Men of the BibleSample

Peter

God chooses ordinary people to know Him, and Peter is the epitome of the ordinary becoming extraordinary. Peter followed Jesus from the beginning. He trusted Jesus enough to leave everything behind, yet he was known to be proud (John 13:8), impetuous (John 18:10), fearful (Luke 22:58), and even unfaithful to his Lord (Luke 22:34). What a change people saw in him after Pentecost as he truly understood the significance of the cross and resurrection of Christ. His faith in Jesus was unwavering from this point onwards, and he no longer feared men. He was ‘bold’ to speak the message of God to others. Peter became one of the leading apostles who laid down the foundation of the Christian church.

Peter’s dramatic change was not a change in belief systems, from unbelieving to believing, but it was a change in character. By all human standards, behaviour can change, but someone’s character, when formed, rarely changes. That is why the people were ‘astonished.' This is not the Peter they knew. However, the real question is, how did this change take place? It seems: ‘they recognised that they had been with Jesus.’ Being with Jesus ultimately changed Peter.

Real change takes place when you spend time with Jesus. And if you have been with Jesus, then surely you will become like Jesus. In Peter we see that God fulfils His purpose through ordinary people – ordinary people who know Jesus. Doesn’t that make you want to spend time with Jesus more?

Written by QUYNH EASTMAN