Jesus asked His disciples, “who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “YOU ARE BLESSED, Simon son of Jonah, because my Father in heaven has REVEALED THIS TO YOU. You did not learn this from any human being.” (Matthew 16:15-17) So, Jesus began to explain to his disciples, “that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must BE KILLED and on the third day be RAISED TO LIFE.” (Matthew 16:21)
Now, Peter, who had just been blessed, decided to give some positive reinforcement to the Lord, “Peter took Jesus aside and began to reprimand Him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU!” (Matthew 16:22) God the Son was not about to be reprimanded by one of His creations, “He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are NOT MINDFUL OF THE THINGS OF GOD, but THE THINGS OF MEN.“ (Matthew 16:23)
Jesus and the disciples went to the Mount of Olives. On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight ALL OF YOU will desert me…Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, YOU WILL DENY THREE TIMES THAT YOU EVEN KNOW ME.” (Matthew 26:30-34) See Matthew 26:69-75
So, did Peter recover from his foot-in-mouth problem? On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came on the scene “Peter stood up with the Eleven. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd. “My Jewish friends,” he said, “let me explain this to you. All of you who live in Jerusalem, LISTEN CAREFULLY to what I say.” Peter preached a very detailed message and, “Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day.” (Acts 2:14, 41)
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple…a man who was lame from birth was put at the temple gate to beg…When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked for money. Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention…Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, WALK.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and INSTANTLY the man’s FEET AND ANKLES BECAME STRONG (he had never walked). He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, WALKING and JUMPING, and PRAISING GOD.” (Acts 3:1-8) Then Peter preached to them, “…many who heard the message believed; so, the number of men who believed grew to about FIVE THOUSAND.” (Acts 4:4)
GOD CAN USE EACH OF US IN THE SAME WAY – LET HIM DO IT…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham