There is only one truly great profession, and that is that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God. It was made by Jesus’ apostle, the one he called “Cephas,” also known as Peter (Matthew 16:16).

Whoever walked on water? Peter walked on water. Well, sure, he began to sink after a bit, but there were eleven other guys in the boat who never got out. Peter got out, and he walked on water with Jesus (Matthew 14:28-33). Wow!

Jesus used Peter to proclaim him on that great day of Pentecost (Acts 2). That’s when the Lord initiated the building of his church in earnest and Peter was his job foreman. This same apostle would later be the one Jesus would use to bring the Gentiles into the kingdom by preaching the gospel to Cornelius and his household (Acts 10).

But hold on now; didn’t Peter later get into trouble for separating himself from Gentiles (Galatians 2:11-14), and didn’t Jesus once refer to Peter as “Satan” and accuse him of setting his mind on the interests of men rather than those of God (Matthew 16:21-23)? Yep, same guy.

Peter was also the one who used the violence of the sword to defend Jesus in the garden (Matthew 26:51 & John 18:10), and sadly, he’s also the guy who later cursed and denied that he even knew Jesus; and this while Jesus was on trial for his life (Matthew 26:69-75).

I thank God for “Cephas” and for telling us everything he did, the glorious and heroic as well as the weak and shameful. I read about him, and am comforted by all I see that there is hope for me and you.