Simon, the Rock, Peter | Carolyn E. Jacobs

I hope this AI generated image makes you chuckle. It did me. Move over, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Here’s Simon, the Rock, Peter.

The name we’re studying this week is Yahweh Tsuri, The Lord is my Rock.

Tsur means rock, cliff, boulder – a place of refuge and strength.

And Jesus decided to give Simon, Andrew’s brother and John’s business partner, a new name. Peter. (Cephas in Greek.) Rock.

Jesus nicknamed Peter, often the Keystone Kop of the disciples, a Rock.

Chuck Missler used to say Peter’s M. O. was, “Ready, fire, aim.” Throughout the Gospels, we chuckle or cringe as Peter lurches between bravado and bumbling. I relate to him far too well and take comfort in his misbegotten efforts.

With all his mistakes, what did Jesus see in Peter that would make him say, “I’m going to call you Rock?”

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 1:40-42

This occurs when Jesus first meets Peter. Peter hasn’t made any declarations he’ll regret yet. (Think walking on water, the Transfiguration, the denials.) So, again, what did Jesus see in that first meeting?

Peter hadn’t heard John the Baptist speak. But Andrew came and told him, “We have found the Messiah.” Peter came because he believed his brother. What did Peter have that Jesus wants from all of us?

Faith.

When Jesus calls us, he’s not looking for a pedigree or skills or initials after our name. He’s looking for faith.

In Luke 9, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do the people say that I am?” He got lots of wrong answers. But then:

And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” – Luke 9:20

And every one of Peter’s impulsive misstep fades, overshadowed by his faith. Drop the mic.

Just look at what happens to Peter after the Holy Spirit comes on the scene in Acts 2. Bam. Right off the bat, Peter preaches a couple of amazing sermons, and the church rolls explode. People are getting healed right and left. It’s like the Oprah show on giveaway day. “You get a miracle. And you get a miracle. And you get a miracle. Everybody gets a miracle.” He went on to serve the Lord faithfully in the face of persecution and died a martyr’s death by crucifixion in Rome.

Faith + the Holy Spirit = Transformation

Sometimes I wonder what reunions are like in heaven. How did Jesus greet each of those he walked with during his earthly ministry?

After John falls at Jesus’s feet in worship, I imagine Jesus pulling John into the tightest hug ever. There are tears, rocking side to side, Jesus murmuring, “I couldn’t wait for you to get here.”

Remember Mary Magdalene’s iron grip at the Garden Tomb?

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; – John 20:16-17a

I imagine her falling at Jesus’s feet and hugging him around the knees. The Greek word for cling in the verse above means “adhere to.” Mary’s stuck on Jesus. Jesus strokes her hair while she just sobs. He doesn’t topple over since he’s God. After a while, he murmurs, “Okay, that’s good. Let’s get you on your feet.” She’s a hot mess, wiping her nose on Jesus’s dazzlingly white robe.

I imagine Peter kneeling in worship. Jesus stands up from the throne, fists clenched, elbows back, primal yell. Peter mirrors him. They chest bump and bro back slap and grunt, “Hwa, hwa,” with every blow. Then they burst out laughing. The antics go on for a while, and then Jesus throws his arm around Peter’s neck. “Let me introduce you around. Hey, everybody, this is Peter, the Rock.” And the crowd goes wild.

I believe when we see Jesus face-to-face, that first encounter will be deeply personal and individual. But one thing the three reunions above had in common, I’m sure, was Jesus’s heartfelt, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

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