My Journey with Peter

Working my way through the New Testament this year, I’ve gained a real love for Peter. Impetuous, stubborn, loving and beloved Peter, who was drawn to Jesus as one of the earliest disciples, brought to the Lord by his brother, Andrew. Peter—who helped Christ feed the five thousand, then the four thousand, saw miracles and performed some himself in the Lord’s name, who bore witness of Christ as the Messiah over and over again.

Peter is persistent. He asks questions, tries, fails and tries again. He longs to be with and like his Master. As he does so, he gains more experience and power. Under Christ’s tutelage, Peter becomes an emissary, spreading the Word with power to heal and bless. Later, Jesus brings Peter along to became a witness to heavenly messengers on the Mount of Transfiguration, and the apostle actually hears the voice of the Father.

But if Peter is to become the chief apostle, his mantle of leadership certainly doesn’t settle smoothly. Peter struggles. He keeps making mistakes and Christ is constantly correcting him. (“[No, Peter, don’t worry about building tabernacles to the heavenly visitors on the Mount of Transfiguration,] tell no man.” (KJV Mark 9:2-9) “Oh faithless and perverse generation [Peter], how long shall I be with you? (KJV Matthew 17:17) What, could you not watch with me one hour [in the Garden of Gethsemane while I suffer]?” (KJV Matthew 26:40) “Put up thy sword [Peter, don’t strike off the ear of a servant of the high priest!]” (KJV John 18:11) But Peter keeps trying. He follows Christ even to the dangerous house of Christ’s mock trial. And then there is the heartbreak of Peter’s denial. Despite his many promises, when the threat is at hand, Peter denies his precious Master. (KJV Matthew 26: 73-75)

Even after Christ’s resurrection, Peter is still figuring things out. He’s not sure what to do, so he goes back to what he knows: fishing. The Savior comes for him after an unsuccessful night at the nets, grants him a huge catch, and greets him with breakfast. Always the teacher, Christ gently but firmly invites Peter yet again to leave his boats to witness of Him. And this time, Peter does leave—his catch of 153 “great fishes,” his vessels, and his former life—to follow Him (KJV John 21:3-17).

As I consider Peter, I am struck especially by two stories. They are essentially the same story. Peter, yearning to follow the Lord in all things, walks out onto a roiling sea. Initially he is successful, but his attention is diverted from his purpose, and he begins to sink. Peter cries out for help and Jesus rescues him, saying, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (KJV Matthew 14:29-31)

Then there is the story of Peter’s denial. Again, Peter follows his Master into a treacherous place, and, again, his attention is diverted by circumstances. In a moment of self-protection, Peter denies. This time, he sinks for a longer time, with hot tears and excruciating loss. Again, when Christ returns, He chides “Wherefore art thou troubled?” (KJV Luke 24:38) Though we don’t have the record of the individual reunion of Christ and His chief apostle, it is clear that in Peter’s despair, he is again rescued and resuscitated.

I think the reason I love the story of Peter so much is that it gives me hope that as I pursue purity, despite my many mistakes, shortcomings, and outright sins, my Lord is willing to be my Savior. He will search after me, comfort and heal me. Peter is a great example to me, also, of humility and sheer doggedness. “To whom shall we go?” Peter asks. (KJV John 6:68) Only to Christ.

As the New Testament closes, Peter is no longer the feisty fisherman we met in the opening chapters of Matthew. Peter has become whom Christ needs him to be— a lion of a man, a benevolent shepherd to the early church, a courageous teacher. Transformed, he transforms the world around him with his witness of Jesus Christ, resurrected.

And so, Christ invites me—us—to take a journey like Peter did, with fits and starts and tears and tenacity. He invites us to become someone we never imagined for ourselves, joyful, helpful, faithful. Because, as Peter affirmed, Jesus “has the words of eternal life.” (KJV John 6:68)

Kristin Fry finds joy in her many roles: cowmaid-wife, grandmother-beekeeper, mom-musician. (Hopefully) you’ll find her smiling through this sweet Alaskan summer, outside in the yard, or inside at the piano. She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.