What's in a name?

January 23, 2009

The life of Jesus. Read Today: The 1st disciples; John 1:35-51

John 1:42 (The Message)

40-42Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John's witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, "We've found the Messiah" (that is, "Christ"). He immediately led him to Jesus.

Jesus took one look up and said, "You're John's son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas" (or Peter, which means "Rock").

It might have been interesting to live in the time of Jesus. He was not afraid of walking up to them and changing them. He has not changed either, it is just harder for us to do it because we cannot see him.

But I go off track. Here is Simon. He is the son of a person named John. His name is from the name of one of the sons of Israel. It means hear. That is not going to work for Jesus. No, he cannot have someone who just hears. He needs an anchor for His church that He knows will be coming. What is an anchor like, a rock. So Jesus looks at Simon and tells him you are no longer hear, you are a piece of the rock.

I sometimes think that as we became Christians, that we should take on a new name, to show the difference between what we were and what we are. I see there would be no benefit to it unless the name came from Jesus.But I sometimes wonder if Jesus could give me a name, what would it mean? What would yours be? What does it mean?

Read for tomorrow: The 1st miracle - turning water to wine; John 2:1-12