Friday, October 2

I remember several years ago having a rather intense conversation with my young son about the difference between real and pretend as it related to superheroes. He was quite devastated at first to learn that Superman and the Hulk were not “real”. For several weeks after that conversation, he would continually ask me about various heroes or characters by saying, “real or pretend, Dad?” One night we were reading a story from his children’s Bible and he looked up at me and said, “Dad, are they real or pretend?” It was great fun to tell him that the amazing people he read about in the Bible were every bit as real as we are!

I think too many "grown-up" Christians quietly think of the people in the Bible the way they think of superheroes or fairytale characters. It a common mistake for people of the modern age to fall into the trap of thinking that biblical history is somehow different than “real” history and that biblical characters are somehow less real than others we read about in historical books.

If you are reading along with us in The All-Time Best-Selling Book Club: Story of Jesus, this week you read about Andrew and Peter, two of Jesus' disciples. Peter has always been one of my favorite characters in the all of Scripture. He is one of the most fascinating and vivid characters in the Bible. One of the reasons Peter seems so accessible is because we know so much about him. We have more details about Peter’s life and background than we do for any other disciple. Here are a few of the interesting details about the historical background for this man called Peter:

Peter (also known as Simon) was one of the original 12 apostles. When Jesus called him to be an apostle, he was given the added name Cephas. (Aramaic: "Cephas/stone," Greek: "Petros," which in English is translated as Peter).

And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).  – John 1:42

Peter was originally from Bethsaida on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. He was a fisherman with his brother Andrew.

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 make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. – Matthew 4:18-20

Peter was married.

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.  – Mark 1:29-30

His home was in Capernaum. Capernaum is the fishing village that Jesus made his headquarters while he was in Galilee. (Matthew 4:12-13, Mark 1:21-34)  

In fact, at Capernaum, there are the remains of an octagonal church which was built in the fifth century (Byzantine period), and remained in use until the 7th century. In 1968, archaeologists re-discovered the remains of a much earlier church underneath the 5th century church. This earlier church had been built around what was originally a private house. One room of the house showed signs that it had been used as a meeting place from very early in the Christian era. From the earliest times, followers of Jesus Christ believed this house was the home of Simon Peter.

What’s the point of all of these fascinating historical tidbits?

Simply this – Peter was a real guy! He was a living, breathing, flesh and blood human being just like you and me! 

Here is the really great part…while Peter is long dead, His Lord lives! The Jesus who called Peter to follow Him calls to you and to me still today! 

-Jeff Frazier