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Disciple: Simon Peter

 {Disciples} SIMON PETER_ 

Defending/Rebuking the Saviour 

 
We know more about Simon Peter than about any of the other disciples – but even his names reveal some of the issues that he struggled with. 
“Simon” was his personal name; it meant “impulsive”, “bruised/broken reed” and “unsteady”. 
Jesus is the one who gave him the name “Peter” which meant “rock”. 
Jesus saw what the man would become. 

 
[Group discussion starter] What descriptive name do you think that Jesus would give to you and why? 

 
The Gospels are full of stories about Peter. 
He always seems to be around the action. 
He acts and speaks impulsively and often puts his foot in his mouth! 
Occasionally, however, Peter gets it right. 
Some of the boldest declarations about Jesus and loyalty to Jesus come from the lips of Peter – and yet, in the very next breath, he is denying or correcting Jesus or even, as we will see in this study, rebuking Jesus! 

Peter’s call to be a committed follower of Jesus is recorded in all four Gospel accounts. He had known of (and even met) Jesus for several months, but now he responds to Jesus’ call to leave his former life behind... 

 
[Read Mark 1:16-20] 

 
In verse 17, what task does Jesus' call both Simon and Andrew to and what are they willing to leave behind as they follow him? 

 

Peter and the other three men had met Jesus before this and had spent time with him (Jn 1:35-42; 2:1-11). Why do you think that they were now willing to embrace this new level of loyalty to Jesus? 

 

[Read Mark 8:27-38] 

[Activity] This encounter took place at about the middle of Jesus’ three-year public ministry. The opinions, of other people, about Jesus were flattering. What was it about Jesus’ ministry that would have led people to conclude that he was: 

“The revived John the Baptist”? 

“Elijah”? 

“One of the other prophets”? 

 
What was lacking in these opinions of Jesus? 

 

The disciples had been with Jesus for more than a year. 
Why was Jesus so interested in their conclusions about who he was? 

 

Why do you think that Jesus tells the disciples to keep quiet about his identity? 

 

What does Jesus talk about next, and why is he so intent to communicate this truth with these disciples? 

 

Why does Peter rebuke Jesus? 
How was Jesus’ teaching different from what Peter expected? 

 

In verse 33, what temptation from Satan does Jesus perceive in Peter’s rebuke? 

 

Jesus’ rebuke of Peter is followed by his dramatic teaching to his disciples and the crowd about the cost and the gain of following him (verses 34-38). 
What is Jesus trying to get Peter (and all his followers) to realise about discipleship? 

 

What change do you think that Jesus wanted to see in Peter as the result of this encounter? 

 

What change does Jesus want to see in you because of your exposure to this passage? 

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