Portrait of Peter - L2

Portrait of Peter.

October 28, 2020. Grace-Vail.

Lesson 2 - Peter’s Training

1. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Whether Peter and the other disciples always had the best possible motives, at least they did one thing right: they followed Jesus around for the better portion of 3 years or so. Today we’ll consider some significant moments in Peter’s training with Jesus.

Mark 1:30-31 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

2. What kinds of inconveniences happen when your mother in law is sick?

3. Respond: They were so lucky back then, they just got to go right to Jesus when they were sick. Too bad we don’t get to do that anymore.

Mark 5:22-24, 35-43 One of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. 35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

4. If a man came to you begging for help because his 12 year old daughter is dying; what would you do? (What about if the daughter actually dies?)

5. Agree or Disagree: It would be cruel and offensive to tell the father of a dead 12 year old, “Do

not be afraid. Only believe.” (or to say, “The child is not dead, but sleeping.”)

6. Why do you think Jesus only allowed 3 disciples to follow him into the house of this young girl?

7. Respond: If only these kinds of things would happen again. But those miracles only happened when Jesus was around back then. We shouldn’t expect the same to happen again.

8. Peter was being trained as a future leader. What did seeing the young girl get up do for Peter’s training?

Matthew 16:13-16 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

9. Why did many think Jesus was John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jeremiah?

10. How did Peter know that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God?

Matthew 16:17-19 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

11. Some say these words of Jesus prove that the Pope has the authority to be the earthly leader of Jesus’ church. How would you respond?

12. Here are a couple of points to help with #11 - What is the “this rock” on which Jesus will build his church: Peter the person, or the confession of Jesus as Messiah that Peter had just spoken?

- In verse 18, the you is singular, referring to Peter, in verse 19, the you is plural.

- This is not the only place where Jesus refers to the keys of the kingdom. In the other places, there is no reason to think

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he is only talking to Peter, but rather, that he is talking to all the disciples.

The rest of this interaction with Peter would seem to suggest that Jesus knew enough not to build his church on anything so prone to grave error as a single individual (or a line of individuals in one authoritative office).

Matthew 16:20-23 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

21 From that time on 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.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

13. How could Peter go from being like a rock in one moment; and an agent of Satan in the next?

Explain this.

14. Why did Peter have “the things of men” in mind rather than “the things of men.”

15. Was Jesus too harsh with Peter here? How can you tell when it’s the right moment to call someone “Satan”, and when to call them a rock?

Matthew 17:1-9 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

16. Why did Peter suggest they build 3 shelters?

17. How can you balance desiring to spend “mountain top moments” with Jesus, and knowing the right time to come down the mountain?

18. Why do you think Jesus only showed 3 disciples, including Peter, this glorious moment? Â