Peter the apostle, also known as Simon Barjona or Cephas or
Peter the Rock, was a simple fisherman. He was uneducated and led a simple life
yet he grew to be the presiding apostle and leader of Christ’s church after the
crucifixion. What brings a man of such humble beginnings to such greatness?
There is only one answer, and that is Jesus Christ.
When Christ chose his apostles he picked the best possible
men. He knew them and their potential but he also knew that they would need to
be taught and refined. I have spent a lifetime learning the gospel and dare say
that I know more than a lot of people because of my years as a seminary teacher
however, I still feel like an infant in many ways. These men had three short
years that they would learn. True, they had the ultimate teacher, but three
years is not a long time to learn all that they needed to know about this “vast
gospel plan”*.
This humble apostle of the Lord walked away from his
profession, the very means he had to support his family, and never looked back.
He placed all of his trust in the Lord that his family would be provided for
and he accepted the call to serve. What incredible faith he demonstrated right
from the beginning! We read of him healing the sick, escaping from prisons,
raising the dead, prophesying, and walking on water. Later he was threatened,
beaten, and eventually murdered. This was a man of deep spiritual and prophetic
fortitude. And yet some see him as weak because, in a terribly frustrating and
violent time, he denied the Christ. It is important to note that he did not deny
the divinity of Christ but only his own association with Jesus. There is a big difference!
Some people have speculated that Jesus actually commanded
Peter to deny him for his own safety. He needed Peter to be alive and unharmed
so that he could be the president of the church. They say that he wept bitterly
because he hated denying his association with Jesus even though he KNEW that
Jesus was the Christ. I don't know if that is the truth or if he simply denied
him out of fear or something else. The important thing to learn is that Christ
proved that he knows us. It's also important to know to feel the Godly sorrow
of sin is the first step back to repentance. Peter wasted no time on his
repentance. So often we procrastinate our repentance. I know I have.
One of Peter’s amazing qualities is how quickly he
progressed in the gospel. I am inspired by his resilience and ability to learn
from his mistakes and quickly jump right back into the work. Some may say he
lacked faith as shown when he attempted to walk on water. What I see is a man
who DID walk on water.
Peter’s leadership, faith, endless devotion to the Lord and
his church, as well as his courage, and spiritual strength are all qualities
that I greatly admire in this humble apostle of the Lord. Just as Peter was
tried and tested, so have I been tried and tested in my own life. Just as Peter
felt the spirit burning and testifying of Christ, so have I felt this same
testimony. Just as Peter slipped and stumbled as he learned the gospels, so
have a stumbled and fallen. However, we have both picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves
off through the repentance process, and grown stronger. Peter truly is a
shining example of faith and turning ones weaknesses into strengths. He is a
man who has earned his place on the right side of the lord to “judge the
nations” with his brethren, the Twelve apostles and the Savior of all mankind.
*All quotes come from Elder Spencer W. Kimball’s “Peter, My
Brother” article found in Appendix D of The
Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ and His Apostles (old student manual).
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