Astronaut's Test of Faith 

     A year ago June, two astronauts were in a 10-foot-tall capsule, orbiting the earth when their first thruster failed. Approaching the space station (ISS), the second thruster was lost...then the third and the fourth. 

     Capt. Barry Wilmore was at the controls. Mission Control took over, parking the capsule at the space station. Who knew if returning the capsule to earth was even possible? An eight-day mission became 286 days. (He had commanded the space station some 10 years ago.) 

     Scary? Not for Wilmore, who said, "I completely understand God's sovereignty. He is in control at all times. The Lord's got this, and if it means He takes me today, so be it. We're all going to go one day."

      His response under pressure has been shaped by his faith in God's purposes and plans for his life, including 21 air combat missions during Operation Desert Storm, where dodging missiles and anti-aircraft artillery was a matter of survival. 

Down to Earth in Space

     Christmas time, Wilmore videoed himself with Israel in sight, reading from Luke chapter 2. He videoed for his church's Christmas Eve service, and 250 miles of separation didn't keep him from sending messages of encouragement to those who needed it. 

     NASA used a capsule owned by Elon Musk to bring Wilmore and three other astronauts back to Florida. 

     "Christ does it all," Wilmore says. "He paid the price. He calls us. He draws us. He saves us." Now, at 62, Wilmore continues to have an insatiable appetite for God's Word. "My beliefs don't matter. What matters is what's true. I try to share what I know to be true from God's word." 

  Tuesday: What about Greenland? 

Holy Spirit Takes Over 

    #6 in series

     Christ appeared to different people at various times over 40 days, following his resurrection. In Acts chapter 1, he commands his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit baptizes them with power. That would happen on the 50th day, now called Pentecost Sunday. 

     He said they would be his witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Those would be his last words. 

     Chapter 2. Ten days later, 120 men were together when "a sound like a violent wind came from heaven. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that came to rest on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." 

     "There were God-fearing Jews from every nation, and many wondered, 'What does this mean?'" 

Peter Explains It 

     "Then Peter stood up," (baptized with power by the Spirit that spoke through Old Testament prophets) "and addressed the crowd: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.'" 

     The Spirit led Peter to enlighten his listeners, who "were cut to the heart and asked Peter, 'What shall we do?'" "Repent and be baptized," he said, "in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the Holy Spirit." 

     "About 3,000 were added to their number that day." Peter and others would never be the same, worshiping God with the Holy Spirit in their hearts, to guide and spread this good news to the ends of the earth.

So, Jimmy, was Peter a pope or not?

  Peter and other disciples were chosen by Christ. 

Popes are elected by Catholic men ideally led by Christ.

(majority vote)

Jesus Tests Peter 

   No. 5 of 6

     In John's last chapter, 21, he wrote how he and other disciples, including Peter, went fishing all night. Early in the morning Jesus called to them from shore. They had met Jesus twice since his resurrection, but they didn't realize it was him. 

     When they told (the stranger) they hadn't caught any fish, he said, Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. Did they? They couldn't haul in the net there were so many fish. 

     John exclaimed, "It is the Lord!" Peter - who else? - jumped in the water while the others towed the net...about 100 yards. They saw a fire of burning coals with fish already on it...and some bread. 

     After they were done eating, three times Jesus asked Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you truly love me? And three times Peter said "yes." The third repeat frustrated him a bit. Jesus' three answers were Feed my lambs, Take care of my sheep, Feed my sheep. 

     Then he gave Peter shocking information:

     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. Follow me. 

Tradition, not the Bible, is that Peter was crucified in Rome, about the same time Paul was martyred (A.D. 67/68) and that he chose to be hung upside down...not worthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord. If so, that would be some 34 years after Christ's resurrection. 

Friday: Violent wind and fire

Peter Disowns Jesus 

    #4 in series

    "Then on the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb would be sacrificed," that night Jesus took his disciples to the garden of Gethsemane. He knows he will be betrayed. He takes Peter, and two brothers James and John, further with him to pray. But, stay awake? Not them. 

     Jesus sweats blood while praying to his Father, ultimately conceding, Your will be done. An angel comes to strengthen him. 

     Meanwhile, the chief priests and elders - having given Judas 30 silver coins to betray Jesus - sent a large crowd with swords and clubs to Gethsemane. They find Jesus and the other 11 disciples. 

     Peter, act first and think later, drew his sword and cut off the ear (probably not Peter's intended wound) of a servant. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away, and he healed the man. 

     All the disciples deserted him.

     Jesus was held for "trial" to be held in the morning before Pilate. Crowds loyal to the leaders gathered. Peter appeared in a courtyard, where "two girls" (how annoying) accused him of being with Jesus. After denying a third time that he knew Jesus, he swore, "I don't know this man you're talking about." 

     The rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus told him, Before the rooster crows you will disown me three times. Peter broke down and wept.  

Thursday: How could Peter become a pope?

 

Leave It to Peter 

   3rd in series 

     Peter has been a work in progress. He and his brother Andrew were fishermen. Jesus shows up at the Sea of Galilee and says, "Come. Follow me." And they did.

     After the 12 disciples had experienced his teaching and healing, he sends them out to witness. Later, Jesus sends the disciples across the lake, at night. A storm makes them fear for their lives. 

     Jesus shows up, walking on the water, and they think he might be a ghost. He tells them not to fear. Peter, responding to the teaching and miracles he has seen, reacts: "Lord if it's you tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus says, Come." Peter walks on water, until he notices the storm again and begins to drown. Jesus saves him, saying, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

     Later, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain where he was transfigured, and Moses and Elijah appear. They hear a voice, "This is my Son who I love; with him I am well pleased, Listen to him!" Leave it to Peter to tell Jesus, "If you wish, I will put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 

     Fast forward to the night of Jesus' arrest. He tells the disciples they "will all fall away on account of me. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Guess who replies? "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." 

     Jesus tells Peter, "This very night...you will disown me three times." Peter still doesn't get it. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." The other disciples said the same. Peter did keep his promise, 30-some years later. 

Wednesday: Peter disowns him 

The Rock and the rock 

   #2 of 6

     Following Friday's blog (Matthew, a Jewish disciple writing to fellow Jews) we attempt to understand, God the Father and Satan each speaking through Peter (chapter 16). Matthew didn't write in English. 

     Jesus would build his church on the truth of Peter's confession that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." He calls his disciple Peter, (Greek Petros, a small stone). 

     He adds, On this rock (Greek Petra, a massive rock) I will build my church. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven..." 

     Catholics list Peter as pope beginning A.D. 33, immediately after Christ's resurrection. In Matthew 28, the "great commission," Jesus tells his 11 disciples, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. 

Commentary: Jesus is the Rock, the first and great foundation of the church (1 Corinthians 3:11). Peter eventually wrote two letters (A.D. 60-63), shortly before his martyrdom. He wrote as one of the "apostles."

In his first letter, he wrote, "Jesus is the living Stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone...the stone the builders rejected." Christians are living stones in a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5) that God is building. See also Isaiah 28:16. 

The "keys" represent God's delegated authority for church discipline, prayer, fellowship, teaching, opposition to the demonic, etc. Peter might have exhibited some of these keys. Who knows? So did Paul.  

Tuesday: Leave it to Peter

 Get ready.

We devote this entire week to Peter,

who he was as Jesus' disciple,

and who he was on the day of Pentecost

when the Holy Spirit came upon them

and spoke through Peter to 120 puzzled men. 

Peter would not have known some of this

information on his own. 

The same can be said of Peter's two letters.

You question this?

 The 26 books in the Old Testament

weren't written without many contributions

by God himself, forecasting what the future held.

As for Peter being the first pope,

 why not Paul, or John who stood at the cross

and later wrote Revelation?