He Changed My Name!

Simon Peter

We have a good record in Scripture of the life of Simon Peter and I know its all there for good reason. We see him in his chosen vocation, a fisherman. We see him as the brother of Andrew. We see him as a married man with respect toward his mother-in-law. We see him as a strong individual who gravitates toward leadership in groups. He’s not a back row, silent, or timid man. He’s determined to take charge, make decisions, stay committed, involved, and lead others. We see him as an individual deeply insterested in the things of God.. But in his early days he is self-sufficient, self-motivated, and oriented toward self-preservation. Later this all changes. But for today we are goin to look at Simon Peter’s first encounter with Jesus in John 1:35-51.

Jesus had just been baptised by John the Baptist in the Jordan river. Those present witnessed the unique baptism of Jesus where the Holy Spirit comes upon Him like a dove and a voice from heaven declares, “This is my Son in whom I’m well-pleased.” (Mattew 3:17)

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.. And the tempter came and said to Him...” From this point we know that Satan tried to cause Jesus to yield to His flesh three times, but failed. At the end of this series of attacks Jesus said to the devil, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”

During this time or soon after we read in the Biblical record that John the Baptist was still drawing large crowds and baptising in the Jordan. Some of the Jews alerted the religious leaders and some of the priests and Levites came to see evidence of John’s claims, (John 1:19ff).

John confessed that he is “not the Christ.” He is not Elijah and he is not the Prophet. They asked, “Then who are you?” He responds, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’ [Isaiah 40:3]. They questioned why he was baptising is he is not CHrist, Elijah or the Prophet. He siad “I baptize with water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, the thong of who’s sandles I am not worthy to untie.”

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and he said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” John continues to declare that Jesus is the Son of God. It is likely the religious leaders are not present at this time. But among those present were two disciples of John who were led to follow Christ. One of those who heard John speak was Andrew the brother of Peter.

What I’ve shared so far is a remarkable thing about the power of a tetimony to the things of Christ. What do you know about Jesus? What did others tell you that led you to be a Believer? How important is a testimony? We know the first two disciples were won by the testimony of John the Baptist (v36). Peter was won by the tetimony of his brother, Andrew, (vv.40-42); Philipi by an invitation from Jesus (v43); Nathaniel by the testimony of Philip (vv.46-47). Each acknowledged that Jesus is the Messiah (vv.41, 45, 49) primarily on the basis of John’s testimony. They did not become permanent or ‘official’ followers of Christ at this time since two returned to their occupation as fisherman. Peter was one of those.

These followers of Jesus did not yet fully understand the significance of Jesus’ ministry. They would not have known yet that John the Bptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets. and following Jesus would be difficult to understand until after the resurreection of Christ from the dead.

Notice in verse 37, “the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.” They had not yet been called. Were they curious, convicted, courageous, seekers or called? We only know that as hey followed Jesus, He turns around and notices them following him and asks, “What do you seek?”

This gives us the beginning of a relationship with Christ. We know very little but we seek to know Him, Jesus Christ.

When we look carefully at verse 42 we find Jesus speaking to Peter and saying, “You are simon the son of John (Jonas); you shall be called Cephas (which translated means Peter).”

The next day Jesus began calling His disciples saing, “Follow me!” Each follower has a story - a testimony of how Christ impacted their lives. Today, I am here because of the impact of changed lives - people who were walking in the ways of the world, sought the Lord, and were delivered from their sin and followed HIm. I am here, because the Lord, “He changed my name from loser to winner; He changed my name from dead to alive; He changed my name fogiven forever, and now I know in Christ I’ve been crucified.”

We’ve been invited today to the Lord’s table to be reminded of what He has done for us. Jesus “took bread and when He had given thanks , He broke it, and said, ‘This which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (take and eat) “In the same way He took the cup also, after supper saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it, in rembrance of Me. For as often as you eat the bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.’”(take and drink). (1 Cor23b-26)

Amen.