New Name, New Nature - John 1-2

John 1:35-42 (ESV)

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 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).

In this section of John’s gospel we are told about the calling of Jesus’ disciples.   Specifically, the above passage records the calling of Andrew and his brother, Simon, whom Jesus renames, Cephas, which means Peter.  That is how we know Peter in the rest of the story.   Except on these occasions:

Luke 22:31-32:

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail." Here, Jesus calls out to Simon twice in a moment of warning and encouragement

Matthew 16:17:

"And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." This verse shows Jesus using Simon's full name (Simon Bar-Jonah) while affirming his faith

John 21:15-17:

Jesus asks Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?" This happens after the resurrection

Jesus seems to use Peter’s natural name when he was acting in his human nature.   The change in Peter’s name is a picture for us to see that when we have an encounter with God we are changed.  He went from Simon to being named Peter.  God changes us.  He gives us a new name.   He gives us a new nature.  Through Jesus we are changed into a new relationship with the Father.   We will still have moments of the flesh, but we are forever changed by His grace.   We have a new name; a new nature.