fail?
Why are we so surprised?'
What must be the source of our power if we would stand for Christ, no matter what comes?
(Romans 8:35-37; Philippians 4:12, 13; Colossians 1: 11, 12)

Matthew 26:56b-58, 69-75
 
11. Where are the other disciples when Peter follows Jesus and his captors at a distance?
What does this show about Peter? about the others?
12. Trace Peter's experience in verses 69-74. What progression do you see in his denials?
Why can't Peter escape being associated with Jesus?
Discuss what kind of "accent" Christians today should have which would perhaps even against their wills link them with Jesus in the minds of others.
13. What does the crowing of the cock mean to Peter?
How does he react?
Consider the pressures upon Christians in the twentieth century to deny Jesus in words or in deeds.
How can we live so that we do not deny him?

John 21 :1-25

14. What is the experience of Peter and his six friends back in Galilee?
What makes Peter realize that it is Jesus waiting on the shore?
How do you account for Peter's behavior in verses 7, 8?
15. Describe the scene that greets the disciples when they get to shore.
How does Peter respond to what Jesus tells them to do?
If we are not as eager as Peter is here to obey Jesus, can it be that we are not aware of our denials and of Jesus' forgiveness as was Peter?
16. Why would Jesus wait until breakfast is finished before he has his conversation with Peter?
Why would Jesus address Peter as Simon, son of John?
What must Peter consider if these to which Jesus refers (verse 15) are the boat, the nets, fish, and Peter's fishing career to which he has momentarily returned?
What does Peter have to think about if these means his fellow disciples?
17. When Jesus for the third time questions Peter's love, how does Peter respond?
What change do you observe in Peter here from the time described in Matthew 26: 33, 35?
18. Why would Jesus ask Peter the same question three times?
What has Peter recently done three times to Jesus?
What assignment does Jesus give to Peter in recommissioning him as an apostle?
See 1 Peter 5: 1-4 for how Peter's advice years later to fellow Christians is influenced by this experience with Christ.
19. Although Peter is now much less sure of himself than he was before the crucifixion, the Lord predicts that Peter will be a faithful servant to his death.
What is Jesus' answer to Peter's question about the future of his fellow disciple?
What is Jesus' advice to each Christian who focuses his attention on his fellow Christians rather than upon the Lord?

SUMMARY
1. What would you say was Peter's greatest strength, and his greatest weakness?
Why is a man's weakness often the corruption of his area of greatest strength?
Describe Peter's experience of the grace of God.
2. From the incidents in Peter's life considered in this study, what is revealed about Jesus Christ?
What will it mean in your life if you acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God as Peter did?

CONCLUSION
"How do I know that God is good? I don't.
I gamble like a man. I bet my life
Upon one side in life's great war. I must,
I can't stand out. I must take sides. The man
Who is a neutral in this fight is not
A man. He's bulk and body without breath,
Cold leg of lamb without mint sauce. A fool.
He makes me sick. Good Lord! Weak tea!
Cold slops!
I want to live, live out, not wobble through
My life somehow, and then into the dark.
I must have God ....
Well- God's my leader, and I hold that He
Is good, and strong enough to work His plan
And purpose out to its appointed end.
I am no fool, I have my reasons for
This faith, but they are not the reasonings,
The coldly calculated formulae
Of thought divorced from feeling. They are true,
Too true for that. ...
I can't stand shiv'ring on the bank, I plunge
Head first. I bet my life on Beauty, Truth,
And Love, not abstract but incarnate Truth,
Not Beauty's passing shadow but its Self.
Its very self made flesh, Love realised.
I bet my life on Christ - Christ crucified."

These words by G. A. Studdert Kennedy, chaplain in World War I, in his poem, "Faith,"
could be Peter's testimony in twentieth century language.