You shall be called Cephas
It was the love of Jesus Christ that transformed Jonah's son, Simon, into Peter [Cephas]

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So far, in the previous few chapters under the title "Words of Jesus," we have seen the divine miracles that the Lord performed during His ministry. In this collection, we will see how the Lord fulfilled the words He spoke even after His death and resurrection.

The first of Jesus Christ's apostles was Simon, the son of Jonah. Jesus Christ called this Simon, who was fishing on the shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee, to his ministry and named him "Peter." - 14.Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15.and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16.Simon, to whom He gave the name "Peter"; 17.James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; 18.Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19.and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him - Mark 3:14-19 

The reason the Lord called Simon "Peter" was not merely to enable him to serve as a chief apostle; it was to transform the man—who was racing toward hell bearing the worldly identity of "Simon, son of Jonah"—into His own child and welcome him into the Kingdom of Heaven - 40.One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41.He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah”, which means Christ. 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 means Peter).Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael - John 1:40-42

Although Jesus Christ named Simon, the son of Jonah, "Peter," He predominantly addressed him as "Simon" throughout His ministry; for instance, in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before going to the cross, Jesus called him "Simon." - Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? - Mark 14:37

Peter was especially pleased that the Lord called him "Simon son of Jonah," which gave Peter great encouragement and honor, because he was a descendant of the Old Testament prophet Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of the fish - 15.He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”. 16.Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17.Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven - Matthew 16:15-17

For example, the reason the angel of the Lord called Joseph, "Joseph, son of David," was not because Joseph's father was named David, but because he was a descendant of David, just as Peter was a descendant of the prophet Jonah - 20.But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21.And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins - Matthew 1:20-21

Thus, Peter—the foremost among Jesus Christ’s apostles—denied and cursed the Lord just as He was heading to the cross. Having recognized the Lord’s divinity, Peter knew that the Lord was aware of every word he had spoken about Him; consequently, a sense of guilt weighed heavily upon his heart - 69.And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” 70.But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” 71.Then he began to curse and swear, I do not know this Man of whom you speak! 72.A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept - Mark 14:69-72 

After all this had happened, the Lord, who had died on the cross and risen from the dead, met Peter. Peter, who usually liked to be called "Simon, son of Jonah," this time the Lord wanted to call him "Peter," but the Lord called him "Simon, son of Jonah" and asked, "Do you love me?"

Not once, not twice, but three times he called out, "Simon, son of Jonah," and asked, "Do you love me?" It was as if the Lord were asking Peter, "Do you love your ancestor Jonah?" or, "Do you love me?" - 14.This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15.So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16.He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17.He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. - John 21:14-17

Then Peter confessed, "I love you," and gave himself completely to the Lord's service. After that, in every era and in every vision, the Lord called him "Peter", Peter fulfilled the Lord's ministry by referring to himself not as "Simon, son of Jonah," but as "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ"; his own writings stand as a testament to this day to how he identified himself - 1.Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2.who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance - I Peter 1:1-2

You that you are Peter

Although Jesus Christ had named Simon "Peter" during His earthly ministry, it was only when Simon—by the grace of the Father—confessed, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God", that the Lord confirmed, "You are Peter." - 13. When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14.So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15.He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”. 16.Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17.Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18.And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19.And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [b]will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” - Matthew 16:13-17

Moreover, even though Peter had denied Jesus Christ, cursed, and sworn an oath, Heaven specifically named "Peter" first to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ's resurrection - 6.But he said to them, Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7.But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you - Mark 16:6-7 

Today, across the globe, millions of prayers are offered every second in the name of Jesus Christ; indeed, praying in the name of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian life. It was Peter who first demonstrated this; the Spirit of God revealed this mystery—which serves as the foundation of the Church—through Peter, who was called the Rock - 6.But Peter said, I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk! 7.And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8.And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God - Acts 3:6-8 

On a Passover day—the very same season associated with the incident that weighed heavily on Peter because he had denied Jesus Christ—God delivered him from prison, transforming the day of his denial into a day of testimony - 4.So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 5.Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6.And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7.Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands - Acts 12:4-7

It was the same Peter who baptized Cornelius, a Gentile, and paved the way for the salvation of Jesus Christ to reach the Gentiles as well - 44.While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45.And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46.For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47.Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? 48.And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days - Acts 10:44-48

Next Chapter: Boanerges