Reading: John 1

Scripture

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 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 ). John 1:40-42 (NIV)

Observations

What a bombshell! Peter comes to meet the man who his brother thinks is the promised Messiah, and the very first thing Jesus does is change his name. “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas”. These two short sentences must have been pregnant with meaning for Peter. He would change from “one who has heard” to one who is a “rock”.

What must Peter have thought? “Jesus knows my name! Jesus knows something about me that I don't. Jesus can see into my future. He speaks as though he has the authority and the power to transform who I am. There is a purpose for my life that is inextricably linked to this man Jesus. But I hardly know him. And does he really know me? Doesn't he know that I am a sinful man? Is he really the Messiah? Do I trust this man enough to give up everything to follow him?”

Application

The question is, Do I trust this man Jesus enough to give up everything to follow him? It's a decision I made a long time ago, yet in many ways it's a decision I have to make every day, every time I come to him. Do I trust you, Lord? Enough to once again open my heart to you? To forsake everything that would lay claim to my affections and place you again in that number one place in my life?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I choose once again to trust you with my life. I offer you my future. I relinquish my own ambitions and invite you to direct me, and to transform me into your likeness. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24