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An “Interview” with Peter, the Apostle (Part 1)

by Bryan Gibson

January 15, 2010

Obviously, it’s impossible to do a “live” interview with Peter. However, by looking at his life and his teaching, we can conclude what his answers would be to these questions. The plan right now is to do this “interview” in three parts.

Question: Tell us how you were first introduced to Jesus.

Answer: Through my brother, Andrew. He learned about Jesus from John the Baptist, who one day pointed to Jesus walking by and said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” That same day Andrew followed Jesus to the place he was staying and spent the day with Him.  He came to me as soon as he left and said, “We have found the Messiah.” He then took me to meet Jesus, who when He saw me said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (or Peter), a name which means stone or rock. I appreciate His patience with me, because it sure did take me awhile to become the rock He wanted me to be.  [See John 1:35-42.]

Question: It was several months later when Jesus called you to follow Him. What convinced you to do it?

Answer: By that time I had spent more time with Jesus and had gotten to know Him better. But you need to know what happened the day He called me. James and John and I had spent the previous night fishing and had caught nothing. Jesus came along while we were washing and mending our nets. There were so many people who wanted to hear Jesus teach that He asked me to put my boat out a little distance from the land so He could teach the multitudes from there. When He stopped speaking, He said to me, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” I was tired from the previous night, and I didn’t think we would catch anything, but I did what He said. Before long we had caught so many fish that the net began to break. James and John brought the other boat to help us, and we filled up both boats with so many fish that the boats began to sink. I was so overwhelmed by the greatness and power of Jesus that I fell at His knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Jesus then said to me, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” How could I possibly say no to Him? When we got to the shore, I left everything behind and followed Him. [See Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22.]

Question: Leaving everything behind, at least to some, might seem very difficult. Any regrets?

Answer: None whatsoever. When I reminded Jesus later that we had left all to follow Him, here’s what He said: “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” Just prior to my conversation with Jesus, He had offered a rich young ruler the opportunity to follow Him. He turned Jesus down, because he mistakenly thought that he would lose too much. Not very smart—to turn down an investment that yields a hundredfold! [See Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30.]