Good Shepherd Community Church Unknown

There are more personal interactions recorded concerning Peter and Jesus than all the other apostle's combined. Simon Peter was one the earliest disciples having been brought to meet Jesus by his brother Andrew. After the great confession of Jesus as the Christ -Messiah- the Son of the Living God he and his confession shared by all the apostle's became the rock on which the church is built. Peter was known for his fierce loyalty to Jesus in which at times he expressed ideas contrary to God's will and Jesus' mission. At the last Passover of Jesus and his Twelve he stated that if all the others forsook Jesus and fled he would never do this. Yet when the Jewish authorities and the battalion of Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus after stricking off the ear of the high priest servant and told to put his sword away by Jesus Peter too only followed at a distance. When through the apostle's John personal knowledge of some in the high priest circle Peter gained entrance into the courtyard so he could hear what was happening to his Master Jesus he publicly denied knowing Jesus three times. -I do not know the man.- On the third denial spoken even with a curse a rooster crowed and Jesus looked at him. He was overcome with grief and wept bitter tears. Surely with such a sin he woukd be forver barred from being an apostle. Yet on the day of his rising from the dead Jesus met privately with Peter. Then some possibly 3 or 4 weeks Jesus on the shore cooking breakfast for the small group of 7 disciples. He eagerly wades to shore to meet his Lord. After breakfast Jesus takes Peter on a walk and asked Peter of his love for him in a series of 3 questions. Thus Peter is graciously restored-

How did Simon Peter come to know Jesus and become his follower-- After spending some time off and on with Jesus what was Simon-Peter- first confession regarding Jesus and himself--

After an exhausting night of unsuccessful fishing, seven of Jesus' disciples had a surprise encounter with their risen Lord on the shore of Lake Tiberias. Jesus not only convincingly revealed his physical, bodily resurrection to a group of his disciples for the third time, but he even prepared breakfast of fish and bread for them. -This passage is further testimony to the importance of multiple witnesses to verify Christ's bodily resurrection.

Paul writes to Timothy concerning our Lord Jesus. God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel . 2 Timothy 1-9-10-Jesus in his incarnation abolished death and brought life and immortality. To explore the meaning of this work of Christ Jesus we need to ask and answer two questions. Where or in whom is eternal life-- When does eternal life begin. Second Jesus is referred to as the firstfruits from the dead and the firstborn of and from the dead. -Revelation 1-5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood-- Colossians 1-18-And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.--What does this mean and what bearing does it have on us and the resurrection from the dead--

The apostle Thomas was not present when Jesus first showed himself in his resurrected body to the Apostles on the evening of the day he arose from the dead. When his fellow apostles told him he refused to believe unless he saw for himself Jesus' body bearing the marks of his crucifixion. Jesus accommodated himself to Thomas and commanded Thomas to touch him. He said to Thomas, -Put your finger here, and see my hands- and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.- From the lips of Thomas came this great confession- -My Lord -King-Master- and My God---We are dependent on the eye-witness testimony of the Apostles and others who saw Jesus alive after his death and burial. They not only saw him but touched, and ate with him. Jesus says of us who believe- -Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.--The major reason for John's gospel narrative is to bear witness to Jesus as Messiah, the Son of God.

In this passage we see--I. The Appearance of the Risen Jesus to His Disciples-II. The Commissioning of the Disciples for Ministry-III. The Impartation of the Spirit to the Disciples