Jesus chose 12 to be with Him and that He might send them forth to preach. Though the Lord Jesus had some half- (or step-) brothers, they were not chosen as members of the select group who would perpetuate His teachings and propagate His truths.
Following the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection and ascension of Jesus back to heaven, this band of 12 (minus Judas Iscariot) became the foundation of His church, Himself being the chief cornerstone. And, when the 12 apostles died, the office of apostleship ceased. No person living today was with Jesus when He was baptized by John; no one living today walked and worked with Jesus during the course of His three and one-half years of earthly ministry, or saw the Lord Jesus in His resurrected body. Consequently, no living person since the close of the first century (with the death of the apostle John) has qualified to be an apostle in the New Testament sense of the word. (cf. Acts 1:21,22)
But like Abel of old, the 12 apostles, though dead, still speak. They live on through the lives of those still being reached because of their words and works, which still impact men and women 21 centuries later. And, outside of the Apostle Paul, none made a greater impact upon the world than did the man called Peter.
From day one of the School of Apostles until the story of their lives and labors closes, Peter permeates every page. There are some apostles who, if you wrote a book about these chosen men, you might leave out and the omission might not be glaring. But if you left Peter out of the story, there would be a gaping hole in the narrative. His presence amongst the 12 was pervasive. No one was closer to the Lord (except maybe John the beloved) than Peter. No one followed Him more fervently; no one failed Him more famously! Here’s a closer look at this one who heads every list of the 12:
- His Call
» He was called from family. Son of Jona, he was married. (I Cor. 9:5) When Jesus called Peter to follow Him, with the other apostles “he forsook all and followed Him.” (Mark 1:18; Luke 5:11)
» He was called from fishing. James and John, sons of Zebedee, with their father, were partners with Andrew and Peter. (Mark 1:16; Luke 5:10)
- His Character
» Impetuous, impulsive, impatient, and impossible!
» Brave yet cowardly
» Wise yet foolhardy
» Fearless yet fearful
» Consistently inconsistent!
» A leader
- His Confession, Matt. 16:13ff.
» A confession of revelation, v.17
» A confession of formation, v. 18
- His Compromise, Matt. 26:41-75
» His was a problem of prayer, Matt. 26:41
» His was a problem of proximity, Matt. 26:58a
» His was a problem of pride, Matt. 26:69-75
- His “Conversion,” Luke 22:32
» His repentance, Matt. 26:75
» His reassurance, Mark 16:7
» His restoration, John 21
All of His apostles suffered persecution, torture, public shame, and eventually death. One historian reported that all but the aged apostle John died violent deaths. According to the best tradition, Peter was crucified head downward—at his own request, because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same way His Lord was.
“For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” (I Cor.4:9)
YOU and GOD 