Mark 13:3-5 (also Matt. 24:3; Lu. 21:7)

As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?”

From Jesus triumphal entry and His cursing of the fig tree, He continued His teaching ministry during His last days in Jerusalem. Here is a list of some of the topics on which Jesus taught.

• His authority—as it was questioned by the Jewish elders
• Three parables
• About paying taxes to Caesar
• No marriage in heaven
• The greatest commandment
• Seven woes on the Pharisees
• The widow’s offering
• Signs of the end times

This last point is where we are now. Jesus was near the temple sitting on the Mount of Olives. Some of His disciples were admiring the temple’s beautiful stones; and then Jesus began to tell them that soon it all would be torn down.

Then Peter (and also James and John and Andrew) were asking Him when these things would happen and what would be the sign of the end of the age. I think Jesus was ready and eager to reveal these things to them; for He spent all of Matthew 24 and 25 (and all of Mark 13, and Luke 21:5-38) speaking in great detail about these things. We have no record during His teaching of any questions or comments from Peter or any of the disciples on this subject of future things. Hence, I imagine that they were intently listening to every word.

Mark 11:20-23 (also Matt. 21:18-22)

As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up.  21 Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.  23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.

Just after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mk. 11:9-11), He went to Bethany to retire (since it was late in the day). Then early in the morning of the next day on their way back to Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry and saw a fig tree. But He discovered that it had no figs on it, only leaves. So, He cursed the tree so that it would die. Well, it wasn’t until the next morning that it was discovered by Peter that the entire tree had withered and died.

(In Matthew’s gospel it suggests that it happened all at once, even the withering of the tree. But I think the text in Mark is more accurate, or clearer as to what happened. The cursing of the tree and its death happened immediately when Jesus cursed it, but I think it wasn’t noticed until the next morning by Peter).

Peter was the one that noticed the withering of the tree and knew that it was caused by Jesus curse on it. Jesus then took the opportunity to give Peter a lesson of faith. Hence, Jesus was keenly aware that Peter needed this faith lesson, and Peter was eager to receive it—just as he did when he tried to walk on water (and he did for a while).

Matthew 17:24-27

When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?”  26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt.  27 “However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”

This event having to do with paying a temple tax was not mentioned at all in the other three gospels. But I think, since Matthew had experience in collecting taxes, he was naturally drawn to this incident. He must have been particularly intrigued by how Jesus responded.

Here Jesus brings Peter into the spotlight, both in a teaching setting and also to see how He would miraculously provide the tax. Notice that Jesus, being God’s Son didn’t think that He should have to pay any tax; but, on the other hand He didn’t want to make a big deal out of it or get into an argument over it. So, nevertheless, He decided just to pay it.

But how He paid it was quite interesting. I personally think that He was in a playful mood and wanted to show Peter a display of His power, and that He was Lord over all of creation, even over every fish in the sea. He decided that the first fish Peter caught would be that fish that would provide the tax. 

Luke 9:28-36 (also Matt. 17:1-13; Mk. 9:2-13)

 Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. 30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, 31 who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. 33 And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — not realizing what he was saying. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

It is interesting that just eight days after Jesus rebuked Peter and said to him, “Get behind me, Satan,” He called Peter (and James and John) to come up to this mountain to pray and to see a wonderful transformation. He held no grudges against the misinformed disciple.

Note that there are a few differences in the gospels of Matthew and Mark: 1) The other gospels say that this event occurred six days later instead of eight; 2) the other gospels did not mention prayer as the purpose of their journey; 3) the other gospels gave slightly different accounts of the transformation; 4) both Matthew and Mark failed to mention that the three men fell asleep (presumably while they were praying) and didn’t fully awaken until the transformation. (I wonder how much of it they missed.)

As for Peter’s responses to this great event; as I stated, he fell asleep and missed part of it. And his mentioning of building three tabernacles is, I suppose, partly a result of his sleepiness, because the text says that he did not realize what he was saying. I think God’s voice out of the cloud did more than anything to bring Peter and his mates to thinking more clearly, and, from then on, to listen more to Jesus. 

Matthew 16:21-23 (also Mk. 8:31-9:1; Lk. 9:22-27)

21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

When Peter revealed who Jesus was—that He was the Messiah, Jesus was quick to warn Peter and the disciples not to tell this to anyone (v. 20). He wanted them to know that it was not His time to be exalted, but rather to suffer and die. It appeared that Peter didn’t like this at all; and he didn’t like that Jesus was saying it. In fact, Peter thought that Jesus was misguided in thinking it, that He ought to think more positively—kinglier, or more like “the Son of the living God” (v. 16).

But Jesus knew immediately that Peter was being influenced by Satan. And He, even for His own sake, had to cut off these wrong, Satanic ideas. It was soon time for Him to suffer and die; and he had to be prepared for it. And Peter and the disciples had to be prepared for it too.

Matthew 14:22-32 (also Mk. 6:45-56; Jn. 6:15-21)

22 Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

28 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.

This incident happened just after the feeding of the 5,000. We don’t know exactly why Peter wanted to walk on the water to Jesus, but we can make some possible guesses. 1) He wanted to make sure it was Jesus and not a ghost. 2) He wanted to experience the miraculous power of walking on the water as He saw Jesus doing; he wanted to be like Jesus; to share His power. 3) He wanted to test his own faith.

In this experiment that Peter put on himself, he found that his faith wasn’t as strong as was required. When he saw the wind he lost his faith and began to sink. Fortunately, he had enough faith to call out to Jesus for help. And then Jesus told him why he did not make it all the way to Him; because he doubted. When he saw the wind and the waves he lost his faith (read James 1:6-8).

We may notice that Jesus did not rebuke Peter for wanting to walk out to Him. In fact, I think Jesus welcomed his desire to want to do it. But it seems that Jesus was disappointed in his lack of faith. I think He wished that he would have made it all the way to Him—just as a father wants to see his child take his first steps toward him and walk all the way to him into his arms.