His denial of CHRIST was part of the process leading up to THE SACRIFICE, and for showing THE LORD'S unrelenting MERCY, as Peter wept, then repented, from his actions! Peter is a REAL Man, with REAL issues, and a REAL tendency towards the human condition, albeit, he REMAINED IN CHRIST, to, and after, the bitter end, even mastering the lessons he was given...
There isn't even a stream of tangible information about Peter, or any of the Disciples/Apostles, and so, LOTS of stories have manifested to fill in the gaps, though, as we read, re-read, and read again THE WORD, we find threads of information about everyone, and everything depicted through their thoughts, writings, actions, reactions, and deeds, TO guide us, and TO point out the tendencies WE have in common with them...
Scholars have great debates about Peter, and there is separation of belief in his role, amongst believers; it is said there is no proof that Peter did this, or did that, or was Martyred, and so on, but, he WAS Chosen BY THE LORD as the Leader of HIS Church, whether the capacity in which he fulfilled his work was illustrious, or not...
I find it easy to relate to Peter, as he was simply, who he was, while being more, and more FILLED with adoring LOVE for THE LORD CHRIST JESUS, SAVIOUR, and KING of KINGS! Peter was never far from THE LORD, and was the first to confess, wholeheartedly, that CHRIST IS THE MESSIAH! He was an eye witness to ALL of CHRIST'S Ministry, miracles, teachings, sufferings, PRAYERS, The TRANSFIGURATION, and much more!
He was one of the first to SEE the RISEN CHRIST, and vowed his LOVE to CHRIST 3 times, to balance out the 3 denials! He is always listed first in the names of the Disciples, and is said to have been a Leader, or Spokesman of them. The best way to understand Peter's role is to study THE GOSPELS, in which, Peter is ever evident. And finally, THE LORD, IN HIS WORD, said that Peter IS the 'rock' on which HIS CHURCH is built, and that, to me, IS that HE was building upon Peter's FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS! Peter exemplified HIS GLORY, and was granted a share IN HIS GLORY, forevermore, as it is for ALL the FAITHFUL! I believe Peter WAS the Father of the early Church, because of his growth, and development IN CHRIST, and because it was DIVINELY ordained!!!
MATTHEW 4: 18-19...
18/ As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
19/ He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
When Christ began to preach, he began to gather disciples, who should be hearers, and afterwards preachers of his doctrine, who should be witnesses of his miracles, and afterwards testify concerning them.He went not to Herod's court, not to Jerusalem, among the chief priests and the elders, but to the sea of Galilee, among the fishermen. The same power which called Peter and Andrew, could have wrought upon Annas and Caiaphas, for with God nothing is impossible.
But Christ chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Diligence in an honest calling is pleasing to Christ, and it is no hindrance to a holy life. Idle people are more open to the temptations of Satan than to the calls of God. It is a happy and hopeful thing to see children careful of their parents, and dutiful. When Christ comes, it is good to be found doing. Am I in Christ? is a very needful question to ask ourselves; and, next to that, Am I in my calling? They had followed Christ before, as common disciples, JOHN 1:37; now they must leave their calling. Those who would follow Christ aright, must, at his command, leave all things to follow him, must be ready to part with them. This instance of the power of the Lord Jesus encourages us to depend upon his grace. He speaks, and it is done.
MATTHEW 16: 16-19...
16/ Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17/ Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
18/ And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
19/ I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Peter, for himself and his brethren, said that they were assured of our Lord's being the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God. This showed that they believed Jesus to be more than man. Our Lord declared Peter to be blessed, as the teaching of God made him differ from his unbelieving countrymen. Christ added that he had named him Peter, in allusion to his stability or firmness in professing the truth. The word translated rock, is not the same word as Peter, but is of a similar meaning.
Nothing can be more wrong than to suppose that Christ meant the person of Peter was the rock. Without doubt Christ himself is the Rock, the tried foundation of the church; and woe to him that attempts to lay any other! Peter's confession is this rock as to doctrine. If Jesus be not the Christ, those that own him are not of the church, but deceivers and deceived.
Our Lord next declared the authority with which Peter would be invested. He spoke in the name of his brethren, and this related to them as well as to him. They had no certain knowledge of the characters of men, and were liable to mistakes and sins in their own conduct; but they were kept from error in stating the way of acceptance and salvation, the rule of obedience, the believer's character and experience, and the final doom of unbelievers and hypocrites. In such matters their decision was right, and it was confirmed in heaven. But all pretensions of any man, either to absolve or retain men's sins, are blasphemous and absurd. None can forgive sins but God only. And this binding and loosing, in the common language of the Jews, signified to forbid and to allow, or to teach what is lawful or unlawful.
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