Grouped around the central figure of Christianity, Jesus the Christ, and inseparably associated with his life work, being closely identified with the most intense experiences of his career, stand a company of disciples or students whose records, as given by the evangelists, command attention. To them the great Teacher gave personal instruction in divine law; in their presence he demonstrated its sacred power; upon them he placed the solemn responsibility of extending and perpetuating the healing knowledge of that law. Though the gospels mention some of these early Christian students by name only, just as an artist outlines striking characteristics of his model by a few broad strokes, in like manner the gospel narrators here and there mark an individuality by a question or by naming some distinctive trait; again, the details of a single incident serve to delineate a character.
Obviously Simon Peter occupied a leading position among his fellow students; all four gospels relate frequent and intimate incidents which specially characterize him. In his early history Peter stands as a type of impetuous zeal without knowledge, assumption without demonstration. To him the Master administered merited rebukes and even stern censure, yet when Jesus asked the disciples that vital question, "Whom say ye that I am?" it was Peter's instant recognition of the divine sonship which won for him the benediction, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona ... upon this rock I will build my church." Also Peter, together with the sons of Zebedee, figured in the most prominent events of Jesus' career. It was he who followed, though "afar off," during the tremendous issues of the crucifixion, and later appeared in the scenes following the resurrection.
Through what seas of human remorse Peter must have passed in remembering the moment of denial! through what periods of humiliation and anguish in recalling his own boastful protests of obedience and loyalty and his subsequent utter failure! Yet it was after his deepest experiences with error that, demonstrating a genuine repentance, he rose to his true studentship and began to reap the reward of his struggles. We find no record that he wasted time groveling in profitless self-abasement. He did not stop to ask whether he was worthy to enter upon the great work of healing, nor did he evidence craven fear of human criticism, or of judgment upon his past sins and failures.
