“You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter)
Monday, 21 August 2017
John 1:35 The next day, Yochanan was again standing with two of his talmidim. 36 On seeing Yeshua walking by, he said, “Look! God’s lamb!” 37 His two talmidim heard him speaking, and they followed Yeshua. 38 Yeshua turned and saw them following him, and he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi!” (which means “Teacher!”) “Where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and remained with him the rest of the day — it was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who had heard Yochanan and had followed Yeshua was Andrew the brother of Shim‘on Kefa.
41 The first thing he did was to find his brother Shim‘on and tell him, “We’ve found the Mashiach!” (The word means “one who has been anointed.”) 42 He took him to Yeshua. Looking at him, Yeshua said, “You are Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan; you will be known as Kefa.” (The name means “rock.”)
43 The next day, having decided to leave for the Galil, Yeshua found Philip and said, “Follow me!” 44 Philip was from Beit-Tzaidah, the town where Andrew and Kefa lived.
41 The first thing he did was to find his brother Shim‘on and tell him, “We’ve found the Mashiach!” (The word means “one who has been anointed.”) 42 He took him to Yeshua. Looking at him, Yeshua said, “You are Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan; you will be known as Kefa.” (The name means “rock.”)
43 The next day, having decided to leave for the Galil, Yeshua found Philip and said, “Follow me!” 44 Philip was from Beit-Tzaidah, the town where Andrew and Kefa lived.
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Enter Simon (his given name) Peter, perhaps the most colorful, outspoken, and brashly human of all Jesus’ first disciples. Spoiler alert: no other follower of Jesus except the apostle Paul (who at this point was either a boy in Tarsus or a rabbinical student with Gamaliel in Jerusalem) played as large a role in carrying on Jesus’ mission in the world as this man Simon. So why do we most commonly know him as “Peter”? Read on.
• Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, with big news: “We have found the Messiah.” “John translates “Messiah” into Greek; probably most hearers in the Mediterranean Diaspora, including some Jewish ones, did not know the Hebrew title…. For a people who actively looked for the appearance of the Messiah, this was a joyful and serious message.”* Who first introduced you to Jesus as the Messiah, God’s anointed savior?
• John said Jesus promptly called Simon, not Peter, but Cephas. Cephas “means ‘rock’ in Aramaic, as ‘Peter’ does in Greek. (Cephas is pronounced kay-fas)…. Many people had nicknames, which usually communicated something about the person.” ** Jesus gave Simon a serious nickname, the main name by which we know him today, that meant “Rock,” promising stability and strength. In what ways have you grown stronger or more stable since you started to follow Jesus? What growth do you look forward to in the future?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to discover and live into both the joyful and the serious dimensions of meeting you as the Christ, God’s anointed king. Rule over my life every day. Amen.
* HarperCollins Christian Publishing. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Kindle Locations 239526-239528). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. ** HarperCollins Christian Publishing. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Kindle Locations 239530-239532). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
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Melanie Hill
Melanie Hill is the Guest Connections Program Director at Resurrection.
At the ripe old age of 7 I decided I hated my name. As a young child people would ask me my name, and I would tell them. They would respond by saying "Melody" was such a pretty name. Problem is that Melody, while pretty, isn’t my name. My name is Melanie. This went on for a long time until finally I started writing my middle name as my first name on all my school papers. If no one was going to say it right, I would just change it. To add insult to injury, I found out that my name means dark; clothed in dark; or (this is my favorite) one who dwells in darkness. Doesn’t that sound lovely?
Of course, before long my mom asked why I wasn’t using my first name at school. After telling her my sad story of how no one could say my name correctly and that it had a terrible meaning, she told me why she chose my name. She told me she loved her grandmother, and her grandmother’s favorite character in Gone with the Wind was Melanie Hamilton. She loved that character for being so self-sacrificing and forgiving. Even though the main character Scarlett was a terrible friend to her, she stood by her. She told me how beautiful she thought my name was. Just like that I thought my name was the coolest name in the history of names!
Names have always been interesting to me, particularly the power of a nickname. I’m guessing most of us didn’t have any say in what our parents chose to name us, with only limited ways we could shorten or change it. But a nickname is something else, especially one bestowed on us. For my first fourteen years in ministry I worked as a youth director. I have heard tons of strange, wonderful nicknames. One student stands out, though. Jonathan joined our youth group as a 6thgrader. His first trip with us was to the beach to play in the surf and sand and get to know the new kids. After a few hours of play and swimming it was time for lunch, so we called the kids who were out in the surf to come in. As we gathered them up we saw Jonathan still out in the water; when we motioned for him to come ashore he shook his head. Finally, one of our male leaders swam out to see what was going on. He quickly returned, grabbed a towel and swam back out. Jonathan had lost his swim trunks in the water and there was no way he was coming on shore without them. We finally found them and got him dressed. From that day forward, Jonathan was known as Trunks, a nickname he fully embraced. In the time he was in our ministry everyone called him Trunks. He asked his teachers to call him Trunks; even now if you search for his Facebook page he goes by Trunks. When it was time for him to graduate we asked some of our seniors to share in church what they had learned over the last few years. Trunks shared with everyone the origin of his nickname. Everyone appropriately giggled. Then he shared something that has stayed with me for a long time. He said that when he was given the nickname he felt it was the first time someone had included him. Not only had this volunteer helped him through an embarrassing situation, he helped him name it and own it for himself until it literally became his name. As silly as the nickname was, it came to represent for him a place of belonging.
I wonder if that is how Simon felt when Jesus gave him a nickname; one he wasn’t born into but that he could live into. What are the names that you live into? There are names that others give us, and there are names we give ourselves. Names like protector, survivor, provider, teacher, mentor. We may not have had much say in what our parents chose to name us, but we do have a say in what we name ourselves or allow others to name us. What name are you living into today? What names do you need to let go of? What names have you given others? May we all embrace our true identity in Christ knowing that we were called by name for His purpose.
P.S.: A few years after my mother told me the lovely story of why she chose my name, she also told me that she had to change her original pick once she said it out loud. She was going to name me Mary Chris Smith. Say it out loud and you’ll see why I’m really grateful she changed it. (Although during the holidays it could be fun.)
Melanie HillMelanie Hill is the Guest Connections Program Director at Resurrection.
At the ripe old age of 7 I decided I hated my name. As a young child people would ask me my name, and I would tell them. They would respond by saying "Melody" was such a pretty name. Problem is that Melody, while pretty, isn’t my name. My name is Melanie. This went on for a long time until finally I started writing my middle name as my first name on all my school papers. If no one was going to say it right, I would just change it. To add insult to injury, I found out that my name means dark; clothed in dark; or (this is my favorite) one who dwells in darkness. Doesn’t that sound lovely?
Of course, before long my mom asked why I wasn’t using my first name at school. After telling her my sad story of how no one could say my name correctly and that it had a terrible meaning, she told me why she chose my name. She told me she loved her grandmother, and her grandmother’s favorite character in Gone with the Wind was Melanie Hamilton. She loved that character for being so self-sacrificing and forgiving. Even though the main character Scarlett was a terrible friend to her, she stood by her. She told me how beautiful she thought my name was. Just like that I thought my name was the coolest name in the history of names!
Names have always been interesting to me, particularly the power of a nickname. I’m guessing most of us didn’t have any say in what our parents chose to name us, with only limited ways we could shorten or change it. But a nickname is something else, especially one bestowed on us. For my first fourteen years in ministry I worked as a youth director. I have heard tons of strange, wonderful nicknames. One student stands out, though. Jonathan joined our youth group as a 6thgrader. His first trip with us was to the beach to play in the surf and sand and get to know the new kids. After a few hours of play and swimming it was time for lunch, so we called the kids who were out in the surf to come in. As we gathered them up we saw Jonathan still out in the water; when we motioned for him to come ashore he shook his head. Finally, one of our male leaders swam out to see what was going on. He quickly returned, grabbed a towel and swam back out. Jonathan had lost his swim trunks in the water and there was no way he was coming on shore without them. We finally found them and got him dressed. From that day forward, Jonathan was known as Trunks, a nickname he fully embraced. In the time he was in our ministry everyone called him Trunks. He asked his teachers to call him Trunks; even now if you search for his Facebook page he goes by Trunks. When it was time for him to graduate we asked some of our seniors to share in church what they had learned over the last few years. Trunks shared with everyone the origin of his nickname. Everyone appropriately giggled. Then he shared something that has stayed with me for a long time. He said that when he was given the nickname he felt it was the first time someone had included him. Not only had this volunteer helped him through an embarrassing situation, he helped him name it and own it for himself until it literally became his name. As silly as the nickname was, it came to represent for him a place of belonging.
I wonder if that is how Simon felt when Jesus gave him a nickname; one he wasn’t born into but that he could live into. What are the names that you live into? There are names that others give us, and there are names we give ourselves. Names like protector, survivor, provider, teacher, mentor. We may not have had much say in what our parents chose to name us, but we do have a say in what we name ourselves or allow others to name us. What name are you living into today? What names do you need to let go of? What names have you given others? May we all embrace our true identity in Christ knowing that we were called by name for His purpose.
P.S.: A few years after my mother told me the lovely story of why she chose my name, she also told me that she had to change her original pick once she said it out loud. She was going to name me Mary Chris Smith. Say it out loud and you’ll see why I’m really grateful she changed it. (Although during the holidays it could be fun.)
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“They left their nets”
Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Matthew 4:18-20
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Matthew’s account (and the one in Luke 5, which we’ll read tomorrow) may suggest that for a time Jesus intrigued Andrew and Peter, but they hadn’t yet decided to follow him all the time. Jesus’ call, couched in language that related to their everyday work, pointed to a larger, more demanding call. Fish may be difficult to catch, but often nowhere near as challenging to understand and draw in as people. Ø “In the ancient world, fisherfolk were peasants.” * Why might Jesus have walked along the shores of Galilee as he sought followers, instead of seeking out the day’s most eminent religious experts? One outcome: by going beyond “the system” of his day, Jesus found people who were more open to his radical ideas about what it meant to be the Messiah. In what ways has Jesus called you beyond “the system(s)” in which you grew up and studied?
• Jesus’ disciples changed their lives a lot to follow him. In addition to leaving their nets, going to “fish for people” was a big change. “From the very beginning the calling of disciples suggests missionary activity.” ** In what way(s) is Jesus calling you now? What spiritual practices help you keep your heart and life open to hear and answer Jesus’ call?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, whether I think I’ve got my life all figured out, or whether I’m searching for direction, keep me open to hear your calling. Even more, keep me open to making changes when responding to your call requires them. Amen.
* Eugene Eung-Chun Park and Joel B. Green, study note on Matthew 4:18-22 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 11 NT. ** Ibid.
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“When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees”
Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Luke 5:1-11
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Luke made it clear that Jesus and Simon knew each other before this story (cf. Luke 4:38-39). Jesus did much of his ministry around the Sea of Galilee’s shoreline, and most of his first followers came from that area. But his vision always reached farther than any one location. He asked the first disciples to "push into the deep water," hinting at the ultimate task he had for them. "Fishing for people" would push them into the deep waters of a whole world filled with suffering and spiritual hunger.
• Jesus was a rabbi, a teacher. Peter and his partners caught fish for a living. Why should “pros” like them listen when Jesus said, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch” (verse 4)? They agreed “because you say so.” Have you ever had a sense that Jesus was calling you to something that was more than “usual” or “logical”? Were you open to saying, “Because you say so, Lord”? Are you open to that today? Ø “When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” (verse 8) When did you most vividly realize, “God is god—and I’m not”? Did you feel any fear, as Peter seems to have in this passage? Did you take in Jesus’ reassurance: “Don’t be afraid” (verse 10)? How has realizing who God is, who you are, and who God wants to be in your life changed things for you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are my heavenly friend and brother—but you are also Lord of the universe. As I love and trust you, help me to also hold you in awe and respect. Amen.
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“He appointed twelve and called them apostles”
Thursday, 24 August 2017
Mark 3:13-19
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We learn a lot about Peter from the fact that in Mark’s list of the twelve, and also in the lists in Matthew 10:2, Luke 6:13-16 and Acts 1:13-14, Peter’s name was always first. That no doubt reflected his vivid, outspoken personality, but also (here’s another spoiler alert) the words Jesus spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:15-18. (We’ll look at that passage in greater depth later in this series.) Peter was an important leader and spokesperson during Jesus’ time on earth and after. Ø Scholar William Barclay wrote, “It is significant that Christianity began with a group. The Christian faith is something which from the beginning had to be discovered and lived out in a fellowship. The whole essence of the way of the Pharisees…separated; the very name Pharisee means ‘the separated one;’ the essence of Christianity was that it …presented [people] with the task of living with each other and for each other.” * Why is this reality essential for Christians in an age of division? How, if at all, have you experienced this? • We also see key strength of Peter’s. Strong leader that he was, when God later called Paul to a key responsibility, he recognized and supported Paul’s calling, rather than opposing or minimizing it (cf. Galatians 2:7-10). What enables leaders whose character God has shaped to be confident in their calling while accepting others with important leadership gifts and responsibilities? Have you ever seen a competitive spirit become corrosive to the mission of Jesus' kingdom?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me a spirit willing to step up to whatever responsibilities you call me to, while never feeling rivalry with others you call. Make me a humble leader like Peter. Amen.
* William Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Mark (Revised Edition). Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1976, pp. 73-74.
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“You are…a people who are God’s own possession”
Friday, 25 August 2017
1 Peter 2:3-9
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Peter saturated his description of what it meant to belong to God’s people, the church, with quotations and allusions to the Hebrew Scriptures. Peter, like Paul, saw the Jesus movement as an extension and fulfilment of the call God first gave to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. Peter’s reflection on belonging to Christ expressed what scholar N. T. Wright wrote about the story in John 1: “What Andrew and Simon Peter thought they were doing was looking for the Messiah. What they didn’t realize was that the Messiah was looking for them.”
* • Pastor Paul Cedar wrote, “A spiritual temple requires a very specific kind of building material. It is to be built of living stones—the very lives of those who have become spiritually alive through faith in Jesus Christ. And such building must begin with Jesus Christ.” ** How did you come “spiritually alive,” to become a “living stone”? How has that shaped your life? What connects you with other members of this “temple” God is building?
• In what ways do you resonate with the idea that you have been “called out of darkness” into God’s amazing light? What type(s) of darkness has God had to dispel in your life? Have you ever stopped to ponder the idea that, in Christ, you are a member of “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession”? How can that reshape your sense of mission and purpose in life?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you came looking for me, maybe before I even knew I needed you. Thank you! Help me to live a life built on you, not one that stumbles over your call. Amen.
* N. T. Wright, John for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–10. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p. 14. ** Paul Cedar, The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 34: James / 1 & 2 Peter / Jude. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1984, p. 137.
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-------God trusted Peter (and us) to speak of his wonderful acts
Saturday, 26 August 2017
1 Peter 2:9-10
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Peter carried a profound sense of responsibility. Jesus had called him, not just to relax and bask in God’s love, but to “fish for people.” That was the calling for all the Christian converts to whom he wrote, too. “Peter uses OT words and images to apply Israel’s special identity to his Gentile audience. Israel is God’s chosen race (Isaiah 43:20), royal priesthood (Exodus 19:6), holy nation (Exodus 19:6) and a people who are God’s own possession (Exodus 19:5). The same can now be said of these believers in Jesus.” * Peter knew that God calls all Christ followers, like Israel, to be a blessing to all the people of the world. Ø As one of God’s people (“a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God’s own possession”—wow!), how do you or will you live so that others can know God’s love and mercy? How can the faith community to which you belong show God’s grace and light in ways you can’t do alone? How can a sense that together we are God’s hands in the world help you more clearly and deeply understand the meaning of “church”?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you changed Peter from an ordinary fisherman to a man from whose life and writings we learn over 2000 years after his death. Empower me to live in ways that will have eternal value as a member of your “royal priesthood” on earth. Amen.
* Jeanine K. Brown, study note on 1 Peter 2:9-10 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 464-465 NT.
Family Activity: Jesus was an incredible encourager. He saw the best in everyone no matter what they had said or done, as he did in Peter. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. As a family, think of the people who see the highest potential in each of you. Create a list of those encouraging people in your lives. Talk about who cheers you on, builds you up and offers you hope. What characteristics do they have that identify them as encouragers? Find a way to thank those people this week. You might bake a treat, create a card or simply thank them for who they are in your lives. Ask yourselves how you can be more encouraging to others. How can you lead others by living out this quality of Christ? How can you see the best in people? Pray together, thanking God for seeing the best in you and in everyone. Ask God to help you grow as an encouraging person.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Ruth Jones and family on the death of her sister Elsie Maxine Majewski, 8/12
• Tiffany Anderson and family on the death of her husband Stanley L. Anderson, 8/11
• Laura Gray and family on the death of her mother Carole Gray, 8/11
• Sheila Gill and family on the death of her father David Cole, 8/11
• Timberly Apple and family on the death of her husband Craig Apple, 8/10
• Tony Collichio and family on the death of his nephew Mike Marino, 8/5
• Katie Howe and family on the death of her father Daniel Rollheiser, 8/4
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You might also like
Jesus: God’s final word
The apostle Paul’s thoughtful quoting of the Bible
Jesus lived the Bible’s eternal principles
“Open my eyes”
What the Bible is meant to do
Or download this week's printable GPS.
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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You might also like
Jesus: God’s final word
The apostle Paul’s thoughtful quoting of the Bible
Jesus lived the Bible’s eternal principles
“Open my eyes”
What the Bible is meant to do
Or download this week's printable GPS.
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©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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