Hello, My Name is Peter (2)

Introduction

Have you ever been called something and it “stuck”? My brothers used to call me “blister” because I always showed up after the work was done.

Have you ever been told something else about you and you failed to believe it? I once took a test that showed that I was really good at something. Rather than believe it, I doubted the credibility of the test.

I wonder how Peter felt when Jesus changed his name from Simon, son of John (or Jonah) to Cephas (aramaic) which means (Peter), a rock.

Today we want to explore the person of Peter

1. Jesus Knows Who Peter Will Be ()

John 1:42 NIV

And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek

Simon (Hebrew)

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 3. Jesus Gains His First Disciples (1:35–42)

When Peter is brought to him, Jesus assigns a new name as a declaration of what Peter will become. This is not so much a merely predictive utterance as a declaration of what Jesus will make of him.

Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean “rock”

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 3. Jesus Gains His First Disciples (1:35–42)

Here in John 1, however, the focus is much less on what this name change means for Peter, than on the Jesus who knows people thoroughly (cf. vv. 43–51), and not only ‘sees into’ them (cf. 47–48) but so calls them that he makes them what he calls them to be.

Peter in the Gospels

leaves everything and follows Christ ()

listed first among the disciples ()

Peter listed first among the disciples ()

walks on water ()

confesses Jesus as the Messiah ()

with Jesus at the transfiguration ()

denies Jesus ()

Peter denies Jesus

Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah

reinstated by Jesus ()

Peter is reinstated by Jesus ()

Matt 4:18–20; Luke 5:1–11

Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law

Matt 8:14–15; Mark 1:30–31; Luke 4:38–39

Peter is the first disciple named in the lists of the Twelve

Matt 10:2–4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:14–16

Peter is the spokesperson when Jesus is touched by the bleeding woman

Luke 8:45

Peter, along with James and John, at the raising of Jarius’ daughter

Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51

Peter walks on the water

Matt 14:28–31

Peter’s confession after many disciples have turned away

John 6:66–69

Peter asks Jesus to explain a parable

Matt 15:15

Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah

Matt 16:13–19; Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–21

Jesus rebukes Peter

Matt 16:21–23; Mark 8:31–33

Peter with Jesus at the transfiguration

Matt 17:1–9; Mark 9:1–9; Luke 9:27–36

Jesus involves Peter in the questioning of the temple tax

Matt 17:24–27

Peter asks Jesus about the extent of forgiveness

Matt 18:21–22

Peter as spokesman for himself and the disciples, claiming to have left everything to follow Jesus

Matt 19:27–30; Mark 10:28–31; Luke 18:28–30

Peter remembers the withered fig tree

Mark 11:20–25

Peter and John are sent to prepare the Passover meal

Luke 22:7–13

Peter’s response as Jesus attempts to wash his feet

John 13:6–11

Jesus foretells Peter’s denial

Matt 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38

Peter sleeps in the garden of Gethsemane

Matt 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42

Peter attacks the servant of the high priest at Jesus’ arrest

Mark 14:47; John 18:10–11

Peter denies Jesus

Matt 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:55–61; John 18:15–27

Peter is informed of Jesus’ arrival in Galilee

Mark 16:7

Peter runs to the tomb of Jesus to discover that it is empty

Luke 24:12

Cleopas and another disciple learn that Jesus has appeared to Peter

Luke 24:34

Peter catches fish at the encouragement of Jesus

John 21:3–14

Peter is reinstated by Jesus

John 21:15–19

Peter in the book of Acts

leads in prayer and choosing a new apostle (1)

preaches in Jerusalem on Pentecost (2)

imprisoned for preaching (4)

discernment with Ananias and Sapphira (5)

beaten for rebuking Jewish leaders (5)

Peter in the Epistles

vision and meal with Cornelias, a gentile (10)

arrested by Herod and escape (12)

Peter in the Epistles and beyond

biographical information

Relationship with Paul (mutual respect)

encouraging persecuted believers (1 Peter)

Origen (

Clement of Rome on his suffering and death

"...Peter, who, because of unrighteous jealousy, endured not one or two but many trials, and thus having given his testimony went to his appointed place of glory."

crucified upside down (Origen and Eusebius)

Making it real for you and me

Peter wasn’t perfect... and we aren’t either

He dropped like a rock when he saw the waves, yet he endured endless suffering for Christ.

He denied Christ before seemingly insignificant people, yet preached boldly to a huge crowed that crucified Christ just weeks before.

He saw Christ unveiled on the mount of transfiguration, yet didn’t understand many of his parables.

He had a very hard time leaving his past traditions in the past, but he advanced changes the direction of the church in Jerusalem.

How did he do that?

He didn’t back away from trouble

He didn’t over-analyze. He acted immediately and trusted Christ completely.

He didn’t let his weaknesses define him.

He was totally given over to Jesus and following him.

2. Peter Knows Who Jesus Is ()

Matthew 16:13–18 NIV

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

The setting for the great confession - Caesarea Philippi

Caesarea Philippi

Remember what you know to be true

Matthew 16:13–18 NIV

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

site of three different temples. Pan, Zeus, and Herod

a large cave entrance out of which flowed a river

in far northern Israel

Messiah

Matthew 16:16 NIV

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:15–16 NIV

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Matt 16:

2 Samuel 7:14 NIV

I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.

Rock

Matthew 16:18 NIV

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Petros and Petra indicate that Peter, the rock, would become the functioning head of the Jerusalem Church.

petra and petros indicates that the statement was a rock and that Peter, the rock, would become the functioning head of the Jerusalem Church.

check also the specific references to Peter and his formal names.

Note that this doesn’t necessarily confer on Peter the right of the first Pope and the succession of Popes to follow.

Alternate view: the statement was the rock and Christ as the Messiah would be the rock for the Church. (Fits theologically, but not grammatically.)

Gates of Hell

metaphorically as the gates of death. Gates are defensive rather than offenses. What this is saying is that death will not have the power to withstand the resurrection of Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel.

Peter preached to Jerusalem (2), Samaria (8), and the Gentiles (10). He was used as a key to open these peoples to the Gospel and saving power of Jesus, the Messiah.

Making it Real

There are lots of views about who Jesus is. Don’t settle for a smaller, tamer Jesus.

declare his name boldly

Romans 10:9–10 NIV

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

The Church has a call to pound against the gates of hell and rescue those who are fallen and trapped.

Remember that our God is greater than our Enemy.

Conclusion:

God knows who you are and who you are becoming.

Your call is to know Christ - He is the Messiah

Your call is to follow Christ - Declare his reign.