Day 1 — A New Name

“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus. He first found his brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated as Christ). Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which is translated as Peter).”

— John 1:40–42 (BSB)

Andrew had just met Jesus, and he couldn’t keep it to himself. He ran and found his brother Simon and said, “We have found the Messiah!” Then he brought Simon to meet Jesus.

Simon was a fisherman. He was loud, bold and a little rough around the edges. He often spoke before he thought. He wasn’t a scholar or a priest or anyone important.

But when Jesus looked at Simon, He saw something more. Jesus said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas.” Cephas is an Aramaic word, and Peter is the Greek word. Both mean rock.

Think about that. The first time Jesus met Simon, He gave him a new name. Not a name that described who Simon was that day, but who Simon would become. Simon wasn’t very rock-like yet! He would mess up many times. He’d sink when he tried to walk on water. He’d even deny Jesus three times on the night Jesus was arrested.

But Jesus saw the man Peter would become: a rock-solid leader who would preach to thousands, lead the church and stand strong for Jesus his whole life.

People give us names too. Some are nice. Some aren’t. Klutz. Slow. Loser. Nerd. Troublemaker. Sometimes we even give ourselves names: I’m just not good at anything. I always mess up. I’m the weird one.

But Jesus sees you differently. He doesn’t only see who you are today, with all your mistakes. He sees who you can become with Him. And the most important name He gives you is this one: son. Son of the King.

The names other people call you don’t get the final word. Jesus does.

Think about it: What “names” have people called you, or have you called yourself? What do you think Jesus would call you instead?

Try this: Write your name in your notebook. Next to it, write “Son of the King.” Then write one thing you think Jesus sees in you that you might not see yet.

Dear Jesus, thank You that You saw Peter for who he would become, and You see me that way too. Help me listen to what You say about me, not the names other people call me. Thank You that I am a son of the King. In Your name, Amen.