Are you kidding me?
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 1a)
Not long ago, while on holidays, I ran into a young woman from the first church I pastored. She was only a teenager back then, part of our youth group. She had with her a young infant around one year old. We started to talk and I found out she had married a certain young man from the same youth group. As we continued our conversation, I discovered that her husband was a pastor. In my mind, with my inside voice I blurted out, “Are you kidding me?” He was the least likely person I thought of becoming a pastor. I had the same reaction when I read the first line of the letter we will be journeying through for the next while, 1st Peter. The letter bears his name, and the first line tells us his occupation, “an apostle of Jesus Christ.” Really, an “apostle”! That’s an important, big responsibility position in the church. They are foundations upon which the church is built (Eph. 2:20).
What do you think of when you hear the name and title, “Peter, an apostle”? Do you think of what he used to be – a simple fisherman, the bible describes as “unschooled and ordinary” (Acts 4:13); impulsive and impetuous, making promises he could not keep (remember the whole “I’ll never deny you” thing -Matt. 26:35). He was bold, rough around the edges, spoke before thinking; he even cut a guy’s ear off, for God’s sake! Excuse the pun (John 18:10). I mean the guy had his issues! The least likely person to be chosen as one of the big guys in the church was Peter. But there he was – an Apostle of Jesus Christ! Obviously, God saw stuff in him that he did not see in himself. This is the beauty of grace and the gospel. God doesn’t only see the flaws and weaknesses; He sees the potential with a life surrendered to His moulding and pruning.
Peter’s birth name was Simon, a pretty common name for the era. Through the gospels we see the transition of this man from Simon to Peter. Cephas, a name given by Jesus, which means Peter, actually means rock (See John 1:42). This man, when Jesus met him, was no rock; but Jesus called him that by faith, not seeing what he was but who he would become as he let Jesus lead his life and transform him. Peter was a leader and emerged as one of the “inner three” of Jesus. God used his character and personality, weaknesses and strengths to train him to become who He wanted him to be. Often, when Peter acted like his old self, in those low moments in his life, he was referred to as Simon. But when his leadership and boldness came out, he was referred to as Peter. This is an interesting study in itself! (pick a gospel and follow Peter) At the end of John’s gospel, after denying Jesus three times, Jesus addresses him as Simon for the last time. In the book of Acts, he is Peter the rock! Three years of living life with Jesus – the teaching, the rebukes, corrections, encouragements, prophetic declarations, etc. and Peter was no longer Simon. He was the leader of the church, the rock (see Matt. 16:15-19) who was to lead the church through its beginning and establishment.
The story of Peter is not unique! It’s my story and your story. I am sure people had the same reaction when they found out I was a pastor, or you were now following Jesus and decided to serve the Lord. It’s a story of what God can do with a man or woman of His choosing, His moulding and shaping, and His indwelling power. Life with Jesus is a journey of becoming who God wants us to be, as He chips away the callouses, blemishes, and rough edges. We are incomplete lumps of clay that continually need to enter the Refiner’s fire. The beauty of the whole matter is that because of God’s perseverance and faithfulness, and our willingness to stay on the Potter’s wheel, He transforms us from Simons to Peters. And others get to say about us, “are you kidding me?” in astonishment at God’s power and grace. Praise Him!!!
Have a great week!
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