lesson one
MARCH 25–31
The Person of
Peter
“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid;
and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’
“And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught
him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you
doubt?’ ” (Matt. 14:30, 31, NKJV).
sabbath
MARCH 25
Luke 22:31–34,
54–62
Introduction
My Name Is Peter
My name is Peter, and I am a coward.
It started one night at dinner, as Jesus sat with my friends and me.
He shared many disturbing things with us. He broke bread and passed
it around, calling it His “body.” He shared a cup of grape juice with us and
called it His “blood.” He spoke of trials to come.
That’s when I heard the rooster crow.
And then He talked about how Satan was demanding to have me, that
Satan wanted to sift me as if I were wheat. He said that He Himself had
prayed that my faith would not fail. I tried to set Jesus straight, saying,
“ ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death’ ” (Luke 22:33,
ESV). However, Jesus told me that I would deny that I even knew Him that
same night—and not just once, but three times—before the rooster crowed!
Clearly, I loved the Lord more than anyone! I had been with Him from the
beginning of His ministry and had listened to Him preach. I had walked on
water to meet Him during a storm! The thought that I would deny knowing
Him was preposterous!
Until . . .
Until a servant girl, huddled over the fire near me, called out that I had
been with Jesus.
Until a man near her confirmed that I was someone who had been with
Jesus. Until another man pointed out that I was Galilean and knew I had
been with Jesus.
I told the servant girl that I did not know Jesus. I told the first man that
I had not been with Jesus. To the third person, I swore an oath and told
him that I did not know what he was talking about. That’s when I heard the
rooster crow.
That night Jesus was tried in front of a corrupt council. The next day He
was beaten, taunted, condemned to death, and forced to carry His own
cross through the streets. He was hung upon the cross, mocked, and then,
as He whispered, “It is finished,” He died.
But that’s not the end of the story! Jesus rose from the dead. Death could
not contain the glory of God! And because He endured all of that, my sin has
been cleansed. My debt has been paid. Jesus took my place in death!
My name is Peter, and I am redeemed.
Allison Sauceda, Centerville, Ohio, U.S.A.
11
sunday
MARCH 26
Logos
The Change in Peter
Matt. 4:18; 16:13–23;
Mark 1:16–18;
Luke 22:31–34, 54–62;
John 1:40–42; 21:15–19;
1 Pet. 5:4
If you look in the Bible for someone completely transformed by Christ, you
need look no further than Simon Peter. This week we look at Peter before
Christ entered his life, the transformation he underwent, and how Christ ultimately used him to bring many into the newly founded Christian church.
Simon realized that Jesus had been looking for him,
and suddenly he felt found.
Simon the Person (Matt. 4:18)
The selection of Simon to be on Jesus’ team reveals how badly Jesus n
­ eeded
a good human resources office to vet His disciples. There could hardly have
been a worse choice than Simon. He was uneducated, especially in the eyes of
the religious leaders with whom Jesus would interact. And he had so much to
learn! At the same time, he didn’t have so much to “unlearn.” He was teachable.
As a fisherman, Simon had low status in Jewish society. Fishermen often
have a certain “air” about them, and it’s not pleasant.
Furthermore, in Jesus’ time, fishermen were considered ritually unclean because they often had to handle unclean fish that were snared in their nets. Yet,
seven of the original 12 apostles were fishermen.
Simon Becomes Peter (Mark 1:16–18; John 1:40–42)
Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist, heard John bear witness of Jesus
as being the Messiah. Filled with joy, Andrew found his brother Simon and
invited him to come and meet Jesus. When Jesus saw Simon for the first time,
He said, “ ‘ You are Simon son of John’ ” (John 1:42, NIV). Simon realized that
Jesus had been looking for him, and suddenly he felt found.
Then Jesus said those words that would not only change Simon’s name
but change his life: “ ‘You shall be called Cephas’ ” (verse 42, NKJV). Cephas
means “stone” in Aramaic. The Greek equivalent is Peter—the stone. He rolled
around and was tossed like a pebble for a while, but ultimately he grew into
the name.
Later Jesus sees Simon and Andrew fishing and says, “ ‘Follow Me, and I
will make you become fishers of men’ ” (Mark 1:17, NKJV). Immediately, they
left their nets to follow Jesus!
Peter the Rock and Stumbling Block (Matt. 16:13–23)
In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asks His disciples, “ ‘Who do people say the Son
of Man is?’ ” (NIV). Peter, through a revelation from the Father in heaven, blurts
out, “ ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!’ ” (verse 16, NIV). Jesus
commends him for his answer. Peter is the first to realize it, and Jesus reminds
him that he is the stone.
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From that time on, Jesus began to talk about His coming rejection, death,
and resurrection. Aghast, Peter remonstrated with Jesus, saying, “ ‘Never,
Lord!’ ” (verse 22, NIV). To that, Jesus replied, “ ‘Get behind me, Satan! You
are a stumbling block’ ” (verse 23, NIV). Peter understood that Jesus was the
Messiah but still misunderstood the true nature of His mission.
Peter the Denier (Luke 22:31–34, 54–62)
Unfortunately, the last interchange between Jesus and Peter was marred by
Peter’s arrogance. Jesus said, “ ‘Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you
as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail’ ” (Luke 22:31,
32, NKJV). Peter replied emphatically, “ ‘Lord, I am ready to go with You, both
to prison and to death’ ” (verse 33, NKJV). How painful for him to hear Jesus’
next words: “ ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will
deny three times that you know Me’ ” (verse 34, NKJV).
After Peter’s third denial, Jesus locked eyes with him (verse 61). Peter was
a broken man. He left and wept bitterly. And then Jesus was gone. Peter’s last
words were denial of his Lord. How could he face this memory?
Peter the Shepherd (John 21:15–19; 1 Pet. 5:4)
When Jesus was raised from the dead, Peter was overjoyed. He was one of
the first at the tomb because he ran. But the memory of his denial still haunted
him. Was he cast out from being a disciple?
Jesus answered that question by the Sea of Galilee. After having caught no
fish, the disciples were given advice by a stranger on the shore, resulting in
a net full of fish. Realizing that the stranger was Jesus, Peter jumped into the
water and swam to the shore—beating everyone else.
After breakfast, Jesus said, “ ‘Simon, . . . do you love Me more than these?’ ”
Peter replied, “ ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ ” Jesus said, “ ‘Feed My
lambs’ ” (John 21:15, NKJV). Twice more Jesus asked the question. Peter must
have become more distressed at each repetition of the question—answering
each time, “ ‘Yes, Lord.’ ” Each time Jesus responded, “ ‘Feed My sheep.’ ”
Three times Peter had denied Jesus. Three times He gave Peter the opportunity to express his love. Peter was not rejected but forgiven! He would go
on to write the letters of 1 and 2 Peter in this role as shepherd—­encouraging
the flock to remember that Jesus is coming again and that “when the Chief
Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade
away” (1 Pet. 5:4, NIV).
REACT
1. What new name might Jesus give to you?
2. How have you denied Jesus? What assurance do you have of your own
forgiveness?
Franke Zollman, Smithsburg, Maryland, U.S.A.
13
monday
MARCH 27
Testimony
“Lord, Save Me!”
Matt. 14:13–33;
Mark 6:30–52;
John 6:1–21
“ At the moment when they believe themselves lost, a gleam of light reveals a mysterious figure approaching them upon the water. But they know
not that it is Jesus. The One who has come for their help they count as an
enemy. . . .
“They think it a phantom that omens their destruction, and they cry out
for fear. Jesus advances as if He would pass them; but they recognize Him,
and cry out, entreating His help. Their beloved Master turns, His voice silences their fear, ‘Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.’
“Christ is hidden from his view, and his faith gives way.”
“ As soon as they could credit the wondrous fact, Peter was almost beside himself with joy. As if he could scarcely yet believe, he cried out, ‘Lord,
if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, Come.’
“Looking unto Jesus, Peter walks securely; but as in self-satisfaction he
glances back toward his companions in the boat, his eyes are turned from
the Saviour. The wind is boisterous. The waves roll high, and come directly
between him and the Master; and he is afraid. For a moment Christ is
hidden from his view, and his faith gives way. He begins to sink. But while
the billows talk with death, Peter lifts his eyes from the angry waters, and
fixing them upon Jesus, cries, ‘Lord, save me.’ Immediately Jesus grasps
the outstretched hand, saying, ‘O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou
doubt?’ . . .
“When trouble comes upon us, how often we are like Peter! We look
upon the waves, instead of keeping our eyes fixed upon the Saviour. Our
footsteps slide, and the proud waters go over our souls. Jesus did not bid
Peter come to Him that he should perish; He does not call us to follow Him,
and then forsake us.”*
REACT
1. In what ways do you take your eyes off Jesus during difficult times?
What kinds of things distract you from maintaining your focus on Him?
2. Think of times in your life when you were certain that you could do
everything on your own. What transpired that made you realize you were
unable to save yourself?
3. When you feel overcome in your own life, do you call out to Jesus?
____________
* Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 381, 382.
Nathan Zollman, Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.A.
14
tuesday
Acts 1:15–25;
2:14–36;
4:1–12;
10:1–48
MARCH 28
Evidence
Unabashedly Bold for Jesus
When we first are introduced to Simon Peter in the Bible, we meet an impetuous, self-assured fisherman. Although he was rough around the edges,
Jesus was able to look into his heart and see the potential in him. Through his
interactions with Christ, Peter became a changed man. Gone were his selfish, brazen ways, replaced by a passion for Jesus and for sharing His Word.
Peter asked to be crucified upside down.
After Jesus returned to heaven, Peter went on to become one of the founding fathers of the Christian faith. Glancing through the pages of Acts, we see
Peter popping up at every junction, taking his place as a leader in the church
(Acts 1:15–25); preaching a sermon on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14–36);
defending the healing of a crippled man before the Jewish leaders and proclaiming it done in the name of Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 4:1–12); and preaching to the Gentiles, who had been treated as “unclean” by Jews (Acts 10:1–48).
According to tradition, Mark wrote his Gospel based on the account he
received from Peter. Because of this, it is almost as if we are reading the very
words of Peter when we read the Gospel of Mark.
Historical evidence points to Peter’s death somewhere around the same
time as Paul’s in Rome—about a.d. 67 or 68—during the persecution of
Christians. All accounts agree that Peter was put to death by crucifixion.
However, the early church father Origen reports one of the most notable aspects of Peter’s death. Peter felt unworthy to be put to death in the same way
as his Master. Because of that, Peter asked to be crucified upside down.* His
final request was not to remain alive but simply to die more humbly than his
Savior. Peter was unflinchingly and unabashedly bold until the end!
If Jesus could turn such a hardened, foolhardy fellow into one of the
founding fathers of His church, what plans do you think He might have for
you and me?
REACT
1. In what ways have you been bold for Jesus? If you haven’t been bold in
the past, what are some instances when you should have been? What could
you have done differently?
2. What touches you most about Peter’s transformed life? How can you let
Christ transform you more?
____________
* “When and How Did the Twelve Apostles Die?” Amazing Bible Timeline With World History,
accessed March 24, 2016, http://amazingbibletimeline.com/bible_questions/q6_apostles_die/.
Andres Sauceda, Centerville, Ohio, U.S.A.
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wednesday
MARCH 29
How-to
Living as a Chosen Person
1 Pet. 1:13–15;
2:9, 11; 5:8;
2 Pet. 2:11
As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, we believe we are called to be a
chosen people. We are to live in the world but not be of the world. We all sin;
so how does a Christian life look any different from that of someone who
doesn’t profess to be a Christian?
When Jesus called Peter and he started his life as a disciple, we know
him to be a harsh and somewhat rash individual. Yet, he was chosen—
handpicked—by Jesus Himself. Experiencing God’s forgiveness and love
caused him to change into the man God could see from the beginning.
How can we do this in our lives today? Peter himself gives us some
practical advice.
How close would you allow yourself
to get to a hungry, roaring lion?
Realize that it is God’s grace that has called us to be chosen. God began the process in His love. We can’t take credit for it.
Remember that God calls us to be holy in all our conduct. That means
in driving, walking, paying bills, and doing school assignments—whatever
we are doing, we are to do with kindness and to the best of our abilities
(1 Pet. 1:13–15).
Guard against worldly temptations. We must guard our minds and not
repeat the mistakes He has already forgiven. It takes decided, conscious
effort. It means not giving in to fleshly lusts that will harm our souls (1 Pet.
2:9–11). It also means not giving in to the temptation of saying bad things
about each other (2 Pet. 2:11).
Understand that the devil is walking around “like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8, NKJV). How close would you allow
yourself to get to a hungry, roaring lion? We must constantly be on guard
so that we do not fall into the devil’s traps!
Keep in mind that we are a chosen generation. Our being chosen does
not mean we are better than others. It means we are grateful and much
more is expected of us. God is counting on you and me! We are picked by
God to show the world who He is and to share the love He has for them
through our actions.
REACT
1. What specific changes do you believe God is asking of you, as one of
His chosen people?
2. How is this different from what the world teaches?
3. What does a Christian life look like to you?
Melinda Tamaleaa, Topsham, Maine, U.S.A.
16
thursday
1 Pet. 3:8–11
Opinion
MARCH 30
Hope for a Loser
Was Peter a mistake?
I know that Jesus didn’t conduct any interviews before He called His disciples to be “fishers of people,” but did you ever wonder whether perhaps He
should have bypassed Peter? I mean, He didn’t have to call both Andrew and
Peter just because they were brothers. And it appears that Peter, God bless
him, is a loser. Would you keep an employee who had the following record?
He asks for administrative privileges (Matt. 14:28).
He is slow to catch on (Matt. 15:15, 16).
He talks back (Matt. 16:22, 23).
He speaks up when he should be quiet (Matt. 17:1–4).
He is not gracious when others make mistakes (Matt. 18:21).
He is self-seeking (Matt. 19:27).
He is overconfident (Matt. 26:33).
He bails out when things get tough (Matt. 26:56).
He has a foul mouth (Matt. 26:74).
He lies about his involvement with the company (Matt. 26:69–74).
It’s pretty amazing what Jesus can do with a loser.
Why didn’t Jesus fire him? Why did He hire Peter in the first place?
When Jesus is looking for workers, He uses a different standard than we
do. While we are interested in performance and efficiency, Jesus looks for a
beautiful heart, even when it is harbored in the chest of a loser. His eyes scan
the crowd for those who are looking for Him.
Look at the results. His force of 12, including the loser, Peter, turned the
world upside down.
The contrast between who Peter was when he hired on and when he finished the job is almost humorous. In one of his letters written some 30 years
later, the loser turned leader writes, “ All of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. . . .
Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. . . . ‘Keep your tongue from
speaking evil / and your lips from telling lies. / . . . Search for peace, and work
to maintain it’ ” (1 Pet. 3:8–11, NLT).
Seriously? Peter wrote that?
Yup. It’s pretty amazing what Jesus can do with a loser.
REACT
1. What does Peter’s story teach us about the way we evaluate other
Christians?
2. What does Peter’s story teach us about the way we evaluate ourselves?
Kandace Zollman, Smithsburg, Maryland, U.S.A.
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friday
MARCH 31
Exploration
Transformation of a
Fisherman
Matt. 14:30, 31;
16:13–19
CONCLUDE
Peter underwent a dramatic transformation—from crass, selfish, uneducated fisherman to bold, Christ-centered leader of the church. Peter
didn’t change himself; Jesus transformed Peter’s character. Peter continued to follow Jesus even after he knew he had made a huge mistake in
denying his Lord. He allowed Jesus to change his heart and replace his
fear and selfishness with love. God is calling us as He called Peter—from
a life of self-seeking to a life of self-surrender. Only then will we experience true happiness in His best plan for us.
CONSIDER
• Creating an entry in your prayer journal about where you are in
your walk with God. Are you, like Peter, at the very beginning of
your faith experience, still uncertain and unsteady in your faith?
Are you discouraged by challenges in your life? Are you leaning on
Jesus no matter what happens? What is Jesus trying to teach you
right now?
• Talking with your coworkers about Jesus. Share the story of how He
has changed your life.
• Starting a small group in which members pray for each other to have
greater faith and provide encouragement for each person’s spiritual
journey.
• Creating a piece of artwork that depicts transformation.
• Writing and performing a skit that depicts a scene from Peter’s life.
Emphasize the transforming power of a relationship with Jesus.
• Reflecting on what we can learn about judging others from studying
the life of Peter.
CONNECT
Reread the Bible verses listed in the Logos study in several Bible versions of your choosing.
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, chap. 25, “The Call by the Sea,” and
chap. 40, “ A Night on the Lake.”
Christy Yingling Gusse, Loma Linda, California, U.S.A.
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