Disciple Example 1
Luke introduces Simon Peter in chapters 4 and 5. He is an example of a disciple, a follower of Jesus.
Luke uses Simon's story to explain what it means to be a follower of Jesus. As he follows Jesus, Simon who is better known as Peter, is an example of a disciple and to show this Luke includes the times he gets things right and also when he gets it badly wrong. We learn a lot about Peter in Luke and Acts, as well as other books including two of his own letters. It is thought that Mark's gospel is based on Peter's teaching. Luke would have been aware of Mark's gospel, and may have had the opportunity on his travels of meeting Peter to gather more information.
Following his time at Nazareth where he was rejected, Jesus escapes and goes to Capernaum. The first person responding positively to Jesus, named by Luke in his gospel at this time, is Simon. It is apparent that Simon and Jesus are already acquainted, as Jesus is probably staying at his home. Simon would have been one of the people amazed by his teaching and the authority of his message. He must have been so impressed that he welcomed Jesus into his home. His friendship was such that when his mother was ill, he asks Jesus for help. Simon becomes a witness to the healing and the blessing Jesus extends to his family.
As this passage refers to Peter's mother-in-law, it is evident that Peter was married. Paul points out that Peter was known to take his wife with him on his missionary journeys (Simon Peter was also known as Cephas). Peter's wife was also a disciple. This is one passage that undermines the daft Roman Catholic ideas of Peter and popes. Peter is an example of a disciple not a pope. It is Peter's confession of faith in Jesus that is the foundation of the church.
We encounter Peter again when Jesus has a practical problem to resolve, how would he be heard and seen by a crowd of people. Jesus turns to Peter for assistance. Peter responds by putting his possessions (in this case, his boat) at Jesus’ disposal.
These episodes sum up how many people would describe a disciple of Jesus, i.e. someone who is enthralled by the message, who welcomes him into their home and life, is able to ask him for help, is a witness and can testify to his blessing and goodness and is prepared to give to him and put their practical means at his disposal.
However, it is at this point that Jesus does something surprising, and something that could easily have caused offence. Jesus tells Peter how to do his job. Simon Peter is a fisherman. He had been working all the previous night and caught nothing. Jesus was a builder by trade not a fisherman. It is easy to read some irritation in Peter's response.
If we had asked Peter at this time how he would define himself, what he was good at, his response would have been 'a fisherman'. And yet Jesus tells him how to do his job.
Despite this, Peter still responds and does as Jesus requests, to discover that Jesus does know better than him, even about what he is good at! It is this episode that provokes a total response in Peter, falling down and worshipping Jesus. All the examples above are characteristics of being a disciple. However, this is what discipleship is about, an encounter with Jesus that brings a realisation that he is able, not only to help us in our weaknesses but, to immeasurably improve what we think are our strengths, drawing an unconditional response of worship.
At this point Jesus totally redefines Simon. He draws on his past, but instead of being a fisherman, now makes him a fisher of men. Jesus later gives him the name Peter which means rock. This is in response to Peter's confession of acknowledging who Jesus is, 'the Christ, the Son of the living God'. It is on this confession of faith in Jesus that the church is founded. It is the rock, the foundation of Peter's life and anyone else who decides to be a follower like him.
Jesus must have been delighted by Peter. After the rejection in his home town, Peter welcomed him, responded to him and was the first to fully recognise, acknowledge and confess who he is. Jesus brings a new humanity. Peter is a leader in following in his footsteps.
Background
Luke chapter 4 verses 31 to 43 - And he (Jesus) came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and he was teaching them on the Sabbath; and they were amazed at his teaching, for his message was with authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, "Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!" But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, "What is this message? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out." And the report about him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district.
Then he got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon's home. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him to help her. And standing over her, he rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them. While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and laying his hands on each one of them, he was healing them. Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But rebuking them, he would not allow them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ. When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for him, and came to him and tried to keep him from going away from them. But he said to them, "I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose."
Luke chapter 5 verses 1 to 11 - Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around him and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and he saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. And he got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And he sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as you say and let down the nets." When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signalled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men." When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
A disciple is a follower of Jesus (Luke chapter 5 verse 11).
Following his time at Nazareth where he was rejected (Luke chapter 4 verses 16 to 30), Jesus escapes and goes to Capernaum. The first person responding positively recorded by Luke at this time is Simon (verse 38). It is apparent that Simon and Jesus are already acquainted, as Jesus is probably staying at his home. Simon would have been one of the people amazed by his teaching and the authority of his message (verse 32). He must have been so impressed that he welcomed Jesus into his home. His friendship was such that when his mother was ill, he asks Jesus for help (verse 38).
Paul points out that Peter was known to take his wife with him on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 5, Simon Peter was also known as Cephas).
It is Peter's confession of faith in Jesus that is the foundation of the church (Matthew chapter 16 verse 16 to 18, 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 2,11 to 13).
We next encounter Peter in chapter 5. When Jesus has a practical problem to resolve, how to be heard and seen by a crowd of people, he turns to Peter for assistance (verse 3).
However, it is at this point that Jesus does something surprising, and something that could easily have caused offence (chapter 5 verse 4).
It is easy to read some irritation in Peter's response (verse 5).
It is this episode that provokes a total response in Peter, falling down and worshipping Jesus (verse 8).
At this point Jesus totally redefines Simon. He draws on his past, but instead of being a fisherman, now makes him a fisher of men (verse 10). Jesus later gives him the name Peter which means rock (Matthew chapter 16 verses 16 to 18).