City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“And I tell you that you are Peter. On this rock I will build My church. The powers of hell will not be able to have power over My church.”

Matthew 16:18 (NLV)

“When they were finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ Peter answered Jesus, ‘Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’ …After Jesus said this, He said to Peter, ‘Follow Me.’”

John 21:15,19 (NLV)

Megan’s Musings

What does your name mean? If you don’t know, go on and look it up, I’ll wait right here. 

Got the meaning? Awesome. How does it make you feel? Does it inspire you to act the meaning?  Have you acted in a manner opposite your name? Simon Peter did. He didn’t feel like a rock after what he did, denying Jesus not once, but three times (Mark 14:66-72) during his darkest hours to save himself, and not even a day before he adamantly declared he would gladly die with Jesus. Simon Peter felt his name should be mud. He had forgotten the name Jesus had given him. 

When Jesus requested a one-on-one with Simon Peter, he probably couldn’t look the Lord in the eye, maybe he stared at the water, waiting for a scolding, or worse. Why did Jesus call Simon Peter by his original name? He did not feel worthy of the name given to him by Jesus. But instead of an “I told you so,” he gets “if you love me, take care of my sheep.” And the same words He said when they first met, “Follow me.” A hypocrite is reinstated as a rock (tends to be God’s specialty, taking our greatest weaknesses and turning it into our greatest strengths), and that rock became part of the foundation of the early Christian church. Interestingly, the name Simon means “reputation,” and the apostle Peter has a reputation for being a rock.

Application

What about you? Have you forgotten your name? Through the cross and resurrection, Jesus has given you a new name: Forgiven. Redeemed. Beloved child. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You through Your sacrifice, my name is now Redeemed. In Your Name I pray, amen.