Peter, the Disciple

We discovered that Peter and his brother, Andrew, were called by Jesus to be his disciple.  The brothers were fishermen in Galilee

.The Gospel of John provides additional information on the calling of Andrew and Peter.  {John 1:35-42}

“Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples” {v.35} This is referring to John the Baptist, who was the precursor to the Christ.  He was also a cousin to Jesus.

“And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!  And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”  {V. 36-37}  John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God and told his followers.  As soon as they heard Jesus speak, they began to follow him.

“On the preceding day John had recognized Jesus in a public discourse as “the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” Now he personally points the disciples to him.”  {Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.}

Jesus found the fishermen following him

“ Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?  He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”   {v. 38-39}

Jesus turned to find the brothers following them and asked them why.  They immediately replied to him as Rabbi, which means master or teacher.  He then invited them to his home, where they stayed for the day.

“Counting from six o’clock, the first hour among the Jews, the tenth hour would be four p.m.”  {Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.}

Peter fell at Jesus feet

“ One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.”  {v.40}

Andrew is mentioned first, as he was in the book of Mark.  However, the gospels of Matthew and Luke both mentioned Simon Peter before his brother.

“Afterwards an apostle. He has the honor of being one of the first two disciples of Jesus. In true missionary spirit Andrew at once and first sought his own brother.”  {Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.}

“He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”  {v.41}

John shares that Andrew first recognized Jesus as the Christ and went to tell his brother, Simon.

Jesus and his disciples

“ And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonas: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”   {v. 42}

Andrew brought Simon to Jesus.  Jesus then says that Simon {and Andrew} are the sons of Jonas.  Jesus then renames Simon.  He tells him that he will be called Cephas, which is Greek, and means a stone.  As you will remember, Jesus later tells Peter that upon this rock he will build his church.  {Matthew 16:18-19}

Simon’s name was changed to Peter.   Peter would later become the stone on which the church would be built.

Simon is proof that we can be changed by the Christ and used for his honor and glory.

How has Jesus changed you?

 

Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter when he called him as a disciple Share on X

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