Post by Admin on Jan 24, 2019 7:16:56 GMT
The ice breaker question for tonight’s discussion on Peter (named Simon, re-named Peter or Cephas, “rock,” by Jesus in last week’s passage from John) was about names. What nickname or name would we like Jesus to give us? Is it a name reflective of our current condition, or a future goal for us to achieve, like Simon Peter’s
“rock?” We chatted about what our names mean and concluded that we would be happy to be labeled “child of god” or “brother/sister” by the Lord.
The discussion tonight featured two scripture passages, both from Mark. The first restated Jesus’ calling of Peter and Andrew from their fishing, asking them to be fishers of men and to leave their vocation behind, which they do. Reviewing this fact, which we had also discussed last week, gave opportunity to consider the motive and particulars for this relinquishment of their daily jobs. Did they indeed abandon fishing from then on, only following Jesus? Did they imagine themselves to become – as fishers of men – leaders of a great and glorious movement of followers of the Messiah? Was that a spiritual search or a hunt for the inside track on something good?
That rolled into the second passage, in which Jesus queries the disciples about “who do the people say He is” and thereafter explained his impending rejection and death, which prompted Peter to criticize Jesus. It seems clear that when Peter states unequivocally that he knows Jesus is the Messiah, he is also thinking of the Messiah who is predicted to liberate the Jews from the Romans and be a powerful king. Jesus wants to quash talk of being the Messiah in that definition, and instead explains to the disciples what liberation He is really going to provide, that is victory over sin and death. The task of Jesus as Messiah is a spiritual salvation, not an earthly one, and Peter is the first to put his foot in his mouth and be publicly corrected about that when he misunderstands. Even after this comeuppance, and the presumable new perspective Peter gained, we see him two years later in the Garden of Gethsemane cutting off a soldier’s ear and then running away, giving all appearance of completely forgetting the required sacrificial death Jesus described for Himself. In the shadow of Peter’s story, we can see ourselves failing over and over; like Peter, Jesus is there time and again to teach and forgive and give us another chance.
“rock?” We chatted about what our names mean and concluded that we would be happy to be labeled “child of god” or “brother/sister” by the Lord.
The discussion tonight featured two scripture passages, both from Mark. The first restated Jesus’ calling of Peter and Andrew from their fishing, asking them to be fishers of men and to leave their vocation behind, which they do. Reviewing this fact, which we had also discussed last week, gave opportunity to consider the motive and particulars for this relinquishment of their daily jobs. Did they indeed abandon fishing from then on, only following Jesus? Did they imagine themselves to become – as fishers of men – leaders of a great and glorious movement of followers of the Messiah? Was that a spiritual search or a hunt for the inside track on something good?
That rolled into the second passage, in which Jesus queries the disciples about “who do the people say He is” and thereafter explained his impending rejection and death, which prompted Peter to criticize Jesus. It seems clear that when Peter states unequivocally that he knows Jesus is the Messiah, he is also thinking of the Messiah who is predicted to liberate the Jews from the Romans and be a powerful king. Jesus wants to quash talk of being the Messiah in that definition, and instead explains to the disciples what liberation He is really going to provide, that is victory over sin and death. The task of Jesus as Messiah is a spiritual salvation, not an earthly one, and Peter is the first to put his foot in his mouth and be publicly corrected about that when he misunderstands. Even after this comeuppance, and the presumable new perspective Peter gained, we see him two years later in the Garden of Gethsemane cutting off a soldier’s ear and then running away, giving all appearance of completely forgetting the required sacrificial death Jesus described for Himself. In the shadow of Peter’s story, we can see ourselves failing over and over; like Peter, Jesus is there time and again to teach and forgive and give us another chance.