Are you like Simon Peter? One day you are following Jesus, trying to be a good person and the next day the world comes falling down. It took him a while to grasp the understanding of the Savior and the kingdom to come. But one day, it finally all became real to him, and from that day until his death, he never abandoned his service, his followship, or his anticipation of the heavenly home.

A rugged man called Simon Peter was fishing in the area of Capernaum, next thing you know he was following a man called Jesus. One day he was going from town to town as he listened to Jesus speak and perform miracles, and the next thing you know he was gathering up baskets of leftover bread and fish from a miracle Jesus performed as he fed a group of over 5,000 people from a boy’s lunch of two fish and five loaves.

One day, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to the top of a mountain near Nazareth where they witnessed the transformation of Jesus into a glorious, illuminated robe of light. They could barely see that Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah. Then another day, the same group went with Jesus to pray at the Garden of Gethsemane, and as the Roman soldiers appeared to take Jesus away, Peter cut off the ear of a servant in defense of Jesus and yet a short time later denied that he even knew Jesus three different times.

After the resurrection, Jesus met once again with his disciples. He looked at Peter and He said, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter had denied him three times and now Jesus asked him three times, “Peter, do you love me.?” You see Jesus had a great task for him; to be the leader of the remaining disciples and preach about the Kingdom of Heaven.

“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to Him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’” This was the day Peter’s heart encompassed the very essence of understanding as his heart no longer strayed from his belief and knowledge of the living Savior.

One day Jews from all nations were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Weeks, which was a Jewish festival after harvest time when they would offer first fruits at the temple. A mighty wind was heard by them, and they all began to come together. The eleven stood and one man began to speak. You see, Peter and the disciples were meeting with a group of about 120 believers when the commotion began. As Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit put into each man’s ear the speech in his own language. Read Peter’s speech in Acts 2:14-40 This is an excerpt “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’” Act 2:38-39 The book of Acts records that 3,000 souls were added to the body of believers that day.

A few years before Peter died as a martyr, he wrote a letter of encouragement to the Christians in the area of modern-day Turkey which was, at the time, controlled by the Roman Emperor Nero. They were under much persecution for their faith.

“But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.” I Peter 3:14

What a difference a Savior makes!