Simon Says

 📖 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20

So Simon, otherwise known as Peter, was called by Jesus to be one of His followers.  

Peter followed Jesus even out into the water....until he lost sight, lost his focus.

 📖 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.   But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”     

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 25-31

Then after Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to His followers and had a deep discussion with Peter, using his name Simon.

📖 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”  The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:15-19

After Pentecost when something inexplicable and supernatural happens Peter explains to an unbelieving, cynical crowd, in what is considered by some  to be the first sermon of the New Church.

📖 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

 Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions, 

your old men will dream dreams. 

Even on my servants, both men and women,

 I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

 and they will prophesy. 

I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke. 

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood  

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.  

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken. 
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope, 

because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay. 
You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 

 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.  But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy   Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand 
until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’  “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  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.”  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:14-40.  

Simon Peter is knowledgeable in Jesus's history and linage as well as Old Testament history. He quotes the Old Testament.  He is knowledgeable and uses it to present persuasive arguments.
Peter spells it out. He speaks the truth.  He pleads with them until 3,000 are saved!

Just like the children's game...Simon Says "believe, repent and be baptized".

Do as Simon Says and you WIN.  If not...you're out, you lose. 

🙏🏼Lord God, we thank you for Simon and his willingness to follow You. For his clarity in presenting the gospel. I pray we use him as an example to share with others. I also pray that if someone is reading this and has not done what Simon Peter said; to Believe in the saving power of the resurrection of Jesus and to repent of our sins and to be obedient in baptism, that they are moved to do it today. AMEN.♥️