As we journey through the twelve Apostles, there are a few men who made such an impact that we see both the positive and negative qualities. In Peter’s life, God does not spare the details. Maybe it is because we can see ourselves in both the positive and negative examples of Peter.
One of Peter’s qualities that was not desirable is his impulsiveness. We see in Matthew 14:28-29 where Peter sees Jesus walking on the water and asks to join Him. “And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” “He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.” Some may say this is a good quality because he just wanted to be with Jesus. I think his personality shows us that he wanted to try it. He was curious like a kid who goes to a theme park and sees the newest roller coaster. He does get out of the boat, and for a few steps, he walks on water, but then he takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to sink.
His impulsiveness also caused him to attack the High Priest’s servant when they came to arrest Jesus in the garden. Peter, without thinking, pulls his sword and cuts off the servant’s ear. I believe he was aiming for the head. Jesus rebukes him and restores the ear.
John 18:10 “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.”
In Galatians 5:22-23, we are taught that one of the fruits of the Spirit is temperance, which means self-control. In James 1:19-20 and Proverbs 16:32, we are taught to think and not be hasty.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
James 1:19-20 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
Proverbs 16:32 “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
Peter also thinks too highly of his own ability. He rebukes Jesus in Matthew 16:22-23: “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savors not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
Peter relies too much on what he thinks rather than what Jesus is teaching him. He has a better idea. When Jesus went to wash Peter’s feet after their last supper in the upper room. He declared that Jesus would never wash his feet. Jesus rebukes him and says that if he will not let him wash his feet, he will have no part of him. So, again, Peter has a better idea, then wash all of me. In the early part of his ministry, Peter does not think before he speaks.
John 13:8 “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”
I think the incident that caused Peter to begin to see Jesus for who He was and himself for who he is was when he denied Christ. Jesus had told him that he would deny Him, but Peter, in Peter fashion, declares that it will never happen. In other words, Jesus, you don’t know what you are talking about. How bold, and yet stupid. He is telling God in the flesh that He is wrong.
Matthew 26:69-75 “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrays thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”
Do you see yourself in some of Peter’s negative qualities? I do. However, Peter does the right thing when he realizes he has done what he never thought was possible; he repents bitterly. We all have those times in our spiritual walk when we sin after we are saved. We must understand that we have the propensity to sin still within us. We are born with a sin nature, and that is still part of us after we are saved. Yet, when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us after we are saved, He will help us not to sin and convict us when we do. Both are necessary to grow and become more like Jesus, which is our goal. In I John 1:5-10 we have the warning about not living the way we are suppose to and we have the remedy for sinning after salvation. In verse 9 the writer tells us that if we confess, repent, he WILL forgive us and cleanse us, not from part of our sins but ALL. If He said He would, then He will.
I John 1:5-10 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
