Out of all of the disciples who were personally mentored by Jesus I connect with the Apostle Peter the most. He is often found in scripture to be quick to speak and quick to anger. Yet, Jesus called this ordinary, cursing, stubborn, no-nonsense man to be one of His twelve.
I was born rebellious. From birth, I have questioned everyone and everything around me. I don’t think I would make a very good soldier. I think too much about what someone has asked me to do. I am one of the first to leave bad management/leadership. If I find a manager worthy of putting their people first, I will be fiercely loyal. Thankfully, God trumps my managers and if God has placed me in a spot I don’t want to be I will struggle and be frustrated; but I will stay, and attempt to do so with the best attitude I humanly can because He has asked me to. How do I know He has asked me to? Because other doors haven’t opened up for me to do anything else.
Jesus found Simon Peter and Andrew coming ashore after spending time fishing in the sea (Matt. 4:18-19, John 1:42-43) These men became a fisher of men. Yet, they did not leave their sailor humanity behind. Jesus did not ask them to go take a shower and then follow him. Jesus asked them to follow him knowing the baggage they would take with them. He also knew they would learn to let go of this baggage and over time learn to let it go. Jesus knew the baggage they learned to leave behind would be the exact thing that would connect others to them as he shared Jesus’ life saving gospel.
Another reason I connect with Peter is that he is known for shooting off his mouth. He asks questions first before he jumps in with both feet (John 21:21). Yet, when he is loyal to a cause we act and then ask questions (John 18:10). He says and asks what everyone else is thinking. Guess who else does that. Correct, I do.
Why do I connect with Peter the most? Because he represents my humanity. He represents me struggling to be Christ-like, but not succeeding (Luke 22:54-62). Through Jesus’ relationship with Peter, he shows me how fiercely he loves me and understands my humanity. This relationship also shows me that Jesus knows I am worth getting to know. To wade, through the defenses, I have developed to survive a hurting world.
Peter represents us followers who are foul-mouthed, question everyone and everything (especially the church and their leader). He also represents me in the fierce loyal-love I have for my heavenly father. So loyal we would lob someone’s ear off to protect the Christ we love.
God calls you and me right where we are. Even if we smell like fish guts and bad B.O. He asks us to love a hurting world right where they are. It is not my job to judge a hurting world. Only present them with the message of a savior who loves them so much he died for them. It is then between God and them what their heart relationship looks like.