The book “Songs of the Deliverer” tells the story of Christ re-imagined in modern day. The book is a work of fiction but the stories and characters are based on the New Testament. These Reflections are written to highlight the Biblical pericopes featured in the second book of the series, Faith Wins, to be published in 2016.
Referenced in Chapter 5
Peter was one of the apostles who knew Jesus best. He was among the first disciples recruited by Jesus when he found him fishing at the river and said:
“Come, follow me. And I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1: 17 – 18)
Like most people of that era, Peter was not an educated man. Yet, he knew what he believed and he believed in Jesus. He overcame fear and doubt and became one of the founding pillars of Christianity. He was truly the rock upon which the Church of Christ was built. Peter commonly expressed his testimony to Jesus in speeches. In fact, it is thought the Book of Mark is a transcription by the author of speeches he heard Peter recite.
There are two letters by Peter included in the New Testament. Even though these were possibly physically written by someone else (Peter says, “with the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you.”), these are Peter’s words given to enrich and strengthen us. And here is what he says about Jesus Christ in his first letter:
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:
See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”(1 Peter 2: 4 – 7)
Peter tells us that the person rejected by society and then arrested, crucified, and killed is the one chosen by God to rescue and redeem us. He introduces the “spiritual house” inherent in us and which we will come to know as the Holy Spirit. Though he was not literate, he eloquently describes the crux of our faith in God in this brief paragraph: Jesus Christ is the cornerstone.
One day, when Jesus traveled with his disciples ministering to the needy, he asked them:
“Who do people say I am?”
Their replies varied from John the Baptist, to Elijah, to one of the other prophets. Then Jesus turned to Peter and asked:
“But what about you? Who do you say I am?”
Peter was not well educated. He was illiterate, of low skills, and of humble circumstances. But he knew the most important thing ever known to man. He knew it in his heart, in his mind, and in his soul. And so this is how he answered Jesus:
“You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8: 27 – 29)
Share this Reflection with friends