(42) And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:42)
Explanation
Simon must have taken Andrew’s witness about Jesus to heart, at least enough to come with Andrew to meet this one he claimed was the Christ. Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, and it was an incredible moment for him.
The scripture says that Jesus “beheld him”. It seems as if this gaze was more than just a glancing, casual look. He sees Simon and knows him. He knew his name, and his background. His current identity was Simon son of John. His new identity would be transformed from who he currently was, to someone who could and would be used by Christ to help build his assembly. The name Cephas is the Aramaic word for stone. The greek word is Petras, the english form being Peter.
Peter wasn’t the foundation of the church. But he was the first to confess what would be the foundation of what Christ was building.
[18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:13-20)
It was and is by rightly identifying who Jesus really is that someone is saved.
Peter confesses this in a moment, and Jesus points again to his name change to show Him that God is transforming Him through revelation of who Christ is.
This transformation is seen even from the events surrounding Jesus death, and his denial of Christ, to his leadership on the day of pentecost and even after in the temple.
In Acts 4, Peter and John are arrested by the very men instrumental in killing Jesus after they healed a lame man.
Here came the questions.
[6] And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? [8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, [9] If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; [10] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. [11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. [12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. [13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:6-13)
Now back to our text today. When Simon comes, Jesus knows him in a moment, and can see who he was to become and how he was to be used. He used this moment to begin to give Simon Peter a hint into the fact that there would be a transformation.
The first time Jesus changed Peters name was not when he made the statement in Matthew 16. It was from the very moment that they met. That transformation from Simon to Peter was happening the whole time. In a sense when we use the name Simon Peter there is a glimpse in that of the transformation that Jesus was bringing.
Do you know what the name “Simon” means? It means “one who hears”.
In this text we know he heard from Andrew, and came to Jesus.
When Jesus referred to his name change later, notice what he says about Peter’s declaration.
[13] When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? [14] And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. [15] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Notice that he is called Simon Peter in this moment. That’s interesting.
It’s also interesting that Jesus tells Simon Peter that what He declared, which would be the foundation of the assembly, was something he heard from God himself.
He heard from God and was transformed.
He went from just being Simon, to being Simon Peter, one who hears, and is transformed into someone that God uses.
Application
Jesus Christ is in the life changing business. It starts with regeneration where someone believes and is born again. In one sense it happens in an instance at the moment of salvation. In another sense God grows us over time conform us into the image of His Son. He transforms us. He declares who we are and then challenges us to live up to what we already are once we are saved. What he did with Peter is what He has done for so many others, and what he wants to do for us.
Response
- Have you put your faith in Christ for salvation?
- How has Christ changed you since you’ve been saved?
- How is Christ changing you now?