Peter's Transformation

When I completed writing last week's sermon, I thought that I would be done with Peter for a little while. But as I preached the truths of Peter's 'recommissioning,' I found that there was still more to be said. So, I want to jump forward about 6-7 weeks in Peter's life.

In Acts chapter 4, we find Peter and John being brought before the Sanhedrin. Peter had healed a man who couldn't walk and then used the miracle to preach that Jesus was the Christ. We're told that many, many believed on that day...thousands, in fact, came to understand who Jesus was and then accepted him to be their Savior. While Peter and John are still preaching the word, they are arrested.

Acts Chapter 4 tells us:

4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,    which has become the cornerstone.’[a]

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Whenever I preach from this passage, I am always overtaken by the single word used by the Sanhedrin: Courage. They were "astonished" that these men could be this courageous.

Honestly, it is astonishing. Why do I say that? Let's look back at Peter's life less than two months prior:

The setting is that Jesus has been arrested. Prior to this, just before the Last Supper, Peter has sworn that he would never fall away or disown Jesus. In Matthew 26: 31-35, Jesus assures Peter that he will. Peter, absolutely does not believe him. Yet, a few hours later, we find Peter hiding in the garden as he's approached by a small servant girl,

Matthew 26:69-75

69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

I find the two passages fascinating when compared to each other. It seems like Peter becomes an entirely different person in two month's time. So, I have to ask myself what changed? What changed so much in Peter's life that he went from being afraid of a little girl to standing in front of the most powerful leaders in Israel, the very leaders who crucified Jesus, and fearlessly accuses them of murdering the Messiah?

The answer is simple, but the application is a little deeper. The answer is found in Acts 4:8: "Then Peter, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT"

The Bible teaches us that all who accept the grace of Jesus receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This can be found in 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 2 Timothy 1:14 among other places. But receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and LIVING a Spirit-filled life is not the same thing.

So, what brought about this change in Peter?

First, and this is the tough one: his failure. At the beginning of Matthew 26, we find Peter being proud and absolutely sure that he knows more about his future than Jesus did. I suspect that this is why the Scriptures pay close attention to Peter's denial. Quite frankly, he had further to fall. And when he did, it humbled him. It changed him. We often look at failure in our own lives from the wrong perspective. We look at it from a financial perspective or an emotional perspective, or even a spiritual perspective...but we should be looking at is an opportunity to better ourselves. One of my favorite phrases is, "A failure that makes you humble is better for you than a success that makes you proud." Failure is not just a part of life, it is part of the growing process.

Second, Peter strove to make his failure right with God. On the morning of the Resurrection, we see John and Peter running toward the empty grave. While John stopped and looked in, we find Peter running all the way into the grave and looking at the grave dressings. Why? He had failed Jesus and he knew it. When he thought that there was any chance whatsoever that Jesus was alive, he was not going to miss that opportunity. It's the very same a little later when he's fishing. When we recognizes that it's Jesus on the shore, he jumps out of the boat and swims to Jesus, the Bible says about 100 yards, fully clothed. He had failed Jesus dramatically, and he had no idea if Jesus still loved him or forgave him, but he sought out Jesus to make it right.

The Jesus gives him his commission, that we looked at last week: take care of His people.

So, thirdly, Peter was obedient. And here is the key. The failure brought about the humility and the repentance. But the obedience is SHOWS the change took place.

What we see here in Acts 4 is Peter being questioned for what he was doing...and what he was doing, was being obedient to Jesus' commands to him.

So, where are you today? How's your heart? Are you willing to be used by God? Or do you still have your own ideas? Maybe, you're in that failure phase, or have just come out of difficulty. God's asking for your attention today. At the end of that failure or that rough time, He has a job that's just for you. Are you willing to surrender to that? With Peter, it was to preach...I have no idea what it is that God is speaking to you about. being a better husband or wife? Maybe working on an action or attitude that brings about pain or sadness. God isn't going to call many of us to stand up to the leaders of our day...but do we have a desire to stand up for ourselves...or for those who are powerless? Maybe our calling is just to love our friends and neighbors and be a comfort and blessing to them. That calling is between you and God...but are you WILLING?

God gave Peter incomprehensible courage, because it's what He needed. What's God trying to do through you?