We begin a study on the lives of the apostles. Today, we're going to look at the first one. Now he's called the first in the Bible, and that's Peter the apostle. We could take many, many weeks looking at him. Once I did a study at one assembly, and it took me more than 25 meetings to cover all the different occasions he is mentioned. So Peter, there's more written about Peter than any other apostle. But in this study, we'd like to be brief, and in two parts, what we'll do is just look at his character and some positive aspects of his character that we can learn from, and in the next message, we'll look at some of his failures that we need to learn from. Now we know more about him than any other apostle.

1. Peters Salvation

Let us begin with his salvation. We read in John chapter 1 verse 44, “Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.” (John 1:44) . So Peter was born in Bethsaida, which is by the shore of Galilee, and further up north of that city is the much bigger city of Capernaum. So later on, as a family, they moved there. We read they went to Capernaum in Mark, chapter 1, and verse 29 of Mark. “And they went into Capernaum …. they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.” (Mark 1:21, 29) . And so his father's name was Jonah; we're not told much about him. We're told he moved there with his wife, and he was a married man, and her mother was living with them; they were looking after her. And also, his brother Andrew also lived with them. Later on, Jesus went to live in Capernaum when he was rejected at Nazareth. So he became a believer when Andrew, his brother, introduced him to the Lord Jesus in John Chapter 1. And Jesus added a new name to him and called him Peter, meaning a stone. So he was Simon, and now he was called Simon Peter or Peter.

Three Ways a Sinner comes to the Saviour

In that passage where we are told where Simon came to the Lord Jesus, where he was saved, we learn that there are three different ways that sinners come to the Saviour, three different ways God brings people to the Lord Jesus. We read in John chapter 1, verses 35 and 36, “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (John 1:35-36) . So the two who were saved. Andrew and John were saved through listening to a preacher. They listened to John the Baptist. They were baptized. They were disciples of John the Baptist. And then they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ when John the Baptist pointed to Christ and said, Behold the Lamb of God. And so many are saved that way. That is God's preeminent way of bringing sinners to Christ: through the preaching of the gospel by a herald, by an evangelist.

The second way is through personal witness. Of course many are saved this way, and we learn how Andrew brought Peter to the Lord Jesus, and we learn that Philip in that same chapter. I'll just read the verse in John chapter 1, verses 40 to 42, “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” (John 1:40-42) . And so brother brought brother to the Lord. And many have been saved that way through a family member, through parents teaching their children, or through a brother or sister. witnessing to others or through believers just witnessing to neighbours and witnessing to friends at work and children who are believers witnessing to a school, other students at school. So many are brought to the Lord through personal witness.

Then there are also those who are directly saved by the Lord. Philip was one of them in that same chapter we read. “The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.” (John 1:43-44) . Then later on, we read how Philip went to speak to Nathanael. There are people who are directly saved by the Lord. Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul, was directly saved by the Lord speaking to him. And Philip was directly saved. There are many people who are saved; many become believers by reading the Bible. Nobody speaks to them; God directly speaks to them through the scriptures and their words.

A Fisherman

So Peter was saved through personal witness; as we know, they were fishermen. We read in Matthew 4.18, “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.” (Matthew 4:18) . But we also read that they were partners. In Luke 5 verse 10, “And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” (Luke 5:10) . So their fishermen, the two brothers, Peter and Andrew, or Simon and Andrew at that time, were partners with James and John, who were brothers, and their father Zebedee. What we learn is that when the Lord calls them, He will use the skills they have in their former occupation in their new occupation as servants of God. So he says to them, I will make you fishers of men. You'll catch men. And this is very significant: when we become believers and when we are serving the Lord, and those who are called to full-time service and work, God uses the skills they had from their previous occupation to use in their new occupation for Him.

Mending Nets and Mending the Saints

And we see this in the scriptures; those fishing terms often occur. Peter uses the same word as mending the nets in his epistles. In Matthew 4:21, we read that, “And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.” (Matthew 4:21) . So that's another occasion where the Lord calls James and John to himself to be fishers of men, and we see the different things they were doing, and it's very significant that they were mending their nets. They were mending their nets because the nets have to be mended. When the fish are caught, sometimes it tears and breaks, and if they don't mend them, the fish will escape, and so they were mending their nets. And the Greek word is translated as establish in Peter's own epistle. He says that, he prays that, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1Peter 5:10) . Paul uses it in Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 1 verse 10: He says, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1Corinthians 1:10) . mended together like a net, like a net that's not broken, in the same mind. 1 Corinthians, 1 verse 10. And so you see these words from fishing reoccur in the epistles. Once, they were busy mending nets. Now they must be mending the saints, making sure that they are peacemakers, and making sure the unity believers have is not broken. And if there is some rift, if there is some quarrel and problems, to mend those nets and bring believers together. So you see how they would use their skills as fishermen in spiritual work.

Toiling All Night

We also read that they toiled all night to catch fish. They toiled all night to catch fish, and that same hard work they would bring into winning souls for the Lord. Paul could say this: “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31) . “Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:” (2Thessalonians 3:8) . So the apostle Paul, like the other apostles, worked hard for the Lord night and day. Paul in a new place would not take money from the converts, lest anyone say he's making converts to make money out of them. He would work in the tent-making business so that no one would need to support him. Rather, he would support those who were with him and himself, and that meant toiling night and day. Paul could say, “I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;” (2Timothy 1:3) . God doesn't call lazy men and women to his work. He calls those who are active in their secular employment. and they're faithful in that secular employment, and God saves them and expects them to put into the Lord's work the same kind of dedication, even more hard work. And the Lord expects us to give our best to him.

Washing the Nets

We also learned they were washing their nets. And we're reminded of how we need to be cleansed. Paul says, “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2Timothy 2:21) . So in Christian life, the washing of nets has to be there; impurities and things have to be removed for the net to be effective.

Counting the Fish

And also counting fish. John 21, verse 11. “Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.” (John 21:11) . Now fishermen counted their fish; that was the normal and natural thing to do because they would sell them, and the great fish would fetch more money than the small fish. Not only must shepherds count the fish—not sort of shepherds—but fishermen count the fish because they're valuable. Fish were valuable. It was their money. It was their work. That's why they counted them, so they could sell them. Souls are valuable. Sinners are like fish that need to be caught. Everyone is a precious soul. Everyone is a great fish that needs to be caught. But once they're caught and saved, they need to be counted as sheep.

The Lord Jesus had not only told him to bring the fish, but he also said this to him in John 21:15. “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15) . Then twice again, the Lord tells him, Ask him the question, Lovest thou me? And ask him to feed my sheep. So a believer, Peter was to be an evangelist, Peter was to fish men for Christ, and every soul was valuable, but also Peter was to be an elder, a shepherd. These were precious sheep. These are God's people who need to be cared for and loved by a shepherd. You see, Peter was to be a fisherman, and he was to be a shepherd spiritually. A spiritual fisherman and a spiritual shepherd, and that is a lesson for us as well. Sinners are precious to God. We need to catch them for the Lord by sharing and preaching the gospel. And when they're saved, they need to be nurtured and cared for like sheep. So the skills he had were put to use in his ministry for the Lord. And that's the same with all the other apostles as well, as we shall learn.

2. Peters Sacrifice

Secondly, Peter's sacrifice. Peter was saved when Andrew introduced him to the Lord Jesus. But a day came when the Lord would call him. The Lord would call him to abandon everything, to leave everything behind, and to follow him in full-time work as an apostle. And this happened in Luke 5 when the miracle took place, when Peter caught all the fish and the net broke. And we read in Luke 5:11 that “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” (Luke 5:11) . Peter had shown his willingness that day to obey everything the Lord commanded him. “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5) , even though it made no sense to him.

And of course, there was an abundant catch that day. “And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” (Luke 5:6) . This was a great day of sacrifice for Peter. They had the biggest catch ever. They could have been very rich, very wealthy from the money made from the fish. On the most successful day, because of Jesus' miracle, when they could have been wealthy and done well, they left it all behind. Everything was sacrificed for the Lord Jesus. That's what God is looking for today. He's looking for men and women who will give 100% to Him in their lives. The Lord wants 100% of us. He doesn't expect us like Peter to leave our jobs and all become full-time, of course not. But he expects 100% from us. He expects sacrifice from us. Willingness to sacrifice. Sacrifice is blood red on the altar. That's what sacrifice means. Blood, pain, and suffering. Difficulties. God expects us to sacrifice. for him when he calls, to give of what we have for him. Give until it hurts. That's what sacrifice is. Peter gave up everything to follow the Lord.

3. Peters Character

Thirdly, Peter's character. In the list of the apostles found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Simon Peter is mentioned first. In Matthew's Gospel, chapters 1 and 4, “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” (Matthew 10:1-4) . Matthew groups them together in pairs. speaking of the fellowship they'd have together as they served the Lord. We read that the scripture calls him the first because he was a leader. He was a natural leader. whom the others would follow. James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. So those two brothers are put together. Philip and Bartholomew are put together. Thomas and Matthew, the publican, they are put together. That's why some people think maybe Thomas was a twin brother of Matthew. No one knows who his twin is, but that's just a suggestion. So Matthew's list of apostles puts Simon and Andrew at the beginning and links them in pairs 2-2-2 to show the fellowship they were to have as they served the Lord.

But Mark's list is different. They are shown individually in Mark chapter 3, verses 14–19. “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: And Simon he surnamed Peter; And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.” (Mark 3:14-19) . You see the difference there? Mark is the gospel of God's perfect servant, the Lord Jesus Christ, the gospel of service, and the gospel of God's servants. and here their mention individually. Simon, James, and John. John and James, and Andrew, Philip, and Bartholomew—they're all individually responsible to their master; they're individually servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. So putting the two together is important. We need the fellowship of other believers to work together as a team, but we also realise we're each and everyone answerable to our Master, to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Their Youth

You'll learn that you'll notice all of them are called young. They had their lives before then. Sometimes God does choose those in old age. There's no doubt about serving him. But we should give God the best years of our lives. If you do that, you'll never regret a single day, month, or year that was spent doing something for the Lord. In God's service, in the assembly, and in all the activities, you'll never regret it if you give the best years of your life to the Lord.

Their Temperaments and Character

We learned that their temperaments are all different. No two were the same character. Peter was a strong-headed and forward-thinking leader. John and James were called the sons of thunder because of their temper. But John would later become the apostle of love. Thomas, the famous doubter, and many other lessons we can learn from the differences in the apostles. They're just like us today, as believers. Every one of us is different. God's people are unique, but we're also a variety. No two are the same. but we're to work together as a body, as the scripture teaches.

Natural Leader

So, as I said, Peter was a natural leader, bold and courageous, and willing to do things that others would hesitate to do. When he spoke, others followed. For example, in John 21 verse 3, “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.” (John 21:3). You see, when Peter said something, the others followed. They were just sitting around, but Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” You know, people discuss: was it right for them to go fishing or not? They were told to wait for the Lord. We're not going to go into that. But there is a positive thing there. When people in the church complain about always going nowhere, they're waiting for somebody else to do something. Someone else should get up and go. We need leaders who, like Peter will say, I'm going fishing for men. Others will say I'm following. I'm going to do this for the Lord, and others will follow. Oftentimes, believers just keep looking at each other. We need someone to get up and do what the Lord wants us to do, not wait for someone else to do it. Peter was a natural leader, and we need leaders, and we can ask God to raise them up. Not people who make themselves leaders, people who are lords over God's heritage, who go around thinking they're the boss. That's not the kind of leader God wants. We want a leader God raises up.

First to Speak

Now, Peter was often the first to speak. We read in Matthew 16:22, “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 savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matthew 16:22-23). He rebuked the Lord when the Lord spoke of his suffering. He thought he knew better than the Lord, and he allowed Satan to put wicked thoughts into his heart, which he uttered to the Lord, seeking to prevent the work of Calvary's cross from taking place. And this was a failure with him and with his speech. He spoke without thinking, as we know. When we believe that we're smarter than God and do not feel our own weakness, foolishness, and need for dependence on the Lord, we're heading for a fall. We learn also, Peter said, “Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.” (Luke 18:28-30).

Peter was the first to speak. Lord, we've left them all. He was a spokesman on behalf of others. “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” (Matthew 26:33). And of course, that boasting would lead to his fall because he thought he loved the Lord more than others. That's why the Lord would question him. Lovest thou me more than these? After he fell and denied the Lord, and after the Lord rose from the dead, restored him, and asked him three times, Do you love me? He first of all asked him, Do you love me more than these? So Peter was always boasting. Peter was first to speak. We read this in Mark “But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.” (Mark 14:31). And what happened when Peter spoke? The rest of them spoke as well. Likewise also said they all. You see, when Peter spoke, he either spoke on behalf of the other apostles, or when he spoke, they also followed and spoke the same as well.

First to Ask Questions

And when the Lord was washing their feet, he was the one who complained. “Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?” (John 13:6). As you can see, Peter was always the first to speak. We can look at other examples, but for sake of time, you can see from these few verses that he was always the first to jump in and ask questions, to complain, or to even rebuke. Peter was also the first to jump into the sea and walk on the water to the Lord. And as we know, he looked around at the storm, began to fear, and began to sink, and the Lord rescued him.

First to Jump into the Sea

But you know he had a faith that the others didn't have. “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” (Matthew 14:28-29). He actually walked on the water by faith. He did the impossible by faith. And that's a great lesson for us. God is the God of the impossible. He wants us to venture out in faith to do things that are impossible in the eyes of men but possible through God. You notice that when he jumped into the sea, none of the others followed. He had much more faith than them that he could walk on the water. See what a leader he was—a desire to do great things—which is what they were going to learn to do when God sent them out. After the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and his ascension to heaven, he would send them out into the world, and they would do great things for God because the Lord had trained them for those three years.

William Carey was in a meeting at the Baptist Association in Nottingham, England, on May 30th, 1792, where he uttered those famous words, which are often repeated: Expect great things from God and attempt great things for God. That's what Peter teaches us: attempt great things for God. And he did that; he was a leader. We also read in John 21 verse 7 “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.” (John 21:7). Again, he jumps into the water. So the second time we see him, he's the first to jump into the sea.

First to Fight

He's also the first to fight. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we read, “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. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:10-11) . He wanted to defend his lord against these evil men and swung his sword to kill. But he was a fisherman and not a soldier, and thankfully he missed cutting off Malchus' head. And the Lord, in grace, overruled the rashness of Peter and healed Malchus' ear. Peter again, not now by lith as before, but by deed, was trying to hinder the greatest work God was going to do at the cross of Calvary. Christ would die for sinners, and nothing should be allowed to hinder that. The Lord rebuked him and told him to put his sword away. He had come to drink that cup, and he would drink it at the cross. But he was the first to fight and defend his Lord.

First to Run

He was also the first to run after the resurrection. John chapter 20 verse 3 “Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.” (John 20:3-4) . He ran when he heard the news that the tomb was empty and that the women said Jesus had risen from the dead. He took the lead. When he ran, John ran as well. You see how he was a leader. He would be the first to speak, the first to jump into the sea, the first to fight, and the first to run. He was a natural leader. Now, not all of us are leaders. But we all, as believers, need to get up and do something and not wait for others to do it. That's what his example teaches us.

He made mistakes. He made a lot of mistakes. With his mouth, he said things he shouldn't say. and he did things with his hands that he shouldn't have done with his sword, but he learned his lesson. He also denied the Lord, as we know, which we'll learn next week. Let us learn from his example. Not wait for someone else to do something that needs to be done in our assembly; get up and do it yourself; take the initiative; do something for God; and look around for others to do it. That's an important lesson for us to learn. Now may the Lord bless his word, and next week or next meeting, shall I say next session, we shall look at Peter's failures.