S160P4 – A man by any other name: Simon Peter
Jn. 1:40-42
One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Simon Peter, the man described as a stone or rock, at times seemed otherwise. When I think of someone who is a rock, I think of someone unmovable. This kind of person would be on my side no matter what. Faithfulness and loyalty are not worries when you have someone behind you who is a rock. Many matriarchs and patriarchs of their families are said to be the rock that holds the rest together. They are foundational to their families, carrying history and wisdom to be passed on to the generations. Yes, Simon Peter was described like this by Jesus, but that might sound strange given a series of events yet to occur. It seems to be a case of Jesus doing what He saw his Father do, which is to look at a man from the inside.
We all know the story. Simon Peter would confess before the other disciples at the last supper that he never would betray Jesus. In fact, he stated that he would follow Jesus to death if needed. At first his zeal overtook him, using a sword to cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest sent to arrest Jesus. Then, things got real. Out of the presence of his Lord and in the face of opposition from the bloodthirsty masses, he caved. Fear surfaced instead of faith. Not once, not twice, but on three separate occasions he denied knowing Jesus, fulfilling Christ’s own prediction. This does not seem like the behavior of someone who is a rock, but Jesus saw the heart within the man.
Peter certainly had the sturdy and steadfast fortitude of the rock Jesus named him. The end of his life was not spent in cushy retirement. He preached Christ until his death, which was an act of martyrdom. He said that he would die for Christ, and he ultimately did. He had not yet reached that level of obedience and devotion when he made that statement, but he would get there. It was grace that caused Jesus to look past the factual circumstances of that moment and call Peter what he would find out he really was, a true stalwart of the faith. Father, thank You for the grace that looks past our imperfections and sees the full spiritual growth within us long before we get there.