From Folly to Faith: The Apostle Peter

Sabbath School Class—Life as Discovery and Hope

August 23, 2008
Larry R Evans

(From Walla Walla,WA)

Quiz for Reflection

[To get the most from the quiz read the passages in brackets and look for a thread of thought which may give more depth and understanding to the question being asked.]

1. Peter is an illustration of the truth behind the proverb which says, “Weaknesses are strengths overextended.” True or False? [Mt 4:18-20; Jn 18:7-11]

2. Doing spiritually foolish things is a sign that one has not spent enough time with Jesus. True or False? [Mt 14:22-32; 26:36-46]

3. Being able to give the right answer to spiritual questions and understanding the spiritual implications of the questions being asked is one and the same thing. True or False? [Mt 16:13-26; 26:31-35]

4. Well meaning disciples of Christ can be a spiritual stumbling block to others. True or False? [Mt 16:23]

5. Pain (in various forms—physical, mental, spiritual) is sometimes the price to be paid if spiritual healing is to be found. True or False? [Jn 21:15-19 – note v.17].

6. Those who have made some of the biggest mistakes may yet be given some of the biggest opportunities to advance the cause of God. True or False? [Jn 18:15-18, 25-26; Jn 21:17-19]

7. There is not much difference between a weak disciple and a proud Pharisee—“I am not as other men are.” True or False? [Matt. 26:20-25; Lk 18:11; Jn 17:13-19]

Reflections in Review

We are reminded of the words of Paul the Apostle: “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.” (2 Cor. 5:16). It has been said never to draw conclusions when we are in the midst of a crisis for we have a difficult time seeing either the meaning of why or the conclusion of God’s plan. The same can be said about drawing conclusions regarding the faith experience of someone else or even our own. Faith development is a process and some, like Peter, may seem to have nothing but rough edges. Peter stands as an example of those who wish to do good but who have stumbled in the face of a critical life situation. However, he also stands boldly for the transforming power of God’s love. The ambivalent Peter who denied Jesus when He needed his support the most, became the same one who stood firm in his convictions of faith and gave his life for the One whom he had denied. Converted Peter wrote from a personal experience when he said, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:23-24) Peter was healed. Peter’s “failure” was turned by God into a means of saving others who, like Peter, have vacillated in their faith at critical times. Peter is a symbol of hope for everyone who has ever disappointed God but whose inner most being longs to live for Him. The Apostle Paul summarized his own and Peter’s experience . . . and ours, when he wrote: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7:24) Peter and Paul, rebounded from their mistakes and became messengers of hope. Can that be said of us?

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