Simon Peter - What’s in the names?

John 1:42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter). Names are important. Obviously they are identifiers. The name, Simon, was the most popular name in the first century Hebrew culture. It is a derivative of Simeon. It means to hear or to listen or to understand. In Matthew 16, when Jesus told Simon he would be called Cephas or Peter, we learn that Peter means rock. Let’s consider how these two names relate to each other for our encouragement today. First, Jesus told Simon Peter that He would build His church upon this rock. He didn’t say He would build it upon Peter, but upon the Father revealing that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Let’s consider the context of Matthew 16:16-19. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Jesus would often say, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Simon Peter was a testimony to how Jesus builds His church—with the Father giving its members ears to hear— that’s the meaning of the name Simon. Jesus stated it plainly—His Father gave Simon the ability to hear and understand who Jesus is. He gave Simon the power to believe. The apostle Paul understood this truth when he wrote to the Romans in 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” So hearing from the Father comes first. Second, once someone hears and faith in Christ is received, then he or she becomes a living stone in Jesus’ church. The gift of hearing—Simon—is the rock—Peter—upon which Jesus builds His church. The second name follows the first name. God builds His church through Jesus as faith comes from supernatural hearing. There must first be Simon before there can be Peter. When you put the two together, the church of Jesus Christ is built. The names Simon and Peter reflect God’s work in building the church. What happens when you put hearing and faith together? Notice in the Matthew 16 passage, Jesus said He would give Simon Peter the keys of the kingdom, which in essence is faith at work, binding and loosing what has already been bound and loosed in heaven. It is the gift of faith that unleashes the will of God in the unseen realm into this world. That is the work of His church. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, said, “For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.” That’s how the Lord builds His church. We are given ears to hear Him, faith is produced, and then we love with Him, unleashing His power and will in the world. In a wonderful sense, all believers are built on the meaning of the names Simon and Peter. That’s what’s in the names. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.