June 8, 2020 -- John 1:40-42 -- Renamed by Jesus

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

John 1:40-42 English Standard Version

How well do you need to know Jesus before you tell someone else about Jesus? Some of us hesitate to tell others about Jesus because “we don’t know enough”; other times we might stop ourselves because we wonder “what will the other person think?” Even if we have been Christians for a long, long time we are afraid we’ll face a question we don’t know. Andrew had no such hesitation. He’d met Jesus! He wanted his brother Simon to meet Jesus as well. He had confidence that Jesus would convince his brother of all he needed to know. Andrew was convinced meeting Jesus was enough. What faith he had!

Jesus, when he met Simon, renames Simon. That is powerful. My ESV Study Bible has this footnote: “When God assigns a new name, He is redefining the person and his destiny”. Simon name means “listen” or “hearing”. It is appropriate, he was prepared to hear his brother Andrew. He was open-hearted to the things of God. When Jesus renamed Simon and gave him the name Peter. Jesus did indeed tell him something of what he would become as His faithful follower.

Peter was not rock solid right away. He was the disciple that spoke before he thought. Think of Jesus’ transfiguration, where He became brilliant with glory and Peter blurted out something like “Let’s build tents and live here forever” and the editorial given by the Spirit was “because he did not know what to say for they were terrified” (Mark 9:5-6). He is also the disciple who was more like the sea foaming up shame when he betrayed Jesus. The man on his own was unstable. The man Simon when taken hold of by Jesus Christ and empowered by the Spirit of God was rock-solid Peter.

Peter was the disciple who preached the first Pentecost, Spirit-filled sermon (Acts 2:14ff). Even after that he still has times he wavers and does not show himself to be a rock (think of Galatians 2:11-14 where Paul had to admonish Peter). Yet Jesus’ words prove true, over and over again. Peter has changed from the inside out. It is the glorious impact of Jesus on our lives. His glory, His power, His Spirit shine through us. We are not perfect on this side of heaven, but the beauty and changes wrought in Jesus Christ are taking hold of us. Anyone who knew us before can only credit this change, any positive change in us, to the power of the Spirit of God. In this way, God always receives the glory for whatever correction and glory comes upon us.

Think of what you were before you met Jesus. Perhaps you were John the user. But the name itself has the root meaning: God has been gracious. When Jesus grabs hold of you, that name is proved true. Maybe your name is Ann—Beautiful or Favor; but people hear your gossipy words and think of you unfavorably. When Jesus takes hold of you by His Word and Spirit your beauty is restored and you are favored by Him. The Father in heaven has sent Jesus to take people who were dead in sin and make them alive, responsive to the life that is ours in Christ by the powerful presence of the Spirit. The Spirit moves us by our words and our changed living to be powerful witnesses to the things of God.

Christ Jesus Your glory fills the skies, You are the Sun of Righteousness and in You all creatures and all of creation are changed. Blessed Jesus by Your Word and Spirit let the truth of Who You Are show through every word and action. Forgive us for the times we fall back into our old sinful patterns. Thank You, Spirit of God, for the persistent and glorious gift of Jesus’ forgiveness which You apply to our hearts. Father in heaven, thank You for the love and justice, the righteousness and mercy that meet at the cross of Jesus, Your Son, our Savior. Thank You for Your loving-kindness that is so relentless that You will in Your electing love bring lost and ruined sinners to Yourself, renaming us much-loved sons and daughters!

Today’s prayer opens with phrases from the beautiful hymn “Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies”; I have linked it below. If you link to YouTube page, you’ll see the words there as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjgPTZn4nSY