Peter in need of Transformation: Luke 22:55-62
“55) After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56) And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57) But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58) A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59) After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60) But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61) The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62) And he went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:55-62
Peter’s denial of Jesus is a heart wrenching story. It emphasizes the abandonment of Jesus at His lowest hour.
Peter’s Galilean dress and accent gave him away. He was from a fishing village. He dressed and sounded like a blue collar worker. This became a positive distinction later in Acts 4:13. In that text, He and John stood up boldly against the educated elite.
The contrast between the timid Peter in Luke 22 and bold Peter in Acts 4 is remarkable. To what should we attribute the stark contrast?
There are two notable events that mark this transformation. The first is recorded in John 21. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples back in Galilee after a fruitless night of fishing.
During that encounter, Jesus had a long conversation with Peter and affirmed His love and forgiveness. Peter was given a second chance to follow Jesus. Failure is often the back door to success.
Second, Peter and the other disciples had received the promise of the Father. Jesus baptized them with the Holy Spirit. They now had more than personal resolve; they had the Holy Spirit abiding within them. They had received inner power. (Study Acts 1-2)
Following Jesus but living by the strength of the flesh can at best lead to legalism and failure. Apart from the promised Helper, we are no match for our calling in Christ.
Many Christians can point to a Peter like transformation. They were believers and followers of Jesus but dependent on their own resolve, strength and effort. When the pressure mounted, they buckled and fell short.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a theological point to be argued, it is a promise and gift from the Father to be received. (See Acts 1:3-5)
The only definitive sign Jesus gave for receiving the Holy Spirit is recorded in Acts 1:8. It can be summarized as spiritual power which results in becoming effective witnesses.
I see the inner power of the Holy Spirit as an accumulative and growing phenomenon. According to Ephesians 1:13-14, the sealing of the Holy Spirit happens at the moment of salvation. But then, according to Ephesians 5:18 there are many fillings of the Holy Spirit.
There is no limit to the potential growth and power of the inner man. Every believer can be filled up to all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-21)
Run to and not from the inner ministry and power of the Holy Spirit. Embrace Him rather than hold Him at arms length. Intensionally study everything the Bible says about the Holy Spirit. Then ask Jesus to baptize or immerse you in His promised Holy Spirit.
My goal is not to become an evangelical, Charismatic or Pentecostal Christian. There are dysfunctions in every camp.
My goal is to become an on fire biblical Christian walking in all the promises and fulness of God. I want to receive and live in every blessing the Father has for me in heavenly places “in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)
The last thing I want is to live my Christian life in the weak and mediocre sandals of the Peter who followed Jesus at a distance as recorded in Luke 22:55-62.
I want to be like the Peter who prayed for more power and boldness as recorded in Acts 4:28-31. They were not shy about asking for more signs, wonders and healings to be done in the Name of Jesus Christ.
The result was that they were filled afresh with the Holy Spirit. This is a biblical example of the ongoing and growing ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life and daily walk of the believer. Never be satisfied with yesterday’s encounter with Jesus. Press on!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoSev Global
“55) After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56) And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57) But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58) A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59) After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” 60) But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61) The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62) And he went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:55-62
Peter’s denial of Jesus is a heart wrenching story. It emphasizes the abandonment of Jesus at His lowest hour.
Peter’s Galilean dress and accent gave him away. He was from a fishing village. He dressed and sounded like a blue collar worker. This became a positive distinction later in Acts 4:13. In that text, He and John stood up boldly against the educated elite.
The contrast between the timid Peter in Luke 22 and bold Peter in Acts 4 is remarkable. To what should we attribute the stark contrast?
There are two notable events that mark this transformation. The first is recorded in John 21. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples back in Galilee after a fruitless night of fishing.
During that encounter, Jesus had a long conversation with Peter and affirmed His love and forgiveness. Peter was given a second chance to follow Jesus. Failure is often the back door to success.
Second, Peter and the other disciples had received the promise of the Father. Jesus baptized them with the Holy Spirit. They now had more than personal resolve; they had the Holy Spirit abiding within them. They had received inner power. (Study Acts 1-2)
Following Jesus but living by the strength of the flesh can at best lead to legalism and failure. Apart from the promised Helper, we are no match for our calling in Christ.
Many Christians can point to a Peter like transformation. They were believers and followers of Jesus but dependent on their own resolve, strength and effort. When the pressure mounted, they buckled and fell short.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a theological point to be argued, it is a promise and gift from the Father to be received. (See Acts 1:3-5)
The only definitive sign Jesus gave for receiving the Holy Spirit is recorded in Acts 1:8. It can be summarized as spiritual power which results in becoming effective witnesses.
I see the inner power of the Holy Spirit as an accumulative and growing phenomenon. According to Ephesians 1:13-14, the sealing of the Holy Spirit happens at the moment of salvation. But then, according to Ephesians 5:18 there are many fillings of the Holy Spirit.
There is no limit to the potential growth and power of the inner man. Every believer can be filled up to all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-21)
Run to and not from the inner ministry and power of the Holy Spirit. Embrace Him rather than hold Him at arms length. Intensionally study everything the Bible says about the Holy Spirit. Then ask Jesus to baptize or immerse you in His promised Holy Spirit.
My goal is not to become an evangelical, Charismatic or Pentecostal Christian. There are dysfunctions in every camp.
My goal is to become an on fire biblical Christian walking in all the promises and fulness of God. I want to receive and live in every blessing the Father has for me in heavenly places “in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)
The last thing I want is to live my Christian life in the weak and mediocre sandals of the Peter who followed Jesus at a distance as recorded in Luke 22:55-62.
I want to be like the Peter who prayed for more power and boldness as recorded in Acts 4:28-31. They were not shy about asking for more signs, wonders and healings to be done in the Name of Jesus Christ.
The result was that they were filled afresh with the Holy Spirit. This is a biblical example of the ongoing and growing ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life and daily walk of the believer. Never be satisfied with yesterday’s encounter with Jesus. Press on!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoSev Global
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