There was unfinished business that needed to be addressed. Bear in mind that Peter’s dark moment – when he denied even knowing Jesus the night Jesus was arrested – had not yet been addressed. What was about to ensue was a conversation to help both Jesus and Peter determine who Peter really was, and who Peter would choose to become. Upon reflection, I imagine he realized that by calling him Simon, something greater was being communicated. I wonder what Peter’s initial reaction was to be called that name from his beginnings as a disciple. Jesus gave him a new name – and an altered identity – when he began calling him Peter. Simon was what his parents, sisters and brothers called him. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John-but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). The first time we hear the son of John name is at the beginning of Peter’s journey with Jesus: That was his family name, not his friend-of-Jesus name. The reason I share this with you is to help point out something obvious to me: when Jesus called his disciple “son of John”, you can be completely confident that Peter’s ears perked up. But I like it, because I need to blend the two together. Sometimes he calls me Pete instead of Peter in family gatherings. Since then, pretty much everybody has called me “Pete.” But then my sister Ann married a great guy named Ken. Since he happened to be a demigod at Okemos Middle School, everyone else fell in line with his decree. He played trombone, as did I, and we sat next to each other every day in band class. Alex Claypool was probably the most popular guy in school. For the most part, except for when I am getting formally introduced, the only time I hear myself called “Peter” is when it comes out of their mouths. Simon Peter, or Simon son of John? My parents, sisters and brother have called me “Peter” since I was born. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” – John 21:15-17 (NRSV) Here is what is recorded in John’s Gospel: He could not have known how critical it was for him – and the future of the Church – that it did. Little did he know things were about to get really uncomfortable. Peter was beyond excited to see Jesus once again. ![]() ![]() This would be the third time Jesus appeared alive again to the disciples after he had been killed. Jesus’ disciple, Peter, could not forget the exchange he and Jesus had after breakfast that day. Some we cannot forget because they are so powerful. Some personal stories in our lives we remember because they are so beautiful.
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