Peter is a straight shooter, and like Paul, he understands the importance of constantly reminding the saints of the ttruth of Scripture and the great foundational doctrines of the faith. In 2 Peter 1:13, he said, "Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,"
In this life, all who trust in Jesus are surrounded by the truth and protected, or kept by God. Peter is reminded of that day with the resurrected Christ on the seashore. He had failed Christ. Despite the warning Jesus had given, he still denied the Lord three times.
Jesus said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:31-32). But Simon Peter replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death" (v. 33). Then Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me" (v. 34).
Luke 22:54-62 picks up the story: "Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, 'This man was also with Him.' But he denied Him, saying, 'Woman, I do not know Him.' And after a little while another saw him and said, 'You also are of them.' But Peter said, 'Man, I am not!' Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, 'Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.' But Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are saying!' Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' So Peter went out and wept bitterly." Tears of sorrow; tears of repentance!
But that morning on the seashore, the resurrected Jesus restored Peter as an apostle and commissioned him as a pastor. John 21:15-17 says. "So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.'"
With those words, Jesus restored Peter to fellowship and commissioned him as the lead apostle of the church. Then Jesus spoke of Peter's martyrdom. In John 21:18-19 Jesus said, "'Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.' This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me.'"
Surrounded by the truth and protected by God, still Peter knew that in his old age, he would be crucified because of his faith. It would happen in Rome, and he would be crucified up-side-down by his choice. He didn't feel worthy of dying as Christ died.
Many years had gone by since that conversation on the seashore, and Peter was now well advanced in years. He knew it would not be much longer. Therefore, he decided it was time to write the saints and encourage them in their walk with Christ. It was time to write and remind them of God's truth, truth that would both establish them in their faith and prevent them from wandering off that narrow path of righteousness in their hour of testing. Reminded of God's truth, they would be ready to win the battle.
"To stir you up by reminding you" (2 Peter 1:13c). Peter was a devoted shepherd who was faithful to his people because he was loyal to the Lord Jesus. "As long as I am in this tent" (v. 13b) is an image that is familiar. Middle Eastern nomads lived in temporary and portable tents. Peter's body was a temporary tent that God would fold up one day, probably soon, and take him to heaven. In the meantime, Peter would be faithful in doing what "is right" (v. 13a).
Doing what he believed "is right" (v. 13a), or "righteous," which is what the word literally means in the Greek, he wrote to "stir…up" the saints by the truth and to establish them in their faith (v. 13c). He stirred them up by way of reminder. Peter reminded them of the great truths of Scripture to excite them all over again about the things of God.
Peter never tired of teaching and reviewing all the essential themes and doctrines of God's Word. No matter how mature they are in Christ, no matter how spiritually active they are in living the Christian life and reaching out to others, no matter how often they have heard these truths taught, to apply these truths every believer still needs to be reminded of the truth.
The true shepherd wants his people to remember these great truths of Scripture, so he is constantly reminding them over and again of these same teachings. The vast number of great truths and doctrines allows for the teaching to remain fresh and new every time. The result being that we are established in the faith and well-grounded in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The more we are reminded of the truth of God's Word, the closer we learn to walk with Jesus. That is what 2 Peter is all about, and that is why I so often come back to certain themes and doctrines on a regular basis. It is all designed to encourage your growth in the Lord.
Read the Bible through time and again. Never lose sight of the great truths of God and always remain faithful in your walk with Jesus. Amen.
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