While critics of the Bible try to point to its so-called inconsistencies and contradictions, I find it to be an absolutely Perfect Book!
One of their many accusations deals with the “Call Narratives” in the New Testament. And Peter’s history is no exception! (He is the writer who reminds us that the enemies “twist” God’s Word to their liking! See 2 Peter 3:16, specifically.)
Now, this much is true. We do find three times that the Lord appears to “call” Peter unto Himself! (Come to think of it, David was “anointed” King three times as well!)
There is such a “call” in John chapter 1. And I’m going to label this Peter’s “call” unto salvation! John 1:40-42 tells us: “One of the two which heard John (the Baptist) speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”
This is a quiet call! Maybe that “sill small Voice” of Whom we have heard! See 1 Kings 19:12, the life of Elijah. Andrew brought Peter to Jesus. Jesus did the rest! And Peter’s life was never the same. He has met Jesus, personally! Jude 1 says of each of us Believers: “Them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and CALLED.” Peter heard and responded to that Call!
In the second place, Peter was called to service, to follow Jesus! We go from John to Matthew for this event. “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, FOLLOW ME, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:18-19
Again, every Christian should have heard this “call” too. To be a witness for Christ! Proverbs 11:30 speaks of “winning” souls. (“He that winneth souls is wise.”) The verb thee is spelled “laqach” in Hebrew. It means “to lay hold of, to catch,” the same idea as fishing for the lost, as in Peter’s case here! Have you heard and responded, obeyed the “serving Jesus” Call? By the way, Peter is now a saved and serving child of God. Two “calls,” as the Gospels have revealed to us. (Peter is still a fisherman by trade. He is not yet going with Jesus everywhere! And he well may have pursued his craft, casting his nets on the Sea of Galilee, for up to a year before the third “Call” comes! At least that is what the biographers of Peter seem to think.)
So then thirdly, sometime later as I said … the New Testament historian Luke chimes in with these words. “And when they had brought their ships to land, THEY FORSOOK ALL, and followed him.” These favored Galilean fishermen had toiled all night with no results! But at Jesus’ command they moved the nets a few feet and so many fish were captured that their net actually broke! This is the “call” to full-time Apostleship! (Preachers, God-call Preachers, still experience this amazing Thrill yet today!)
Matthew might have a parallel Sentence here. “And when Jesus had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter …” Matthew 10:1-2
See?
No contradictions!
Three calls!
Salvation, service, apostleship!
Or for us … Salvation, Service, and (you Preachers) full time Ministry! (Maybe bi-vocational, but still full-time!)
All I know to write now is this … whenever He calls you … OBEY!
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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