Each week, let’s reflect upon Sunday’s teaching through further exploration…
“Something to Nothing”
Are you ready to let Jesus make your something nothing?
Peter’s something was a big deal, possibly insurmountable in his mind, as senior minister candidate Jonathan Johnson shared with us this past Sunday. How so?
Jonathan reminded us that Peter didn’t start out as Peter. He was first Simon. In Aramaic, the name Simon meant “he has heard.” Upon meeting Jesus, though, a new name was revealed. In John 1:42, Jesus said to him, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas,” which translated to Peter and meant “rock.”
Notice Jesus did not say, “You are now Cephas.” Jesus was speaking of a future time, for He knew the journey this disciple would go on before transforming to the rock that would help establish the early church.
Jesus knew Simon Peter’s impulsiveness.
- He knew when He walked on water that Peter would say, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28). At Jesus’s word to come, Peter walked on the water… until his fear caused him to start sinking and cry out to the Lord for help.
- Jesus knew in the Garden of Gethsemane at His arrest that Peter would draw a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant (John 18:10).
- Jesus knew that mere hours later – on that very same night Peter had impulsively jumped to Jesus’s defense – he would deny Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75).
- Jesus knew Peter would weep bitterly as a result of his repeated denials (verse 75), that he would try to return to his previous life as Simon the fisherman, that he would ballo himself into the sea upon hearing it was Jesus who called to them from the shoreline. (Ballo is the Greek word for “threw” which can translate “to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls.”)
Jesus knew all of that… and still He said, “You will be called Cephas.”
Isn’t it fascinating and encouraging that what we consider colossal weaknesses and failures God can work through to display immeasurable grace, mercy, strength… transformation?
We go on in the New Testament to witness Peter boldly proclaiming Jesus to the crowd present at Pentecost (Acts 2), healing a lame beggar (Acts 3), testifying about the Messiah to the elders and teachers of the law (Acts 4), miraculously escaping from prison after King Herod had him arrested (Acts 12), and faithfully serving the Lord throughout the rest of his days, dying a martyr’s death.
Simon was impulsive, foolishly so at times. Simon was inadequate in multiple ways. But because of the Lord Jesus Christ, Simon was loved, forgiven, and empowered to live faithfully as Peter, the rock – the solid believer whose voice would proclaim Jesus as Messiah to help build the early church.
Perhaps instead of continuously recounting our many flaws, magnifying our incredible weaknesses, and drowning in currents of shame, we should gaze intently at the One who is flawless, strong, and gives grace abundantly.
“When we stare at our problems, they become giants in our eyes. When we stare at God, our problems take on their proper scope and perspective. We are not left to ourselves to find our way home.” That was in my morning study by Kristi McLelland. I read it and thought immediately about Jonathan’s sermon and what he taught us about Peter. May it be an encouragement to you as well. Remember, Jesus didn’t leave Peter in his sea of shame; He called out to him, met Peter where he was, and lifted him out. Our Lord longs to do the same for you.