Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines “Archetype” as follows:
: the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies : PROTOTYPE; also : a perfect example
This fits Peter’s journey up to a T. To give you a quick synopsis of what his journey looked like, I am going to sum it up.
He was living his life.
Jesus called him.
Stuff happens.
He calls Jesus the Christ.
More stuff happens.
Jesus disappoints Peter, so he denies him.
Even more stuff happens.
Peter gives the first Christian sermon to the first Mega-church.
This is Our Journey Up Also
I believe that this is how most of us journey up as well. We are first called by God, and we are not really sure what to do about it. We walk with Him for years, stuff happens, so to speak, before we confess Christ as Lord. After we do call Jesus Lord, more stuff happens. And you may not be there yet, but at some point God is going to disappoint you. He is going to say “No” to something you really wanted, or he is going to take something precious from you, and that is where your faith is tested and refined. Peter denies Jesus, and we do the same at some point. But then more stuff happens, and if we are sincere in our walk with God we will be able to do what Peter did.
Now I don’t mean that we are all going to give a sermon at a Mega-church, it would even be impossible to give the first sermon in history, since it already happened. What I mean is that we will be able to do what God has called us to do. Once we come to terms with our role and Gods, make our journey up complete we will have the freedom to be all that we can be.
Peter Different Than Timothy/ Ezra
Over the last few months we have looked at a few other characters in Scripture and their journey up. What makes Peter different from Ezra and Timothy, is for one, the fact that we see his entire journey up. We pick up Peter’s journey while he is fishing, a nobody on the
Fishing
So let’s begin where Peter begins- fishing.
Turn with me to your programs. In Mark 1:16-20 we read
16 Passing alongside the
Is this an isolated incident? What I mean by that is this the first time Peter has interacted with Jesus? It seems kind of odd that Peter would just follow some guy calling to him from the shore. How can we explain this though, because it seems like that is exactly what Peter does.
Turn back with me to your programs to John 1:38-42. At this point Jesus is being followed by a few of John the Baptist disciples.
38Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). 42He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter)
Sum Up Two Stories
Are these two stories contradictory? I don’t believe so. Instead we need to read the stories together, and different view points of the same event. Here is a likely compilation:
Andrew is a disciple of John the Baptist. He is there when John tells everyone that Jesus is the Messiah. Andrew packs up and begins to follow Jesus. After a while Jesus questions Andrews actions, and after that they begin to talk. He is now sure that Jesus is the one he should be following. Exited about the discovery he heads home to tell his brother Simon (later to be called Peter).
Peter has heard this all before though. Wasn’t Andrew just following John the Baptist? But Andrew is persistent and begs to be heard. Frustrated but seeing opportunity Peter tells Andrew that he can tell him all about this Jesus while they are fishing, at least he’ll have some help today.
Andrew gets in the boat and tells Peter all he knows about Jesus. At this point Jesus knows this conversation is happening, so he conveniently makes himself available. He walks by where they are fishing and calls them. Andrew convinces his brother to go ashore and meet this Jesus. Jesus then tells him that he is John’s son and gives him the nickname Peter.
Peter’s Journey Begins
And Peter’s journey begins.
We Are All Fisherman
It may not be immediately obvious, but this is the model for our journey up. We were all lowly fisherman before we were called. When Peter was called he was no where near educated, classy, or worthy by any of the religious elites standards. So it is with us. Jesus calls us while we are not worthy to be called.
Peter Not Seeking After Jesus When Called
Notice something else about Peters call. He is out fishing. He is not seeking after religious enlightenment like his brother Andrew. Jesus, the Christ, is hanging out a few feet away, and until he calls to Peter, Peter could care less. He is wrapped up in his own affairs, taking care of the daily grind. Most of us were the same way. We were going about our lives, content to be fisherman for the next fifty years, but something happened. Jesus showed up on our shore and yelled to us to follow him. At some point we brought our boat in and began to walk with the Messiah.
We All Have an Andrew
I would wager that most of us had an Andrew as well. Someone who told us first about this Jesus. Who wouldn’t shut up about Him. Who even came fishing with us- just to get His message across. Then, when Jesus called us, we were ready. We had already heard the stories.
Peter’s Call Unique to Him
There is one more detail I want to point out before we move on- look at the way that Jesus calls Peter. It is like no other way he calls anyone else. It is unique to Peter. He first tells Peter and Andrew that he will make them fishers of men, but then he gives Peter a little more encouragement, calling him the Rock. Presumably Jesus saw that Peter needed this encouragement, and it works, Peter ends up following Jesus.
If we look at the way Jesus calls the others, though, we will see that they all get special treatment. There isn’t a special slogan that Jesus uses to convince them to be his disciples; rather he treats them all as individuals. He sees what they need, and meets them there. This is true of us as well. No one in this room shares my story of faith, or a story with anyone else for that matter. We all have our own testimonies. This is because even today, like Peter, we are all called differently.
Jump To Peter Confessing Jesus As Christ
And then, according to my outline of Peter’s life, stuff happens. We are going to get back to this period, but for now I want to jump ahead to where Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ. Turn back to your programs.
Luke 9:18-20
18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 19And they answered, "John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen." 20Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
Remember as we read this story that a lot of stuff has happened. Peter has been walking with Jesus for quite some time before he figures out who exactly Jesus is, or at least before he says anything out loud.
My Testimony
This resonates with me personally. When I have given my testimony in the past, I traditionally put my point of conversion at 17. And that is true. At 17 I decided to give my life over to Jesus. What I don’t traditionally say is that for about a year before this moment I was relatively sure that Jesus was God. I believed that the Bible was divinely inspired; I just didn’t know what to do with that. Now part of that was that I wanted to be the punk I was at the time, but the other was just an innocent confusion. I just hadn’t put into words who I truly believed Jesus to be. But then, like Peter, he asked me, “Who do you say that I am?”
We Are All Asked This Question
And eventually he will ask all of us in this room the question, if he hasn’t already. Notice that he first asks his disciples who others say that he is, and then he asks them who they say he is. Can you hear the change in his voice as he asks these two very different questions. “Who do others say that I am?”, and “Who do you say that I am?” Hear the compassion in his voice. He wants Peter and the rest to know the right answer. He asks us the same. “Who do you say that I am?”
Peter Answers Christ
And Peter answers the Christ of God. And everything ends happily ever after right? No. What happens? Well, as I said in my outline, more stuff, and then Peter denies Christ, and then more stuff and then a sermon. I am mentioning all this here because it is important on out journey up. Peter gave the right answer to Jesus, but that doesn’t stop him from messing up later.
Expectations of A Christ Shattered
When Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, he has expectations of what that looks like, and he was wrong. When Jesus goes like a lamb to the slaughter Peter s disappointed. Jesus didn’t live up to his expectations, and so he denies him. Peter thinks that because this isn’t what he expected, this can’t be who I thought it to be. But he is wrong. Jesus was the same as when he confessed him the Christ, what was different was what a Christ would do.
God Will Shatter Your Expectations
This may not be part of your story yet, but it will be. At some point the God who we thought we knew, the plan that we thought was laid in stone, is going to throw us a curve ball. There will be a disappointment, an unexpected heartache, a surprise we don’t want. And at that moment we will have to decide to submit to this plan or be sideswiped because of it. God may even be prepping us for this radical change now, and we are just deaf to his warnings. Jesus told Peter and the disciples about the cross, and they wouldn’t listen. They wanted their messiah, not God’s Messiah, and so they couldn’t get over their expectations.
Sarah’s Miscarriage
This sort of thing has happened to me many times in my life. You have all heard about how I was a good Christian until God destroyed my expectations, and so I denied Him and revolted again. But even more recently I have had to make a similar choice, to deny him or not. Our expectations today are of a nice benevolent God, almost a buddy Jesus, or our loving Grand Dad, so when things get bad there is a real temptation to deny Jesus or get angry at God. Two years ago Sarah had a miscarriage, and we had to come to terms with this. That the ruler of the Universe, the one we worship and have devoted out lives to, decide to let us have all the pain and loss that come with such a thing. And we had to choose. God disappointed us, he shattered out expectations, do we deny him, or follow him anyway?
At some point this will happen to all of us. Maybe it isn’t as drastic as Peter actually denying Jesus, but it will be just as drastic as Peter denying Jesus.
Remember The End Of The Story
But remember the end of the story. Jesus resurrects, Peter sees this, and it all makes sense. And then he gives a sermon and takes his place as Elder of Jerusalem. And this is how it will be for us as well. Jesus didn’t disappoint and them be done with it. He disappointed because what he had planned was so much better than what Peter could have dreamed of. And once His plan was complete, he came to comfort Peter and explain his purpose. And so it can be for us if we persevere.
Back Up In Peter’s Story
That is a very happy ending indeed, but my sermon doesn’t end there. In fact I want to go back in Peter’s journey a little. There is a story that is actually the archetype of Peter’s journey up, and it is contained with in it. So turn back with me to Matthew 14:25-33
25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
28And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Archetype of the Archetype
I said that this is the archetype of the archetype. I should explain a little more though. What is the pattern that I said we all walk in this faith? It is a calling, and then stuff, and then a confession of Christ as Lord. And at its simplest that is all that is happening here. Peter is called onto the water by Jesus, he goes, he walks on water, and then he calls Jesus the Son of God.
Also notice he gets scared and can’t complete the task. Sort of like when he denies Jesus. He got scared and distracted then as now. It is all nice and neat.
But let’s go a little deeper.
Jesus Shows Up Unexpectedly
The first this that happens in this story is that Jesus shows up and he scares the crap out of everyone. The text says that the disciples were terrified. And who wouldn’t be. There is a guy walking on the water next to their boat. I don’t think the disciples would have been as terrified had Jesus made known it was himself all along. It seems that some of the fear that the disciples have at this point is that they don’t know it is Jesus. And why don’t they know it is Jesus- because he shows up in an unexpected way. Does this resonate with anyone, Jesus showing up in a most unexpected way?
Atheist Mother
I know Jesus showed up in my life in a most unexpected way- through my Atheist mother. My mom left the church after she graduated from college and really has a bent away from it. She had been hurt by organized religion and refused to take me to any religious event when I was young save weddings and funerals. We didn’t own one religious text when I was growing up. But in 8th grade she sent me to a very theologically conservative Christian camp- and Jesus showed up.
Same For Us Today
For how many of us today is there a similar story. Jesus walks on water, uses atheists to show His truth, gives us a devil worshipping roommate who steals our hair and cast spells on us when we asked to be strengthened in out faith (ask my wife). And that is just the short list. I am sure that everyone in this room can give an account of Jesus showing up in an unexpected way. And the story goes on.
Peter Asks for Reassurance
Jesus says don’t worry, it’s just me. And immediately Peter says that if it is Jesus, call him out on the water too. This seems kind of a silly thing to say. I am sure that even if it wasn’t Jesus the thing walking on water could have called Peter out onto the water. But don’t we do the same thing all the time. How often in our own lives have we asked for signs. We are told clearly that what is going on is Jesus’ doing, but we still ask for a little more reassurance. And that is a little of what is going on here, but there is more too.
Peter Knows Jesus
As I already said, anyone or thing could have told Peter to walk on the water, so it seems like a strange request. There must be more going on here, and there is. Peter is confident that he can distinguish between the way Jesus is going to call him and the way another is. In John
Peter Walks On Water
Peter is then called out by Jesus. “Come,” he says. And then Peter walks on water. Let me say that again. And then Peter walks on water. Peter usually gets a bad wrap here, because as we will see is a second, he begins to sink. But he walks on water. How many of us can claim the same?
Able to Walk Because He Listened
And why was he able to walk on water, because he was called, and then he listened. This can be our story as well. It was safe in the boat. The ocean was, and is, a very dangerous place. Ask any fisherman today, and they will tell you that don’t leave the boat, especially at night. All you need is one large unexpected wave to throw you out of range from the boat, and you are done for. There are very large predators in the sea, humans get cold very quickly in water, and oh yeah, you can drown very easily in water. You don’t leave the boat.
Deadliest Catch
Does anyone here watch Deadliest Catch. It is a show on the Discover channel about Alaska Crap fisherman. It turns out it is one of the 5 most dangerous jobs in the world. From 1991-1996 according to the CDC website anywhere from 11-27% of the fisherman died. Why is it so dangerous? Because if you are swept overboard, the odds are that you will never be found. The first rule of Crap fishing is stay on the boat.
Peter Knew Better Than to Leave the Boat
I am sure that Peter knew better than to get out of a boat at night. But he does it anyway. And because of it he gets to walk on water. He places his trust in Jesus first, not in himself or those fishing rules. And so it must be with us. Jesus is calling all of us to get out of the boat. I don’t know how he is calling you personally, but I can say that he is calling you.
Trust Jesus More Than Boat
He knows the dangers of stepping out. He knows it is comfortable and safe in the boat. He still says “Come” anyway. The call is to trust Him more that ourselves, more than out boats, more that our rules. The only way we will ever be able to walk on water is o step out onto it, fixing out eyes on Christ. And once we do, even bigger things are in store.
This Preps Peter For Sermon
Peter later gives a sermon in
Scared After He Steps Out
But notice something else. After Peter walks on water, he gets scared. The text says he became afraid. And what made him so afraid? The wind. Now I don’t know about you, but the scariest time for me would have been the initial step. Once I had my feet firmly planted in the water, and saw that I was standing, I think I would have been alright. But that is not what happens to Peter. In the initial step he is courageous, but later, when the wind blows, he is afraid. Seems silly doesn’t it.
Wind Means More Than Wind
There are a few things going on here though. On the Sea, a strong wind can mean a large wave, or worse yet, a large storm. It was an indicator of very bad things to come. I was an omen for a sailor. Being a fisherman, Peter would have known this, and undoubtedly from some first hand experience. So it is not the wind that is scaring him, necessarily, but what the wind brings.
Environment Scares Us Too
I believe that this can happen to us more easily than we think. We step out of the boat, but then normal environmental factors change our focus. We begin to become afraid because of the wind. We worry about our standing, our money, our security. What happens is that we step out in faith, keeping our eyes on Jesus, and then we let life get in the way. We start to remember how dangerous things are. We panic. We start to sink.
We Are Distracted By Less Than The Wind
It is easy to look at Peter and say that it is ridiculous that he was distracted by a little wind, but how many of us have been distracted by so much less. Can anyone in the room say that since Jesus has called them they have moved unwaveringly toward Him? Can any of us say that we are completing with total faith the task that Jesus is calling us to right now? Or do we let the wind frighten us. How many of us, when we first became Christians had dreams of changing the world? Of converting our entire family and friends? Of sharing Christ with anyone and everyone? Any what about now?
Do we freeze at the idea of upsetting others? Do we care less because it is just not safe for our careers to tell our co-workers about the redeeming work of our Lord? Has the worry about money and health insurance got in the way of out desire to save the world, after all someone needs to worry about my bills? What is the wind that has scared us from the goal? Do we listen to the whispers of the world that hardcore shows and missions trips could be dangerous to our health, and so quiver in the night.
Peter At Least Got Out
Don’t judge Peter. At least he got out of the boat. He at least had the thrill or walk on the water. Can any of us brag more than this, or are we still in the boat?
Jesus Helps When Peter Calls
There is one more thing we need to notice about Peter’s journey at this moment. When he begins to sink he calls out to Jesus for help, and what does Jesus do? Does he step over Peter, get in the boat and say, “Sucker, should have stayed ion the boat or had more faith. I’m going to find someone else.” No. Jesus reaches down and grabs Peter, and brings him back to the boat, and the wind stops.
Peter Not Left For Dead
Peter is not left to drown. He calls out to Jesus, and Jesus saves him. And so it will be for us. Jesus called Peter out, and Jesus brings him back safely. Peter doesn’t get himself back, Jesus does. In the book of Philippians Paul says it this way”:
6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
We Will See The End
If we follow Jesus call, and step out onto the water, he is not going to let us drown. He is going to get us safely through the whole thing. He who began a good work in you will see it through, even if we become scared and start to sink. The test was getting out of the boat. Jesus will take it from there. What he has planned for you, he will let you see. Peter was called to lead the church- to give the first sermon, to pastor the pastors, and so he did. He stepped onto the water, and Jesus saw him safely to the end.
May Not Be Safe
This is not to say that the end is safe. Peter gets crucified. But what God began in him, he finished. Because Peter saw Jesus rescue him from the sea and make the wind stop, he was able to follow him anywhere, even to the cross.
See, once Jesus grabbed hold of Peter, the wind howled no more. There was nothing left to be afraid of; Peter was in his Saviors arms.
Tangent
And then they all marvel and call Jesus God. A little tangent here. Notice they call him the Son of God here, but not until later do we read that Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ. This speaks to what I mentioned before.
Applications
What then does this say to us? If Peter’s story is the Archetype for our story, what does this bit say about our lives?
Get Out Of The Boat
The answer is simple. Get out of the boat. As I said before, I don’t know what the boat you are in is, but step out and follow Jesus. You will be able to walk on water. I know that it seems dangerous. The sea is full of troubles, but step out anyway. Jesus is calling you right now. Trust him more that anything. Look to him and you can walk on water. Step out of the boat.
Say You Walked On Water
Even if you start top sink, at least you can say you walked on water, if even for a second. It is more than the others in the vessel with you can boast of. But remember, even if you start to sink, Jesus is right there to save you. He will not let you drown.
Jesus is already out on the waves, calling you to himself. Will you follow? He wants to do great things through you, are you willing? Peter was able to lead the church because he got out of the boat- what will you do? It may seem safer, but you will never be able to say you did the impossible.
Look To Jesus
Look to Jesus. Walk on water. Know he is there if you get scared. His hand is mighty to save. He is standing right next to you throughout your endeavor, and he will bring you home safely. He who began a good work in you will see it through to completion, if you would only follow Him.
Won’t Expect Him
He will show up in a way that you don’t expect, call you to a task that seems impossible, and guide you every step of the way if you would only follow him. When that moment comes, will you stay in the boat where it is safe, of run to the arms of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
When the wind blows and you get shaken, will you call out to Him who first called you, and let His mighty hand save you, restore you, and calm your winds?
Stands On Shore
Jesus stands on the shore and asks if we would not follow Him, and He would make us fishers of men. He gives us a name and a purpose. He asks us who we say he is. And he begs us “Come.” Will you follow His call, even if it means drowning so that you can say you walked on water?
Call On All Of Us
This is a call to both the non-Christian and the Christian. Jesus doesn’t stop calling Peter once he initially follows him. He continually asks Peter to go further and further. Peter’s journey up didn’t end when he and Andrew brought their boat on shore and followed Jesus to his next stop; it ended when he hung upside down on a cross.
Will You Follow
Throughout Jesus asks him to follow. Step out onto the Water. Would you follow Him, even if it means getting out of the boat? Will you follow him even if it means drowning? Will you follow Him even if it means being swept away? He is standing on the Sea right now, waiting for one of us to step out.
11 Others
11 others stayed in the boat because they were scared. Isn’t Jesus reprimand, “O you of little faith,” just as much for them. So I ask one more time, who of you would heed Jesus call to “Come”, and step onto the water. Who among you would dream to do the impossible, and follow Jesus as you did it? Who among you will dare to leave their boat and put their entire lives in the hand of the Almighty?
No comments:
Post a Comment