(Men God Made) Peter - Part 1 — Willie Mullan

From his lighthouse evermore, but to us he gives the keeping of the light along the shore, eight hundred and five feet. We're looking after Peter this evening, and it's only a thought of introduction to this character, because it's going to take a bit more time for this, you know.

I think it would be right to say this evening that the Holy Ghost has given us more incidental little things about the life and character of Peter than he has given us about anybody else. And yet I don't want to go into those little incidentals tonight, we shall leave them for next week.

Peter as a Student in God's School

I want to try to sketch for you from the book this evening a picture of the student that came into God's school called Peter. God brought him into the school. And I'm only sketching for you a rough sketch of the student that came into the school.

You'll notice that now I begin this evening by saying he was a Jew. And you might wonder why I said that. You know I was preaching in Whitehall in London, and if you know London, Whitehall is in the centre of London, it's like the White House in America.

It's there that the Lord Mayor sits, and the great inner London council. But on this occasion I was preaching through business titles, maybe all of them, millionaires. And I would think maybe 400 of them.

And Sir John Rangel, the chairman, and there was a little book written some years ago, and Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones did a bit of it, and Sir John Rangel did a bit of it, and I did the other bit. And so we knew each other very well, and they said to me, we were just talking before the meeting began, all these pots were gathering, they said to me, I want to ask you a question, was Peter a Jew?

I said of course he was a Jew. He said, you sure about that now? I said yes, I think I'm sure about it. I said he was the son of Jonah, Jonah. Surely Jonah was a Jewish name. He said, I can tell you there's a little group of men in the meeting tonight, and they believe he was a Gentile.

He said, you know they have some funny saying. Come over tonight and produce you to them. My old man's going. You think he was a Jew? Surely you're not for sure now. So he brings me over into this select group, and he said I was asking Mr Mullen was Peter a Jew?

And he said he was. And the leader of the group said no, he wasn't you know. He was a Gentile. So I'm thinking hard you see. I've never done this before, and I'm in a group of smart alecks. I've got to get this computer working.

Sometimes it takes a second or two to get into slide. But I'm thinking now right through, and I said well he was the apostle to the Jews wasn't he? And the leader said yes, that's quite true. He was the apostle to the Jews, but then we said missionaries to the Jews, and it doesn't mean that they're Jews.

And I could see he had done some homework on what he was talking about, because he was really able to say every moment that I would make a stammer. He said that's what John asked. It's an old Greek word, and it could be translated John.

He was the son of John. So that wasn't helping affairs at all. And the computer's still rolling. I have to roll it on and wonder where the answer is. And then I said to him, now let's have a look at this.

You have a look at it with me, because I'm only doing this for the young people. Somebody might come up and ask you, and you wouldn't know, that's all. And that's my business, and I'd like to help you.

All that you do know. And I said to him, let's have a look at this wonderful letter to the Galatians, and then up the second chapter. Galatians chapter two, verse eleven. Paul is writing to this church at Galatia, and this is what he said to them.

But when Peter was coming to Antioch, I withstood him to the faith, because he was to be blamed. Paul wasn't afraid of Peter's supposed to be ecclesiastical standing. He just withstood him to the faith, because he was to be blamed.

For before that Satan came from them, he did it with the Gentiles. So I stopped at his faith and said, now, why would they make anything out of this he did even with the Gentiles, if he wasn't abused?

Oh, I said, there were things made out of this, you know, in the old Judaizers. They did make things out of this even with the Gentiles, and they weren't having that at all, of course. I could see it being through these arguments before.

But I'm afraid it didn't do so much for them. For before that Satan came from them, he did it with the Gentiles. And when they were coming, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

He was afraid of the Jews. Circumcision means the Jews. And the other Jews, that's the word, dissembled likewise with him. So that the rest of the boys that dissembled were Jews anyway. And to this he had to give in.

In so much that Barnabas also was carried away with their discrimination. It was said, but when I saw that they left not outrightly according to the truth of the gospel, so I said unto Peter, be good and all, it's thou being a Jew.

And your man nearly died. Not sure why he should say amen to a fellow dying or not. But this was the night and the place and the time when this little fact was broken up for good. They had a false teacher in the midst.

And he had taken them all for a ride up an empty lane. There was no question about them being a Jew. But it took me for a moment or two to find where this little fact was. I should have known better. I sort of rebuke myself when I don't know it on the spot.

But there is no doubt at all about it. The praise is here. When I saw that they left not outrightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter, be good and all, it's thou being a Jew. Lizard after the manner of Gentiles and not of dildo Jews.

Why compare us to other Gentiles to live as dildo Jews. We also are Jews by nature. And Paul is putting himself in with Peter. We also are Jews. But there is no question. But I thought I should start with this.

Because this is the man that got into the truth. He was a Jew. No question at all about it. And I've done this for the young people's sake. There's something else I want to establish. He was a fisherman.

Peter the Fisherman Called by Jesus

Let's go to Matthew's gospel. And we're at chapter 4. Matthew's gospel. Chapter 4. Verse 18. And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren. Simon said, Peter and Andrew, his brother. Casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers.

Or as the translation goes sometimes, they were fishermen. And there is no question at all about this. These are very simple points. But this is a very important one. Because not only was Peter a fisherman.

But I should show you this evening that he was a very good fisherman. And what is more, I should show you that he loved fishing. More than anything else on this earth until he met Christ. And he loved it with his whole soul.

And it's a great thing when you have a job that you can do well and that you love. I want you to get the moral of that because that's very important. You know what, let's go just for a moment to Luke's gospel.

And we're at chapter 5. Luke's gospel, chapter 5. Verse 1. And it came to pass that as the people pressed upon him. That is, the people pressed upon our Lord Jesus to hear the word of God. And I always think that's wonderful.

Because he just expanded the word of God in people like this. He stood by the lake of Geneva. That's another name for Galilee. And he saw two ships standing by the lake. But the six of them were gone out of them and were washing their necks.

And he entered into one of the ships which was Simon's. And he prayed him that he would push out a little from the land. And he sat down and tossed the people out of the ship. He just got the ship a little bit out from the shore just to keep the crowd from pushing him about.

And he tossed them out of the ship. Verse 4. Now when he had left, speechingly said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a drought. Now Simon looked at them once or twice. Once he tried to paint this picture.

He hardly knew what to do just now. I'll read you what he said first. Now first. And he hath told all night and hath taken nothing. You see he was a great fisherman. And there have been all night. And that's the time you catch fish.

You catch them in the night time. And I had the great privilege in life of having a mission for 16 weeks in Portobogi. And I went out with the fishermen almost every night. Because they had 70 boats in those days.

And they would stop at 12 o 'clock midnight. And I would be allowed to preach over the video to all the fishermen on these boats. I think I can safely say before the Lord that about 70 of them were saved in the 16 weeks.

So I know something about fishermen and their ways. And you see you catch fish at night quite easily. But you see our Lord is by his sea of Galilee. It's his day time and he's preaching to the clouds.

And then he turns to Peter and he says. Launch us into the deep and let down your nets for the blast. And he's almost bumping into the professionalism of this great fisherman. Now he doesn't want to be too rude to the Lord.

And he doesn't want to say look you're talking nonsense. We've tried all night and we couldn't let fish until he can't get them through the boat. But he didn't do it like that. But you can see his professionalism coming out just again in the answer.

Because this is what the answer is. The answer is not to have burned around the night and have taken nothing. Never the less. All right. At five o 'clock they let down the nets. And you're asked to think of thousands of common papers of thought.

That he's obeying the law. Not the bishop. I just read a commentary today and I think he would pay about twelve pounds for it. And he says you know he's submitting to the sovereignty of the Lord. Even though he's a great fisherman.

I'm not in the Lord and there's nothing I can do. Now let me read it properly to you. Here's what the Lord said. Lunge out into the deep and let down your nets. And there is a net there. Because he's booked coming three or four nets.

So you'll see in the text. And the exorcist stomped Simon whenever he said that. Because he's such a good fisherman. If the monk should just fight with the Lord. He just tossed his stomach. The monk stood there and fell down the net.

He was kicking mud. He never the less. I know. I will let down the nets. He has no notion of letting down the nets. That's disobedience. That's what we say out of courage. We pretend. So obey the Lord.

And you don't even talk a little bit. It's just a pleasure to let down one net. I'm letting down your nets. Now just watch what happens. When they have this done. They encourage the great multitude of fishers.

On their net. Break. No wonder. I'll be obeying the way he should have obeyed. The net down the net. There would be no breaking. The Lord wouldn't break the net on you. It's your own disobedience that makes you a loser.

They lost don't they. Because they thought they were clever. Didn't make a matter of what profession you were in. Don't you ever think that you know better than the Lord. Because you'll lose if you do.

They lost the net. He wouldn't do that on you. You know this was disobedience. Now watch this. They doubled on to their partners which were in the other ship. That they should come and help them. And they came and turned the ship.

So that they began to teach. All the work left to a fishbearer. All the marks to look to. He was on the job of course. And though the great fisherman thought he knew everything. He also had more sense.

I'll tell you how I know that he was wrong. There is so much he does catch. It fell down at Jesus knees saying. He popped from it. For I am a sinful man. Oh Lord. If you never knew about his terrible sinfulness.

It's easy. You are a blunder. He shouldn't have done it Lord. He should have obeyed you. I'm just trying to show you that he was a fisherman. I'm trying to show you he was a great fisherman. He knew you know.

The rules of fishing. It doesn't make a matter of any rules you know. Don't keep me arguing about the Lord about things. He knows better than you. Always remember he knows better. Now watch this again.

Peter Returns to Fishing After the Resurrection

We are at John Gospel. And we are at John Gospel. The very last chapter. Chapter 21. This one doesn't get the proper connection. After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the scene of Tiberius.

And it's another name for Galilee. Sometimes it's called Genevieve. And sometimes it's called Galilee. And sometimes it's called Tiberius. The little town that's right beside it is called Tiberius. And on this line children and folks.

They were together silent in turn. Thomas called Edima from Nathaniel of Canaan Galilee. And the sons of Zebedee. Two other it is disciples. They were all there. Simon Peter said unto them. I call a fishing.

You see what's going on do you? Cause you know we're going to learn in a moment. That he was called away from the fishing. Three and a half years before this. The Lord came along the shore one day. And called them into full time service.

Wanted to leave their nets and call them in. And people fell in love with the Lord that day. And left all in the power of Jesus. But there was always. Way in the back of that big heart. There's always a love for the fishing.

And when he's up. He stops a little bit. He's weeping on the Lord's ears. After resurrection day. And the Lord has promised to come. He's seen them up in Galilee. And they're walking up and down the shore.

And they're weeping. And he gets frustrated. He used to say. He still likes that. He just comes along and says. I'm going back for a fishing. They took their nets and went back for a fishing. And I'll tell you this.

They called all night again and did nothing. Cause you know you're not going to make a success of that. If the Lord has called you away from it. Oh I had the best job in this country. Working with the best man that ever walked in shoe leather.

And the day the Lord called me away. I cried. And he cried. I said. Man you don't think I'm falling out do you? I just love the Lord that every year. He said. You go and try it. And if it doesn't succeed.

The job will be here for you. Just come in and take the job. Don't ask me for it. And he said. It'll never be that. And he never started another man in my place. He's dead and gone. There wasn't a chance of me going back.

Never mind about the frustrations and the thorns. And everything else. Oh no. Let's go on and let's go to him. But what's this you know? There's a fishing here. Simon Peter said unto them. I'll go fishing.

And they said unto him. We shall go with thee. Went forth and entered into a ship immediately. But mate they caught nothing. And in the morning as my son Jesus stood on the shore. Isn't that lovely? Oh yes here they are coming in.

I can see them coming in through the fog. And they're cold and tired. And disappointed. Undefeated. And bone cast. Undetached. And the dust of us get like that. Down here. You're here. And you may be depressed at times.

Jesus Meets the Disappointed and Fearful

The Lord will be on the shore looking for you. On the shore of your depression. Take your time and look round you. And somewhere in the shadows. You'll find him. He's not like the rest of us you know.

The rest of your friends if you did this on them. They'll run away and leave you. You're standing on the shore. You just knew these boys you know. Just loved them didn't you. And why don't we learn to love one another.

See these souls sometimes. Coming in and tears in their eyes. And just trembling. There's something bothering us. We need somebody to love us. By God. Some of the religious rats we have. They wouldn't know what made us hit her.

Dear. Don't be boring about men. Jesus will be on your shore. Standing on the shore. Look how wonderful friend he is. Oh I must go on with this. I've got to lose time but I can't help it. Before. When the morning was now come.

Jesus stood on the shore but. The disciples knew not that it was Jesus. They couldn't see him properly. Then Jesus said unto them. Children. Have you any leeks? They answered him. No. He said unto them.

Cast the net. Get the word now. There's no way I'll cut it now is there. Oh no. You should learn to read you know. Some of you clever clerks. That can read. You can read fast. Beware you'll miss the things.

If you were as stupid as me. You'd have to take your time with it. Yes. I think that's how you get on. You know. Just because you're dense. What a school I went through. Wasn't it. Irish it was. Yes. Great.

Yes. He said unto them. Cast the net. On the right side of the ship. And ye shall find. They cast therefore. And now they were not able to draw it. For the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved.

That was John. He said to Peter. It's the Lord. Now he knew that. Because he was quick you know. He says you know. Just the way the fish went into that net. Peter. It's the Lord. That's the Lord. I'm not sure.

That's the way the Lord does things. He was revealing himself to them. Through the old net. But will you see this. They pulled out the table. And Jesus loved. Said to Peter. It was the Lord. And when Simon heard that it was the Lord.

He got his fishes caught. On to him. When he was naked. And cast themselves into the sea. And the other disciples came. In the middle ship. For they were not far from land. But as it were. Two hundred cubits.

Dragging the net with fishes. As soon as they were come to land. They saw a fire of coals there. They don't ask me where he got the coals. What would I know. I just know he made a fire of coals. He knows.

Just where the coals are. The thing that he knows where the fish are. The Lord was talking about you know. He knows all about this thing. He don't worry about what he knows. He knows it all. So he gathered the coals.

Fancy the Lord lighting the fire in the morning. Isn't it wonderful. Shows how wonderful he is. As soon as they were come to land. They saw a fire of coals there. And fish lived there on. They couldn't get the fish.

He had already got the breakfast. And bread. Making the breakfast. Jesus said unto them. Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up. And drew the net to land. Full of great fishes.

One hundred and sixty and three. In this net. One hundred and fifty and three great fishes. And for all there were so many. Yet was not the net broken. Did he get of it. Because if you do as you are told.

The net will break. If he says net. It's ok. If he says net. And you say net. It is not ok. Why a hundred and fifty and three now. You see I was up Tiberius for a day or two. One morning I went down the steps.

Stepped into a little fishing boat. Where there was a great big. Husky fisherman. A Jew. And I said hello. He said you're Irish. I said you're right. Always safe to say you're Irish. When you're away from home.

I said I want to ask you a question. About. A hundred and fifty and three. He said it's mighty you know. He said they tell me. And I think it has been proved. Once or twice. That in this great sea of Galilee.

There are one hundred and fifty. And three different. Kinds of fish. So if this was a miracle. It's a sort of super miracle. Because the Lord didn't only fill the net. With a hundred and fifty and three.

But he took one of each kind. And put it in. Only the Lord can do that. That's really wonderful you know. You see. Peter was a great fisherman. Loved the fishing. Though he was called away from it one day.

Peter's Family and Personal Background

We're going slow just now. Let's go to Luke's gospel. Chapter forty. Gospel by Luke. And we're at the fourth chapter. Preaching in the synagogue. Here. Verse thirty. And he arose out of the synagogue.

And entered into Simon's house. Now he was a Jew. He was a fisherman. He had a house here. And Simon's wife's mother. Was taken. With a great fever. And they besought him for her. And he soothed her. And it left her.

And immediately she arose and ministered unto them. Or to just prove he was married. Because the scholars believe that at this point of time. He was somewhere about forty years of age. I'm trying to build the students.

That came into the school. I'm terribly slow at it. I think the Lord wanted to say something to some people in the meeting. I've just got to do what the Lord wants me to do. I'm not worried about the notes or anything else.

I want you to see this student that came into the school. I want you to see that he was a Jew. No questions. I want you to see he was a fisherman who loved the fishing. Loved it. Almost as much as he loved the Lord.

Not just quite. We'll prove that before long. I want you to take note he was married. Sometimes when I talk to the Roman Catholic Theologians. They say Peter was the first Pope. And I say well he was married.

What have you got to say about this? And they don't like it. Because the Popes are not married. Let's get it quite clear that Peter was married. And the Roman Catholic Church can do nothing about it. Only lick their sores.

Peter's Boldness Before the Sanhedrin

I want you to get the whole of that. I want you to notice this a little bit. Let's go through the Acts of the Apostles chapter four. Because we must build a bit more of this man just now. The Acts of the Apostles.

And we're at the fourth chapter. And this is the place where he had to stand before the Sanhedrin. That's the old Jewish council. He was arrested here. Brought before the Jewish council. First time it came to pass on the morrow that their rulers and elders and scribes and Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander all these names are a special figure of speech in the Greek language.

See we must get them all in. Says their rulers and elders and scribes and Annas the high priest and Caiaphas. I can't understand that properly. Because Caiaphas was the high priest that year. Do you remember at the trial it was Caiaphas.

Actually there was a row in the Sanhedrin. There were two high priests. There were juggling one another up. Here like Callaghan and Mrs. Thatcher. She'll do them in one of these days. Well there were two high priests here anyway.

And the Holy Ghost has recorded it for us. And I'm pointing it out to you. Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest were gathered together in Jerusalem when they had set them in the midst they asked by what power or by what name had you done this?

They're questioning Peter and John about the miracle, wonderful miracle of the man who was laid at the beautiful gate of the temple. And this is when I love Peter most. He stepped forward. Likely to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

We are apt to criticize him at times. Said unto them ye rulers of the people and elders of Israel if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man by what means he has made whole be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom he crucified, whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you all.

This is the stone which was set at mock of you builders which has become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Now when they saw the goodness of Peter and John and perceived they were all learned and ignorant men these fellows in the Sanhedrin in the old Jewish council they were all scholars, Hebrew scholars were all men of letters but these men before them on their own wanted to see this man that's coming into the school he's a Jew he's a fisherman he must have rough hands.

There's a book written and it's called The Big Fisherman and I think that's the proper title because he was big in everything he did when he did a blunder it was a big one. We'll come to the blunders too don't make any mistakes.

I want you to get the whole of this. He's a Jew, he's a fisherman, he's a married man. He's a non-lettered man. He was a saint man. Oh you wonder why I put that in too because I'll tell you that I was preaching in a certain place and an old doctor of law said to me I don't like this word saved and I wouldn't like to tell you all the things I said back in that second.

Of course these old fellows don't like the word saved. He said to me this is a north of Ireland word. This is the only part of the world you hear this word saved. They're always talking about getting saved in the north of Ireland.

Hallelujah. I said this is not the north of Ireland word at all. This is a New Testament word. Sir I would like to tell you that Peter used this word more than anybody else. He said he never used it once.

I said you know to pity of you, you know you have a big head but there must be a great bit of space with nothing in it. There's no use of me having a love without having a real love. Sure. You know when Elijah got the boys all before him he really took it out on them.

I learned from this book. You know that I don't think I should be soft with an old fellow who's talking nonsense. When I know it's nonsense. So I said to him let's have a look at this book. See chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostles.

Well we're not the deus ventricles. Peter got filled with the Holy Ghost on this day. And you know he preaches this mighty sermon. And three thousand souls were saved. And this is what it says. Peter says verse 17.

And it shall come to pass in the last days that God I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. And your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my spirit and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath blood and fire and vapour and smoke.

The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and notable day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I said did you miss that bit as you went through. Because that happens to be the heart and core of the tenth Apostle sermon. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Of course Peter used this word.

Sure. We just read when he stood up before the Sanhedrin that he said neither is there salvation in any other. For there is none other name on the heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Yes you will find that when he has to answer back to the Judaizers.

He said the angel came and the vision was given. And I was told to go to the house of Canaanus and preach words whereby they might be saved. Oh I couldn't go on with it. You know imagine an old teller standing up and saying it's a North of Ireland word.

There are some mobs who would swallow that. I don't let these fellows off of it. This is below me. These modernists would need to be dealt with. You're not allowed to say things like these. This is a scriptural word.

I want you to get that now. What I think we'll do. We'll stop there and then we'll go on. You better keep these notes for next week and we'll take the time to do it properly. I won't finish all this if I go on like this.

But I'm sure God has said what he wants to say just now. And we'll see the student in the school and we'll go on with the rest of it. Let's bow together before the Lord. Lord we bow at thy feet tonight.

We thank thee that thou art the God of all grace. Thou art taking the things which are not and the weak things and the base things and the foolish things to bring to naught the things that are. Oh God we thank thee for calling Peter into the school.

This big fisherman this Jew this man who was married this man who was unlearned but this man who was truly saved. Oh God. Help us to see the material that you take up and help us to see in the nights to come the mighty things that thou can do.

Yea Lord just by thine own power and by thine own grace. Lord we come to thank thee for thyself tonight. Thank thee Lord that we believe that God has been speaking to someone in this meeting about standing on the shore of their depression and their fear and their disappointment.

Lord help them to come on into the shore and put their arms around thee and we know that thou wilt bless them. Oh Lord part us in thy fear. Take us to our homes in faith today and may thy great name be glorified through us.

For thy name's sake. Amen.