By the Rev. Cherie Daniel, Freeborn Congregational United Church of Christ, Alden United Methodist Church and Grace United Methodist Church

Peter! He was the first disciple called, inquisitive and wanting to get everything right, always trying to anticipate Jesus’ needs — and almost always just missing the point! He kept trying, and trying and trying to understand the lessons he heard from Jesus. And, he had to accept some criticism from his teacher; some of the retorts from Jesus were harsh.

Peter has a sense, perhaps an instinct, that lets him leave his job, his home and his family and immediately follow this new teacher — without having to do any investigating first. There is an absolute trust which leads him into a discipleship that will change his life. As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

With all the disciples, Peter listened and tried to understand how Jesus was re-interpreting the sacred scriptures for a new world. Many of the objects of these lessons were everyday items, but looking at them from a new perspective often proved confusing. Apparently the spokesperson for the group, Peter got to pose questions to the teacher. After one confusing lesson, (next week’s lectionary readings!), Jesus sounds a bit disgusted with their slowness of catching on. But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” Then Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?” As an aside, if you read some of these scriptures straight through, you will find Jesus often taking a deep breath, shaking his head, and saying something like “Don’t you get it?”

And yet, Peter is paying attention and is putting the clues all together. Sometimes his boldness is rewarded with praise. Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah!” This time, Peter gets it right — a pat on the head from the relieved teacher!

You, of course, remember when Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John up a high mountain and met there Moses and Elijah. Peter thought it was great! For him, it was a moment worth extending. But it was not to be. Peter missed the boat here. Jesus was transfigured before the disciples, and they were forbidden to talk about it. What a frustration that must have been for such a curious student!

But that leads us to this week’s lesson: Peter walks on water! His instinct tells him to believe and to act on that belief. And that works! It works until his intellect takes over. He let the conditions of the storm take his attention away from his mission and his master. To his credit, as he is sinking into the sea, he remembers from whence his help comes and cries out, “Lord save me! Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Peter is saved, but chastised once again.

Peter believed. He promised to be faithful. He said he would never deny Jesus. And yet he did — three times. And three times Jesus forgave him and renewed within him his call to discipleship: “Feed my lambs…  Tend my sheep…  Feed my sheep.” On this inquisitive, faltering, weak, daring, persistent, faithful disciple Jesus built the Church. This is a guy I gotta meet!