THE CHARACTER OF PETER

The Character of Peter

Although Peter and John were chosen disciples of Yahushua, and were counted among the twelve, they were still imperfect in character. Peter was of a zealous, ardent temperament, and ever manifested great earnestness in the cause of Yahushua. At one time the disciples were on the sea, and the record declares that the ship was in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary; "and in the fourth watch of the night Yahushua went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Yahushua spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. Peter answered him and said, Master, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Yahushua. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Master, save me. And immediately Yahushua stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:25-31).

This incident illustrates much of the character of impulsive Peter. Faith and unbelief were blended in his words and actions. He said, "Master, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water" (Matthew 14:28). The Master had assured the disciples, "It is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:27). And when Peter saw the waves around him, saw the boisterous winds, he forgot the power of his Master, and began to sink; but at his cry of weakness, Yahushua was at his side to grasp his outstretched hand, and lift him from the billows.

When the Master sought to prepare the minds of his disciples for their last great trial in his betrayal and crucifixion, Peter felt that he could not bear to have the words of the Master fulfilled; and stirred with indignation at the thought of the injustice so soon to come upon Yahushua and his followers, he exclaimed, "Be it far from thee, Master; this shall not be unto thee" (Matthew 16:22). The impression which Yahushua desired to make upon the minds of his followers was one directly opposed to the impression that Peter's words would make, and he rebuked his disciple with the sternest rebuke that ever fell from his lips. He said, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me; for thou savorest not the things that be of Yahuwah; but those that be of men" (Matthew 16:23).

Although Peter had been long with the Master, he had a very imperfect conception of the plan of salvation. He did not desire to see the cross in the work of Yahushua; but it was through the cross that life and hope were to come to dying men.

When Yahushua had spoken of his death, declaring that all his disciples would be offended because of him, Peter had said, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended"(Matthew 26:33). He assured his Master that he would go with him both to prison and to death; but Yahushua knew Peter much better than the disciple knew himself, and he said to him, "Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice" (Matthew 26:34).

At the very first trial, Peter failed. When Yahushua bowed in agony in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter was sleeping with the other disciples, and could not watch with his suffering Master one hour. The thrice-repeated prayer was uttered that the bitter cup of woe might pass from the Saviour. Borne down with superhuman agony, Yahushua staggered to his disciples, longing for human sympathy; but he found that instead of watching they were sleeping. From his quivering lips came the mild rebuke to Peter, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" (Matthew 26:40). Then he framed this tender excuse: "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).

Yahushua had said many things concerning the hour of trial that was to come upon his disciples when he should be made the object of mockery and reproach. He had told them, "All ye shall be offended because of me" (Matthew 26:31). But the disciples could not believe that they would manifest such unfaithfulness, and Peter especially had assured the Master that he would never leave him, but would be true to him even if it should lead him to prison and to death. When Yahushua was actually in the hands of the armed men, where were the boastful disciples?-- They had fled. Even Peter was in the rear, far from his suffering Master. When the cruel trial began in the judgment hall, had Yahushua a defender in the ardent Peter? Was he then by the side of his deserted Master?--No, but with those who were mocking and reviling. It is true that Peter had a deep interest in the trial, and he did desire to be at the side of his Master; but he could not endure the scorn, the reproach, that would fall upon him if he should take his place as a disciple of Yahushua. When one of the women of the palace said to Peter, "Thou also wast with Yahushua of Galilee," (Matthew 26:69) he denied before all the company, saying,"I know not what thou sayest" (Matthew 26:70). He who had made so confident a statement of his fidelity to Yahushua, now denied his Master at the question of a maid in the palace. Did he now move nearer to his Master?--No, he pushed his way out to the porch, seeking to escape the prying eyes of the enemies of his Master; but again he was recognized, and another said to him, "This fellow was also with Yahushua of Nazareth" (Matthew 26:71). And again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the man" (Matthew 26:72). Peter was irritated that he could not find an escape from the eyes of his enemies; he returned again to the hall, where he could better view the trial, but he stood among the mockers and revilers of Yahushua, and the third time he was recognized, and they said to him, "Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee" (Matthew 26:73). Peter had been ready to take up arms in defense of Yahushua, but to acknowledge the Master when he was the object of scorn and derision, was more than he had courage to do. He was a moral coward, and with curses and oaths he denied that he knew his Master.

Peter had been warned of this temptation; but he did not realize his danger, and therefore had not prepared himself for the trial. He had been filled with self-confidence, and deemed that he was able to withstand any temptation, assuring the Master that though all others should be offended, he would be ready to go with him to prison and to death. When he took his stand with the revilers of Yahushua, he placed himself on the enemy's ground, and he fell. At his third denial of his Master the cock crew, and Yahushua turned his eyes upon Peter with a look of peculiar sadness, and the words that Yahushua had spoken to him came quickly to his mind. All through his life the memory of that look was with Peter. His sinful boasting, his Master's warning, his denial of the Saviour, all came to him like a flash of lightning; and casting one pitiful look upon his suffering, insulted Master, he hurried away from the sound of false accusation and reproach, rushed from the palace, plunged into the darkness, and weeping bitterly, hurried to Gethsemane. He began to see himself as he really was. Memory was alive, and his sins were pictured before him in all their heinous light. Peter threw himself on the spot where a few hours before, Yahushua had prayed and wept in agony, and there the disciple prayed as he never before had prayed. With deep repentance and terrible remorse he pleaded for forgiveness, and he rose a converted man; but he felt that although Yahushua would forgive him, he could never forgive himself.

Yahushua knew all the sorrow and remorse of his erring disciple, and when the heavenly messengers appeared to the women at the sepulcher, they told them of Yahushua's resurrection, and bade them tell the disciples and Peter, that he went before them into Galilee. How eagerly did Peter receive this word of love and compassion! He knew that his Master still thought of him, still loved him, and he took this message as a sign of forgiveness.

After his resurrection, Yahushua showed himself to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias; "and on this wise showed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Yahushua stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Yahushua. Then Yahushua saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Yahushua loved saith unto Peter, It is the Master. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Master, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea." (John 21:1-7). When the disciples came to land, they found that Yahushua had prepared them fish and bread. "So when they had dined, Yahushua saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Master; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Master; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Master, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Yahushua saith unto him, Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17).

In the answers that Peter gave to the Master's thrice-repeated question, a different spirit is manifested from what we find in the boastful assurances before the crucifixion of Yahushua. Peter was a converted man, and showed in his life that transforming grace had taken possession of his heart. As firm as a rock, he ever after stood boldly up to witness for Yahushua. Yahushua had said to Peter, "Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren"(Luke 22:31). Peter had severe trials to pass through, but although he was called to go to prison and to death for Yahushua's sake, never again did he waver from his allegiance.

By: Ellen White
Review and Herald
April 7, 1891