MANual Lessons from the “Rock” to the Early Church
Many first-century followers of Christ were suffering and being persecuted for believing in the ways of Jesus Christ. My next post in this year-long journey through The MANual, an NIV Bible for Men, is about the letters attributed to Peter, who knew persecution. Threatened, beaten, and jailed, this apostle knew Christ firsthand so nothing could shake his confidence in the risen Lord. These letters encourage us to the same loyalty to Jesus. Who Was Peter? As I wrote in the post, the MANual Lessons in Matthew, Jesus called four fishermen as his first disciples: Andrew and his brother, Simon Peter, along with James and his brother, John. However, there is some contradiction about who Jesus called first. According to John’s version of the calling (John 1:35-42), two disciples were following John the Baptizer. After hearing Jesus, “the Lamb of God,” the two (one of which was Andrew—1:40) followed Him “and
