The Underestimated Apostle – Part 1

Peter Denying the Christ Peter, the Underestimated Apostle 6 May The Paradox of Peter 6 May Preacher, President and Apostle 13 May Peter and Paul 13 May Peter in Rome Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn Peter Denying the Christ Recently on exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW

Origins Bethsaida His name: Simon Capernaum

Scenes from Galilee

The Synagogue and Peter’s House in Capernaum

Peter’s House in Capernaum

A New Name One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter − Greek: Petros= ‘Rock’ ). John 1:40-42

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn Paradox of Peter Post-resurrection: amazing career Spokesman-theologian in Jerusalem (5 Christ-based sermons) 33-42 Apostle to Judea, Galilee, Samaria 42-? Flight (to Galilee) 47 2nd ‘Pillar’ (James, Cephas and John) 48-52 Antioch 54 Corinth 55-65 Rome Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn Peter in Prison

Paradox of Peter Pre-resurrection: weak Obstinate − ‘You shall never wash my feet’ (John 13:8) Impulsive − Peter…threw himself into the sea (John 21:7) − Peter…struck the high priest’s servant (John 18:10) Over-confident − ‘I will lay down my life for you…’ (John 13:38) Coward / Denier − He denied it and said, ‘I am not one of his disciples’ (John 18:25) A failure of love − ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ (John 21:15)

The Death of Peter Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward’ John 13:36    ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go’. (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, ‘Follow me’. John 21:18-19 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. 2 Peter 1:13-15

Peter’s Second Century fame Gospel of Peter Apocalypse of Peter Acts of Peter

Questions about the Underestimated Apostle