Why Does Peter Get the Keys?
Saint Peter is a significant figure anywhere you travel throughout Europe always holding a set of keys. These keys are not just a spare set to the house; they are the keys to heaven, the ones that open the gates to an everlasting life. What makes this saint so special compared to others and why does Peter get to hold the keys to the kingdom?
Peter didn’t always hold the keys to heaven. Before he was a disciple he was a fisherman and was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. Jesus blessed Peter with a multitude of fish and Peter fell to the feet of Jesus acknowledging him as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It was at this point that Jesus said, Mathew 16:13-19“You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church…” He added: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be lost in heaven.” Jesus made Peter into a fisher of men and in trusted in him many things, giving him a great deal of responsibility.
It was for good reasoning of course that Jesus chooses Peter because he was an obedient and faithful follower of him. Peter is reordered in the Bible more than any other disciple. He stood by Jesus during the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and in the Garden of Gethsemane while Jesus prayed. He helped organize the last supper and defended Christ when the guards came to arrest Jesus, cutting off the right ear of a guard. All of these events took place before the crucifixion of Christ. When Jesus arose from the grave he gave Peter a command saying, John 21:15-19“Feed my lambs… Tend my sheep… Feed my sheep.” Jesus was referring to us; the people as his sheep and Peter went on to obey his command. Immediately after this it becomes evident in Acts that he becomes the head of the Apostles.
Peter’s first act of business after taking on this role was appointing the replacement of Judas. When Peter spoke to the crowds, he was the first apostle to perform miracles in the name of the Lord. Among these miracles there are three very popular ones that converted many people. The fist takes place in Acts 3:7. “Peter and John went to the Temple… as they approached, a man lame from birth was being carried in… he asked them for money… and Peter said, “Look at us!.. I don’t have any silver or gold for you but I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene get up and walk!..He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the temple with them.” After the healing of this man many people were amazed by the power of the Lord and Peter went on preaching to them making more wonderful things happen as many people were saved.
Not only did Peter heal people with his words but he was so in tuned with God that people sad that his shadow even healed them. Acts 5:15-16 “so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were healed.” It is so amazing that God has the ability to heal people through someone like Peter who loves the Lord with all of his heart. Knowing the unlimited powers of God doesn’t put a doubt in my mind that he enabled Peter to perform more miracles.
God also raised a woman from the dead through Peter. Acts 9:36-45, “At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha… This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds… But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. ..they sent two men to him… Then Peter arose and went with them…and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.” The death and resurrection of this woman also led many people to Christ, changing the hearts of many to love the Lord.
Although God used Peter to heal the sick and raise the dead, he also used him to render judgment on two people who were deceitful and punished them with death. Acts 5:1-11 “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, had a possession…and he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last.” Peter also spoke to his wife asking Sapphira, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” It is such a bold and scary thing for Peter to say to these two people and put them to death. It is God’s will though because as a world full of sinners we must fear the Lord and know not to deceive him. This was a lesson to people of that time that instilled the mind of obedience and an attitude to be pure before the God we worship.
Peter may come across as such a man that he could almost be inhumane because of the miracles he was performing. One thing to remember is that Peter always performed in these miracles in the name of God! Peter also struggled with his faith just as much as any other person. For example, When Jesus walked on water he told peter to walk toward him and peter began to question and fall into the water. This shows that Peter also struggled in believing or putting all of his faith into Jesus at times, just like we do. Peter also denied Jesus three times after he was crucified just as Jesus had prophesized. We all sin and we all make mistakes’. We see by these stories in the Bible that Peter was a man just like any of us. Jesus picked Peter because he was a simple man with a good heart. The important thing was that he always tried to do the right thing and follow Jesus and be obedient to him.
Peter was so obedient that one would think that A Godly man such as himself would live a life of luxury after performing these amazing miracles for people and spreading good news to them. However, his life became quite the opposite as Christians were constantly being persecuted and martyred for their faith. He was imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa but an angel rescued him and he continued preaching the gospel. There is no doubt that God continued to protect him as he endured many hardships from people who disagreed with him. Even his family was martyred for their faith as his daughter Petronilla who is also named a Saint, was killed for her beliefs.
Peter spent his last day being imprisoned once again for his faith in the jail of St. Clement. His sentence was death which would believe one to think of his time as a great reflection and sorrow. Peter did not take time to blubber in self pity; he continued to convert people to Christianity even in these horrible circumstances. Guards and sell mates saw this light in him and heard his words and were changed men in the Lord. He transformed the cell by making it a place of God, where two jailers; Processus and Martinianus, became Christians and desired to be baptized by Peter. The problem was there was no running water in the cell. Peter took a staff and struck the stone in the floor and water began to pour out of the rock! Even in his last days Peter was able to perform miracles, convert people, and stay uplifted in the love of the Lord.
After all of these amazing miracles and a life that would well be rewarded in heaven, it was inevitably the time for Peter’s death sentence. Even in death Peter showed his awe and respect for the Lord as he asked to be crucified upside down because he didn’t believe he was worthy to die the same way the Jesus did. I can only imagine that being crucified upside down would be twice as worse and am amazed once again by Peter and his heart for God.
After learning so much about Peter I see how it is only right to constantly be reminded of him by his statues, basilicas, and paintings. He is a man who changed the lives of many in Rome as well as all over Europe to where he traveled. He performed amazing miracles and should always be remembered for his obedience to God, his loyalty to him, his amazing heart, his kind spirit, and his great faith. I am glad that he holds the keys to the city because I look forward to the day when I meet him and he lets me in to worship the one we both love and call our God.
Peter didn’t always hold the keys to heaven. Before he was a disciple he was a fisherman and was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. Jesus blessed Peter with a multitude of fish and Peter fell to the feet of Jesus acknowledging him as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It was at this point that Jesus said, Mathew 16:13-19“You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church…” He added: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be lost in heaven.” Jesus made Peter into a fisher of men and in trusted in him many things, giving him a great deal of responsibility.
It was for good reasoning of course that Jesus chooses Peter because he was an obedient and faithful follower of him. Peter is reordered in the Bible more than any other disciple. He stood by Jesus during the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and in the Garden of Gethsemane while Jesus prayed. He helped organize the last supper and defended Christ when the guards came to arrest Jesus, cutting off the right ear of a guard. All of these events took place before the crucifixion of Christ. When Jesus arose from the grave he gave Peter a command saying, John 21:15-19“Feed my lambs… Tend my sheep… Feed my sheep.” Jesus was referring to us; the people as his sheep and Peter went on to obey his command. Immediately after this it becomes evident in Acts that he becomes the head of the Apostles.
Peter’s first act of business after taking on this role was appointing the replacement of Judas. When Peter spoke to the crowds, he was the first apostle to perform miracles in the name of the Lord. Among these miracles there are three very popular ones that converted many people. The fist takes place in Acts 3:7. “Peter and John went to the Temple… as they approached, a man lame from birth was being carried in… he asked them for money… and Peter said, “Look at us!.. I don’t have any silver or gold for you but I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene get up and walk!..He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the temple with them.” After the healing of this man many people were amazed by the power of the Lord and Peter went on preaching to them making more wonderful things happen as many people were saved.
Not only did Peter heal people with his words but he was so in tuned with God that people sad that his shadow even healed them. Acts 5:15-16 “so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were healed.” It is so amazing that God has the ability to heal people through someone like Peter who loves the Lord with all of his heart. Knowing the unlimited powers of God doesn’t put a doubt in my mind that he enabled Peter to perform more miracles.
God also raised a woman from the dead through Peter. Acts 9:36-45, “At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha… This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds… But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. ..they sent two men to him… Then Peter arose and went with them…and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.” The death and resurrection of this woman also led many people to Christ, changing the hearts of many to love the Lord.
Although God used Peter to heal the sick and raise the dead, he also used him to render judgment on two people who were deceitful and punished them with death. Acts 5:1-11 “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, had a possession…and he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last.” Peter also spoke to his wife asking Sapphira, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” It is such a bold and scary thing for Peter to say to these two people and put them to death. It is God’s will though because as a world full of sinners we must fear the Lord and know not to deceive him. This was a lesson to people of that time that instilled the mind of obedience and an attitude to be pure before the God we worship.
Peter may come across as such a man that he could almost be inhumane because of the miracles he was performing. One thing to remember is that Peter always performed in these miracles in the name of God! Peter also struggled with his faith just as much as any other person. For example, When Jesus walked on water he told peter to walk toward him and peter began to question and fall into the water. This shows that Peter also struggled in believing or putting all of his faith into Jesus at times, just like we do. Peter also denied Jesus three times after he was crucified just as Jesus had prophesized. We all sin and we all make mistakes’. We see by these stories in the Bible that Peter was a man just like any of us. Jesus picked Peter because he was a simple man with a good heart. The important thing was that he always tried to do the right thing and follow Jesus and be obedient to him.
Peter was so obedient that one would think that A Godly man such as himself would live a life of luxury after performing these amazing miracles for people and spreading good news to them. However, his life became quite the opposite as Christians were constantly being persecuted and martyred for their faith. He was imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa but an angel rescued him and he continued preaching the gospel. There is no doubt that God continued to protect him as he endured many hardships from people who disagreed with him. Even his family was martyred for their faith as his daughter Petronilla who is also named a Saint, was killed for her beliefs.
Peter spent his last day being imprisoned once again for his faith in the jail of St. Clement. His sentence was death which would believe one to think of his time as a great reflection and sorrow. Peter did not take time to blubber in self pity; he continued to convert people to Christianity even in these horrible circumstances. Guards and sell mates saw this light in him and heard his words and were changed men in the Lord. He transformed the cell by making it a place of God, where two jailers; Processus and Martinianus, became Christians and desired to be baptized by Peter. The problem was there was no running water in the cell. Peter took a staff and struck the stone in the floor and water began to pour out of the rock! Even in his last days Peter was able to perform miracles, convert people, and stay uplifted in the love of the Lord.
After all of these amazing miracles and a life that would well be rewarded in heaven, it was inevitably the time for Peter’s death sentence. Even in death Peter showed his awe and respect for the Lord as he asked to be crucified upside down because he didn’t believe he was worthy to die the same way the Jesus did. I can only imagine that being crucified upside down would be twice as worse and am amazed once again by Peter and his heart for God.
After learning so much about Peter I see how it is only right to constantly be reminded of him by his statues, basilicas, and paintings. He is a man who changed the lives of many in Rome as well as all over Europe to where he traveled. He performed amazing miracles and should always be remembered for his obedience to God, his loyalty to him, his amazing heart, his kind spirit, and his great faith. I am glad that he holds the keys to the city because I look forward to the day when I meet him and he lets me in to worship the one we both love and call our God.
Bibliography
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"Acts 9:36-45 - Passage Lookup - New International Version, ©2010 - BibleGateway.com." BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 100 Versions and 50 Languages. Web. 25 Nov. 2010. <http: version="NIV" search="acts">.
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"Comment Script." Paint Art, Gallery Art ,Painters ,Picture, Image. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http:>.
"File:Apse Mosaic Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls.jpg." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http:>.
"Mamertine Prison In Rome Apostles Paul and Peter." Church of Christ Zion, Illinois Bible Class Books, Bible Land Photographs, Free Sermon Outlines. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. <http:>.
"Mamertine Prison In Rome Apostles Paul and Peter." Church of Christ Zion, Illinois Bible Class Books, Bible Land Photographs, Free Sermon Outlines. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http:>.
Unkown. "St. Peter's Life Story." St. Peter's Parish Opening Page. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http:>
