From Simon to Peter
For each one shall bear his own load. (Gal. 6:5)
As we seek to bear this load, we face great obstacles. Some are from without, coming with no warning. Others are internal, daily struggles over lust or weakness. Some we bear well and enjoy remembering while others end in failure and deep regret. Think of David who rose to the occasion when he stood before Goliath: A memory to be savored for a lifetime. But when he fell before Bathsheba, he created a lifetime of regret and remorse, cringing each time he remembered.
Simon is a powerful example of how to bear our load. When Andrew brought him, Jesus said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas (which is translated Peter)” (Jn. 1:42). What did Jesus see? Peter had character and Jesus dubbed him “rock solid.” Jesus saw in Peter a strength of character and stability. He would be a solid disciple. But Peter’s battles and burdens as a disciple of Christ were far more difficult than anything Simon had previously confronted.
How did Peter feel the day Jesus changed his name? Surely there was joy and a sense of esteem. But if he thought his rock-like character meant he would successfully overcome every obstacle and always stand firm, he was deeply mistaken. No one can feel like that, for no one is like that. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1Cor. 10:12). The change from Simon to Peter was a long journey.
As Jesus walked on the sea in the dark of night, his disciples “cried out for fear.” But after realizing it was Jesus, Peter thought he was strong enough to walk with him. His attitude and faith were noble and no one else offered to try it. But after leaving the boat “he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink” (Mt. 14:30). Never had he faced such a challenge! His initial courage was admirable, but it was beyond his ability at that time. Jesus saw the problem: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt” (Mt. 14:31)? Did Peter wish he had never tried as he felt the sting of failure? He did not shine as a stable rock here. Or did he? Even in failure Peter continued to be a dependable disciple.
Later, Peter boldly made the good confession. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus reaffirmed his name as Peter and promised to give him the keys to open the door to the kingdom and inspiration to bind and loose God’s will (Mt. 16:16-19). He must have felt great joy at this praise and affirmation. Yet in the next moment, as Jesus revealed he would be “Christ crucified,” Peter “took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You” How did Peter feel when Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Mt. 16:22-23). A lesser, more unstable man might have followed those disciples who “went back and walked with Him no more” (Jn. 6:66). But Peter didn’t. He did not shrink back or allow any setback to deter him. Once again he had revealed instability, but even in his instability he was stable. He would not move from Jesus side!
Peter’s lowest point came during the trial of Jesus before the Jews. One stands in awe of the great compassion of Jesus when he warned: “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night.” Peter thought he could live up to his name, but had no idea what he was committing to: “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus did not become angry or chide him. He simply stated the fact: “before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter still felt that with his character and inner strength this could never happen. “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You” (Mt. 26:31-35).
But Peter did not fully understand the darkness of the hour and the fear and trembling he would endure. First, he ran away with all the rest. What anguish he must have felt. But it got worse. In the midst of unbelievers, he denied his knowledge of Jesus first by affirmation and later with curses and oaths. What a jolt of shame and remorse when he saw his inner character was not enough. What agony as “the rooster crowed and the Lord turned and looked.” How little he deserved the name. “Peter went out and wept bitterly” (Lk. 22:60-62).
How does a man get past such memories? Peter had tried to live up to the name Jesus gave, but fell woefully short. A lesser man would have given up. But on the day of Pentecost, Peter was still there, standing with the eleven. This was where his rock character truly shone. He would not bend or break even by failure. Though he did not live up to the pressure of following Jesus, he forced himself to do his best and never gave up.
The path from the man he was (Simon) to the “Peter” Jesus said he would become was far more difficult than Peter imagined. Yet even in failure he justified his name. He did exactly as Paul who also had shameful memories: “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14). Even before that denial, Jesus had already told Peter to forget what lay behind and reach forward to what was ahead: “when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Lk. 22:32).
Each of us shares the same load. Perhaps our affirmations are not as public or our failures as prominent, but our life is like Peter’s. We all have twinges of conscience and cringe at some memories. But never forget, Jesus saw Peter as a rock and gave him that name long before we would have. Jesus did not need to see him grow to mastery. Jesus only needed to see that regardless of the failure or sin, Peter never quit. He always repented and prepared for the next challenge as must we. What a Savior!
As we seek to bear this load, we face great obstacles. Some are from without, coming with no warning. Others are internal, daily struggles over lust or weakness. Some we bear well and enjoy remembering while others end in failure and deep regret. Think of David who rose to the occasion when he stood before Goliath: A memory to be savored for a lifetime. But when he fell before Bathsheba, he created a lifetime of regret and remorse, cringing each time he remembered.
Simon is a powerful example of how to bear our load. When Andrew brought him, Jesus said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas (which is translated Peter)” (Jn. 1:42). What did Jesus see? Peter had character and Jesus dubbed him “rock solid.” Jesus saw in Peter a strength of character and stability. He would be a solid disciple. But Peter’s battles and burdens as a disciple of Christ were far more difficult than anything Simon had previously confronted.
How did Peter feel the day Jesus changed his name? Surely there was joy and a sense of esteem. But if he thought his rock-like character meant he would successfully overcome every obstacle and always stand firm, he was deeply mistaken. No one can feel like that, for no one is like that. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1Cor. 10:12). The change from Simon to Peter was a long journey.
As Jesus walked on the sea in the dark of night, his disciples “cried out for fear.” But after realizing it was Jesus, Peter thought he was strong enough to walk with him. His attitude and faith were noble and no one else offered to try it. But after leaving the boat “he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink” (Mt. 14:30). Never had he faced such a challenge! His initial courage was admirable, but it was beyond his ability at that time. Jesus saw the problem: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt” (Mt. 14:31)? Did Peter wish he had never tried as he felt the sting of failure? He did not shine as a stable rock here. Or did he? Even in failure Peter continued to be a dependable disciple.
Later, Peter boldly made the good confession. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus reaffirmed his name as Peter and promised to give him the keys to open the door to the kingdom and inspiration to bind and loose God’s will (Mt. 16:16-19). He must have felt great joy at this praise and affirmation. Yet in the next moment, as Jesus revealed he would be “Christ crucified,” Peter “took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You” How did Peter feel when Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” (Mt. 16:22-23). A lesser, more unstable man might have followed those disciples who “went back and walked with Him no more” (Jn. 6:66). But Peter didn’t. He did not shrink back or allow any setback to deter him. Once again he had revealed instability, but even in his instability he was stable. He would not move from Jesus side!
Peter’s lowest point came during the trial of Jesus before the Jews. One stands in awe of the great compassion of Jesus when he warned: “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night.” Peter thought he could live up to his name, but had no idea what he was committing to: “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus did not become angry or chide him. He simply stated the fact: “before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter still felt that with his character and inner strength this could never happen. “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You” (Mt. 26:31-35).
But Peter did not fully understand the darkness of the hour and the fear and trembling he would endure. First, he ran away with all the rest. What anguish he must have felt. But it got worse. In the midst of unbelievers, he denied his knowledge of Jesus first by affirmation and later with curses and oaths. What a jolt of shame and remorse when he saw his inner character was not enough. What agony as “the rooster crowed and the Lord turned and looked.” How little he deserved the name. “Peter went out and wept bitterly” (Lk. 22:60-62).
How does a man get past such memories? Peter had tried to live up to the name Jesus gave, but fell woefully short. A lesser man would have given up. But on the day of Pentecost, Peter was still there, standing with the eleven. This was where his rock character truly shone. He would not bend or break even by failure. Though he did not live up to the pressure of following Jesus, he forced himself to do his best and never gave up.
The path from the man he was (Simon) to the “Peter” Jesus said he would become was far more difficult than Peter imagined. Yet even in failure he justified his name. He did exactly as Paul who also had shameful memories: “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14). Even before that denial, Jesus had already told Peter to forget what lay behind and reach forward to what was ahead: “when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Lk. 22:32).
Each of us shares the same load. Perhaps our affirmations are not as public or our failures as prominent, but our life is like Peter’s. We all have twinges of conscience and cringe at some memories. But never forget, Jesus saw Peter as a rock and gave him that name long before we would have. Jesus did not need to see him grow to mastery. Jesus only needed to see that regardless of the failure or sin, Peter never quit. He always repented and prepared for the next challenge as must we. What a Savior!