Evening star., 1923-07-14

Peter is the best known and the
There has been more disagreement
among scholars and students of the
Bible over Peter than any other New
Testament character. He Is the most
popular personality, aside from the
Lord Jesus. that is presented to the
world in the history of Christianity s
early days. Peters life Is an open
book. There is nothing secret. sinister
or subtle in his career. 1t has been
recorded frankly, so that all have
found in the study of his life an en-
couragement. since most people find
that Peter had some points of failure
similar to their own personal expert
ence.
The problems of the distinguished
apostle character are found In the
web of inconsistencies that men nave
found difficulty, in understanding.
Take, for example, the evidence that
points to his courage and also to
his .cowardice. No one of the twelve
He plunged into the water with
sublime faith that appeared to con-
quer nature. as long as he kept MS
eyes upon the Lord Jesus, but when
face of the lake Peter became fright
ened when he saw the wind bolster
Gus" and. beginning to sink ne crieo
saying, Lord. save me-. he exhlDlteu
4 similar changeableness when the
Master was taken prisoner. lie
had professed his courageous deter
mination to go with Jesus to prison
or to death. His impulsive defense OIL
the Christ. when he drew the sword
and cut off his right ear revealed one
side of his nature. His denial or the
Lord three times at His trial was an
exhibition of the opposite character
strength of his personality. which
fitted him for leadership among the
apostles. A mans strongest point Ii
apt to be his weakest The Master
may have referred that fact Wnen
he first met Peter. when Andrew
brought him to Jesus.
Names are significant in the east
When Simon was introduced 10 tne
Master by his brother Christ assured
him that although his name was
acterized by fickleness and incon-
sistency he was to be called Cephas
meaning a stone. Later. when Peter
made the first confession OF personal
faith in answer to the greatest per
sonal question men are compelieo 10
answer concerning Christs character
the Master assured him that he was
was to become foundation stone In
the building of His church.
Jesus recognized the possibilities
lin Peter, when He first met the rug
ged and conservative fisherman OIL
Galilee. When the Lord had evidence
that the business partner of Zebedee
had grasped the reality of His divine
nature and had been born again the
Master understood that a struggle had
started in the development OF the
character of Peter that would result
in the apostle becoming q great hero
of the new faith, which he had con-
fessed. The transformation OF Simon
into the rock took time. 1t was a
struggle that was born of love. The
brave nature, that quickly responded
to the call of the Christ for him &c
leave his business and be taught by
the Master to take men alive" was
nodded by the life. lessons and labor
of Jesus. 1t took time, but the
prophecy of Christ was fulfilled In
Peters apostolic work, that justified
the Lords calling Simon to leave his
nets, family, friends and business OPP
portunities to JOHN the society OF
Jesus as a disciple.
of Jesus made upon Peter can be seen
in Marks gospel. The vivid picture OF
Christ presented in the second gospel
is recognized by scholars to be due to
the influence of the Apostle Peter. II
shows his supreme insight and hos
pitality for the character of Jesus
He commenced as a disciple to show
the qualities that marked his apos'
tolic efforts. He was always ready
Straightway, forthwith and imme.
diately characterized Peters attitude
toward the Master. He opened his
home for the headquarters of Christ
Jesus during His campaigns in Gal
lice. His home was a center of heal
ing ministry. His grateful mother-in-
law was a living witness to Christ's
power as a healer. His intimacy with
Jesus helped Peter to cast aside the
infirmities of his old life and it aided
him to become like Jesus in helpful
ministry during the period he guided
and directed the church of Christ ir
its beginnings in Jerusalem.
Peters business experience helped
him when he became the dominating
force of the mother church. He had
program and evidently tried to build
along the lines laid down by the
Master Builder. The early history
of the Christian faith gathers after
Pentecost around Peter. 1t was he
who recognized the significance OF
that day, which ranks as the second
greatest in the history OF human re-
demption. He courageously defended
the followers Of the risen Christ from
the charge of drunkenness.
His initiative genius quickly graspe6
the meaning of every new problem
that was presented. His administra.
ton was free from the influence OF
former preJudices and its ever-pres-
ent environment. A man of his in
and conservative in the clashes which