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It is Strangely Refreshing that Peter Doesn’t Name Drop

When you read through the letters of Peter in the New Testament it is easy to forget that he was on the inside. He wasn’t just one of Jesus disciples, he was the main guy. He was the leader of leaders. You see him getting all kinds of experiences that most of the other guys did not. For example, he walked on water (Matt. 14.28-31), saw a young girl raised from the dead (Mark 5.37-42), saw Jesus transfigured (Matt. 17.1-6), and was broke out of jail (Acts 12.6-7). Peter had some amazing experiences.

I find it fascinating that when Peter gets to writing letters to churches we don’t find him exegeting his exprience. In fact the only time he does refer to experiences is to show that it (the experience) shows and reminds him of the supremacy of the Word of God (2 Pet. 1.16-20).

Why doesn’t Peter just unload all the nuggets of his experience? Why doesn’t he just unpack these details frame by frame? Why doesn’t he tell us what he was thinking?

I think it is because Peter was not very impressed with himself. Instead he was impressed with Jesus.

All he does in his letters is bang the gospel gong over and over again. He does not want his readers to forget the truth and power of the gospel. He just keeps resetting and reloading the gospel. This is what he wants us to take home. In other words, Peter doesn’t name drop because he is all about the gospel-drop.

What a strange gust of wind Peter would be in pulpits and lives today. We are about our story. What is on your mind?…asks the social media sites.  Tell us your story. Peter would decline. No doubt he would just use it as an opportunity to brag about Christ and the glorious inheritance purchased for sojourners like us.

I think we can be encouraged by Peter. This guy with experiences that we can only imagine was captivated by truth we can know. His satisfaction in and through Jesus is the key to quieting our restless souls.

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