A New Name

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). (John 1:35-42 ESV). I can always tell when I receive a telephone call whether or not the other person knows me. If they ask for “Donald” they don’t know me at all. While that is my legal name, I have never been called by that name. Some folks still call me “Donnie,” though they would be from my very distant past, adolescence or young teens. My name is simply “Don.” Sometimes I’m asked if I prefer a title to be used with my name. I’ve always felt like titles are somewhat misleading. While there is a place for the formality of titles, usually they are only used to try and impress others. Our reading today uses a change of name as a focal point. When Andrew brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus, He looked at him and gave him a new name. Jesus didn't do that with other people. He didn't give out new names to all his disciples. But Jesus looked at Simon Peter and gave him a new name, Rock (see John 1:42). I wonder if the others thought, Rock? Is this a joke? What does He mean, "Rock?" When you think of the word "rock," you think of something that is solid and dependable and trustworthy. Peter was hotheaded and impulsive and too quick to speak. Yet when the Bible tells us Jesus looked at Peter, it could be translated to read that Jesus looked right through him. Jesus knew what He was getting with Simon. He knew that Peter would one day let Him down. He knew that Peter would one day deny Him. But He also knew that one day Peter would grow into that new name. He knew that one day Peter would preach the gospel on the Day of Pentecost, and 3,000 people would believe. When God looks at you, He sees potential. Maybe when you look in the mirror, you see only flaws. You see failure. You see problems. But God looks at you a whole lot differently. He sees what He will make you into. And you have great value because He has taken residence in your heart. The Bible tells us, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Your value does not come from who you are, in and of yourself. It comes from who has taken residence in you. The value in us is because God himself has put His signature on our lives.