The apostle Peter is often said to be one of the most loved people in the Bible. Peter had a very unique life and got to witness the life of Jesus in ways that no one else did. Peter, and his family, were likely influenced by the teachings of John the Baptist. Peter was a fisherman and when he was called by Jesus to be a disciple he, and his brother Andrew, left their nets behind and followed Him. Not long after, he would begin witnessing the healing power of Jesus. Peter’s mother-in-law had become ill with a fever. Jesus visited her, took her hand, helped her up, and healed her. (Mark 1:29-31) Sometime later, while sailing through a terrible storm, Peter witnessed Jesus telling the wind and waves “Quiet! Be still.” The wind and waves obeyed him and the storm ceased. (Mark 4:35-41) Peter also witnessed Jesus feed over 5,000 people with just 5 loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:15-21). After this event, while the disciples were on their boat, they witnessed Jesus walking on water. Matthew tells us that Peter even stepped out of the boat and walked across the surface of the water towards Jesus. As Peter saw the wind he became afraid and he began to sink but Jesus reached out and saved him (Matthew 14:22-33). Peter was also a witness to the transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain and transfigured into His radiant glory. His face shone like the sun and Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Him. Then they heard a voice from the sky say: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:1-7).
Peter was able to witness some incredible things and got to see Jesus’ power and glory revealed first hand. So surely Peter’s faith is rock solid and unwavering. Right? Nope. Despite all of this, Peter’s faith was easily broken. While Jesus was on trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter was approached and asked, “aren’t you one of Jesus’ followers?” Peter, afraid of what the truth would bring upon him, lies and says: “I do not know that man.” Peter would deny Jesus three separate times that day. Despite being a witness to all Jesus had done and experiencing Jesus in ways that no other person had, Peter still did not have enough faith to admit that he was a follower of Christ.
Later in life Peter was arrested because of his faith and eventually put to death because of his unwavering loyalty to Jesus. So what happened? How did the man who denied Jesus three times become a martyr? In between denying his faith and dying for his faith, Peter witnessed the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension to heaven. Peter was transformed by the completion of the Gospel. Without the resurrection, Jesus’ life and acts are meaningless. But he did resurrect and the Gospel is very meaningful and powerful. Peter’s faith before the resurrection was like most “Christian’s” faith today. Peter knew all the facts, he knew who Jesus was, and he believed the words that Jesus had said, yet he was not transformed. Many people believe in Jesus and claim to be one of his followers, yet their lives are unchanged. If we truly have faith in Jesus, and have a relationship with God, then our lives will reflect that and we will be transformed. The Gospel is transformative. Notice I did not say the Gospel can be transformative, but the Gospel IS transformative. It is impossible to have an encounter with God and not be changed.
Peter is a great example of what that change looks like. Peter went from denying Jesus, to choosing Jesus over life. The gospel is transformative and if you have truly experienced the power of the Gospel and the power of God’s resurrection, then you will be changed. What does that change look like in you? As a christian we must examine our lives and determine if we are simply a believer of Jesus, or a born again, transformed, follower of Christ.
The transformative truth is this: Jesus resurrected from the grave and gave us victory. Jesus gives us victory over sin and victory over death. Without His resurrection, the Gospel is incomplete. When Jesus walked out of the tomb, He completed what He had been sent to earth to do. Jesus defeated sin and the devil and he shares that victory with us. Rejoice in this and allow this victory to transform you. He is risen, He is risen indeed!
