Andrew recognized Him first. He, Peter’s brother, had been curious about the man known as John the Baptizer, so he went down from Galilee to the Jordan River to get a first-hand look at the phenomenon. “The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins”(Mark 1:5).
Andrew listened attentively as John declared, “ ‘I baptize with water … Someone stands among you … He is the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.’ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ ” (John 1:26-29).
Hoping that this was the Messiah, Andrew followed Jesus away from the crowds to the place where He was lodging and stayed with Him for the rest of the day (John 1:37-39). What did Jesus say to the young fisherman? How much did Andrew comprehend?
The following day he raced home and “found his own brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated ‘the Christ’), and he brought Simon to Jesus” (John 1: 41-42). “When Jesus saw him, he said, ‘You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which is translated ‘Peter’)” (John 1:42).
“Everyone calls you Simon, but I’m bestowing upon you a new name, a new identity! Now you will be called ‘Peter.’ ” Peter (Petros) is Greek. Cephas is Aramaic. Both names mean, “The Rock.”
In the next three years Jesus must have often chuckled to Himself, thinking, “Simon is about as solid and stable as a wet noodle… not a Petros.” But, Jesus didn’t rename him because of what he already was. Rather, Jesus called him Peter because of what he would become. By God’s grace, Simon became Peter!
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). If you are a born-again, Bible-believing, Spirit-filled Christian, then you have been made new. You have a new identity. You are no longer who the world sees, but who God is transforming you to become. You are an ever-adopted child of God! An heir to God’s fabulous riches!
Like Peter, you have a new identity!
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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