Peter: A Story Of Maturity

By Barry Shaw

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church...” Matthew 16:18

The life of the Apostle Peter is a story of a man on a path to spiritual maturity. When we are first introduced to Peter, we find anything but a rock. He was unschooled, impulsive, impatient; a man of little grace.

Pastor Warren Wiersbe describes Peter as one who “had a tendency in his early years to feel overconfident when danger was near and to overlook his Master’s warnings. He rushed ahead when he should have waited; he slept when he should have prayed; he talked when he should have listened.” Yet, when we read First and Second Peter written toward the end of his life, we find a pillar of the early church - enlightened, courageous, humble, loving and full of grace.

Peter’s first steps as a Christian were truly baby steps. Peter may have figured that if Jesus could walk on water, so could he. He said to Jesus, almost daringly: “Lord if it’s you...tell me to come to you on the water. Come, [Jesus] said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” Like a Father tending to his child, Jesus grabbed Peter’s hand and saved him. Jesus said to Peter, “You of little faith, ...why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:28-31 Peter later wrote to God’s elect, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk [God’s Word], so that by it you may grow up in your salvation...” 1 Peter 2:2

Although he grew steadily as a believer in Christ, Peter stumbled many times. For example, Jesus had predicted His death on the Cross. To this Peter impetuously exclaimed, “Never, Lord...This shall never happen to you!” Matthew 16:22 Imagine rebuking God! That’s when Jesus said to him, “Get behind me Satan!” Matthew 16:23

But, Peter continued to mature in his walk. After denying three times that he even knew Jesus, Peter saw the folly of his pride and wept bitterly. Alas, the Holy Spirit thereafter came upon him at Pentecost and tongues of fire rested upon him, so much so that when he spoke of Jesus before a crowd, 3000 people gave their lives to Christ. Indeed, he’d become the rock upon which Jesus’ church was built.

The words he wrote in his second epistle truly reflect a mature Christian believer: “...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 5-8

Barry Shaw writes from Applegate Valley, Oregon