Peter the Apostle, son of Jonah and brother to Andrew the Apostle, was by the grace of God strengthened to withstand the hardship of persecution that followed the offense of the Gospel, as a rock stands still and strong against overwhelming assault. A strength and faith that was rewarded one hundredfold by his witness and confession of things hidden and undiscerned by learned men yet given to children, things held by the world as offensive to man… God in the flesh, which Peter declared regarding our Lord, It was at his proclamation of Jesus being the Son of God that he received the Fire of Faith, which Christ passed unto him as seasoning that through his obedience and sacrifice His life and the lives of many others would be sustained not in body, but in communion with Him and the Father (in Spirit). This is the Faith that carried a young fisherman from Bethsaida to the feet of his Teacher and inevitably toward maturity. It was this maturity that the man who was once called Simon received the branch of Peter, the rock whom Christ said He would give authority to bind and to loose on earth that it may be done likewise in heaven. Thus, Peter took up the cross of Christ (a sign of obedience and submission to God), that he should become a sacrifice of faith in the name of Christ Jesus. This grace was passed to him by the Lord not but a short time after being tested. Naturally, the cross of Jesus Christ will always be the test of ultimate sacrifice and discipleship and Peter was no exception. Christ called him to follow him in life and death for which he underwent even with the personal struggle of submission and whole obedience. Peter was made to stand as a leader before his brother apostles having no formal learning of any kind though he was given the promise of the Holy Spirit as his teacher from Whom he delivered the message of Gospel.
