Day 2: Peter’s Background Check
This photo is credited to the owner, Xavier Horton.
Family Meeting
If it’s alright, I would like to have a little family meeting first. I need to share something with you. You see, over the last few days, I’ve been experiencing some pain in my left jaw. It’s been difficult for me to eat, talk, or even spend time with my family. I truly feel like it’s an attack from the enemy to keep me from publishing our latest series, but we serve the GREAT, I AM! God will get the glory! The message will go forth in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Let’s Get Started
Okay! Okay! Let’s go ahead and talk about the elephant in the room. The title! I know. Peter, the Prejudice One. It’s messed up. Right? After all, there’s more to Peter than the prejudices he once harbored toward Gentiles ,but isn’t that typical of us today?
A minister could devote their life to serving the Lord. He or she could pastor a church, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give to orphans, and assist widows, but the moment they show the slightest bit of prejudice toward a people group or political party, they become the prejudice pastor, nothing more and nothing less. We blast them on social media and we question if they were ever truly called to be a minister or pastor in the first place. So, yeah! Let’s talk about Peter, The Prejudice One. In fact, let’s go ahead and do a quick background check on Peter. (Now I didn’t have time to do an extensive background check because that required credit card information, but I’d like to share what my free background check revealed. (I’m kidding about the credit card thing, by the way). ANYWAY!
Background Information
- He had several different names and titles: Simon, Simon, son of Jonah, Peter, Simon- Peter, and Cephas. I don’t know about you, but this is a red flag for me! I mean, why does he have so many names? What is he hiding? Who was he hiding from at that time? Well, according to the report, he wasn’t hiding from anyone or anything. His original name was Simon. However, when he met Jesus, He saw him and said, “You are Simon son of Jonah. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).” Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean rock, by the way, so that explains why he had different names in the report.
- Simon, Peter was a fisherman. (He caught fish for a living). According to the report, he left his fishing equipment, specifically his net, to follow Jesus. (Matthew 4:18-20 NIV)
- Some people said that Jesus was John the Baptist, Jeremiah, Elijah, or one of the other prophets; however, Peter declared that Jesus is the Messiah, Son of the Living God, and he received a special blessing. According to the report, Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you [meaning, that He was the Messiah, our Savior, the one they’d been waiting for] by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16: 17-18 NIV). Wow! That’s huge. Remember: he gave Peter the name Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).” Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean rock!
Uh, oh! Peter has a Criminal Record!
As Jesus was being arrested, John 18:10 NIV states, “Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
PAUSE
Based on the latest discovery, I haven’t found any information yet to support my title choice; however, I would like to take a break and reflect on how I feel about a disciple with a criminal record. Do you have any thoughts on the subject? Think about it. Then, go to the Father and pray about it.
#Soul Searching with Our Father#
Coming up next: Peter’s Personal References
I wonder what we will find out next!
