Have you ever considered the times when Jesus called the Apostle Peter to follow Him? Did you know, Jesus called Peter two times?. The first is found near the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, recorded in Matthew 4:18-20, and the second, following Jesus’ resurrection in John 21:18-19. There were three years between this first and second invitation that Jesus extended to Peter to become His disciple.
In response to the initial call, Peter followed Jesus easily. Yes, there was the difficulty of leaving his father and the family business, but the fascination with Jesus had gripped Peter. He was so captivated by the person of Christ; he willingly set aside everything to follow the Master.
Now we understand from the Word of God that at this point, Peter did not have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to enable him to walk with the Lord. Yet, there was enough excitement and expectation in the natural to urge him on as he continued with the Lord. Peter was a strong, self-sufficient man who had learned to make his own way in life, so he believed himself ready to answer this new call and challenge.
As you study the Gospels, there is a notable absence of the Spirit’s work within the lives of the disciples. It was missing to such a degree that Jesus often marveled at the spiritual dullness and insensitivity of the ones He had called.
For example, in Matthew 15:16, Jesus teaches a parable, and Peter asks the Lord to interpret the meaning. Jesus is taken aback at his lack of receptivity and questions, “Are you also still without understanding?”
Then, in Matthew 16:5-12, Jesus warns the twelve about the Pharisees and the Sadducees by referring to their evil influences as leaven. Yet, the disciples totally missed the point and thought Jesus was scolding them for not carrying their lunch. Again, with amazement, Jesus asks, “How is it that you don’t understand?”
And then, just a few verses later, in Matthew 16: 21-23, when Jesus again tells the disciples that He had to go unto Jerusalem, and suffer at the hands of the Elders and Chief Priests and Scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day, Peter began to rebuke Him! Peter was so confident in his limited human wisdom that he thought he knew and understood the Father’s plan better than Christ.
It’s obvious from each of these accounts (and there are more) that the disciples’ inability to grasp spiritual truth came from a lack of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling ministry in their lives. You see, it is the Spirit of God who illuminates the Word. It is the Spirit of truth who leads us into all truth, communicating revelation to our hearts and spirits, making it personal and practical to our lives!
1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Something more is needed than self-reliance. natural wisdom, and ingenuity if we are going to be successful in our walk with the Lord. It is going to take the active ministry of the Holy Spirit!
As we go back to Peter, we see that it was after an impartation of the Spirit (“He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” John 20:22) that Peter received his second invitation to follow Jesus.
We read in the closing chapter of John’s Gospel how Jesus met Peter along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the same place Peter had received his first call. Three times, Jesus questioned him: “Peter, do you love me?” Three times: once for each of the times Peter had denied the Lord. And then the Lord adds this very obtrusive statement, “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he (Peter) would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
It’s powerful, isn’t it, that the Lord connects the martyrdom of Peter (that is, Peter’s ultimate dying to self) with the re-issuance of the call to follow Him! You see, If any of us are going to be successful in living for Christ, it’s not going to be because of anything of self.
What is the secret of the Christian life?
Is it me, striving and struggling, working, and laboring; grappling with all the issues of life and doing all I can to fulfill my vows and promises? No! It’s me, receiving an impartation of the life of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, and then continually yielding to the Spirit’s indwelling presence as He draws upon my Calvary experience. The secret to success in the Christian life is my complete rejection of being self-sufficient and living as one who is totally Christ-dependent!
I pray you will join me in answering the call of Jesus, “Follow Me!” May we each discover the richness of finding our real life in Him.
Grace and peace,
Jim
