Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me!” (John 21:22, OGV)
Would you like to be discipled by Jesus? There isn’t a better discipler than our Lord.
A part of me would want to be one of the original Twelve, and another part has trepidation. There are thoughts and situations in my life that I want to keep to myself, and every time that I met with Jesus at Panera® for our discipling session, I would look at Him and realize that He already knows everything about me.
Unnerving.
Let’s focus on Jesus discipling Peter. It’s literally a MASTER’S class on discipling. (And I hope that you noticed my humor in the previous paragraph!)
Jesus talks to Peter more than any other disciple in the New Testament. In the Gospels, there are 70 interactions between Jesus and Peter. We can learn a lot about discipling and what it’s like being discipled by Jesus by noting these interactions.
Here are a few things that Jesus said to Peter . . .
Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men (Luke 5:10, NASB1995).
You of little faith, why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:31)
Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it (Matthew 16:17-18).
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers (Luke 22:31-32).
Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times (John 13:38).
Simon, son of John, do you love me? . . . Tend my sheep (John 21:17).
We might like to be discipled by Jesus, but in the truth of His statements to Peter, we realize that the experience would be both amazing and excruciating.
Would you like to be discipled by Jesus?
Whether we answer yes or no, we are being discipled by Him right now.
Jesus told the disciples and us in the Gospels, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you” (John 16:7, ESV).
As Jesus discipled Peter, He now disciples us. He loves us but does not ignore our sin. He always loves, forgives, and works to further His calling in our walk with Him.
Jesus wants to say something to us right now . . .
I am with you always, to the end of this age (Matthew 28:20, ESV).
And Romans 8 teaches what Jesus is doing right now in His discipling relationship with us . . .
Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us (Romans 8:34, ESV).
Though the discipling of Jesus with Peter was 2,000 years ago, Jesus is discipling us today!!