Peter: What Can We Learn From Peter's Life?ნიმუში

“Filled With the Holy Spirit”

After His resurrection, Jesus stayed on earth for 40 days, continuing to teach and prepare His disciples for their lifelong mission of spreading the Good News about Him. His sinless life and sacrificial death had paid the penalty for the sins of the world, and His resurrection had conquered death. Hope for the present life and assurance of eternal life were now available to all people and Jesus wanted this message to spread. After 40 days, the disciples watched Him ascend into heaven. They followed His command to stay in Jerusalem until they were visited by the Holy Spirit.

This visitation occurred on the day of Pentecost - a Jewish feast day that had brought Jews from all corners of the known world to Jerusalem, as the Law of Moses commanded. In the midst of the busyness of the city, the Holy Spirit filled the eleven remaining disciples, illustrating His presence with the sound of a mighty wind and little flames of fire appearing above each head. This pivotal moment changed Peter forever, and we can see the fruit of this change in his powerful speech to the crowds who had gathered outside.

Peter had always been bold. He had always been willing to be the first one to speak, but he hadn’t always been able to follow through on his words. He had demonstrated weak faith and lack of understanding on more than one occasion. Now that he was empowered by the Holy Spirit, we see a different man. Still bold, but now filled with a faith that was followed by action. Still willing to be the first to speak, but now with great understanding of the Scriptures and the meaning of Jesus’s death and resurrection. Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost resulted in 3000 people believing in Jesus and getting baptized! And all of this happened in the very city among the very people who had arrested, tried, and killed Jesus. Peter was no longer afraid. He was once again ready to jump in with both feet, but this time there would be no turning back.

Reflection:

How have you experienced the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in your own life?

Has God asked you to do something that you are afraid to do? Ask Him to make you more aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life.