Changed Identity

Continuing some excerpts (one posted last week) from We Have Found the Messiah by John Piper

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So today that is what I am asking as we walk through John 1:35-51. I see at least seven ways John wants us to see the glory of Jesus—and receive more grace.

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5. Jesus Can Change Our Identity.

Fifth, Jesus has the authority to change our identity. Verse 42: “He [Andrew] brought him [Andrew’s brother Simon] to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter).”

There is no explanation in John’s Gospel why Jesus changed Simon’s name to Cephas (Aramaic), that is, Peter (Greek)—no explanation as in Matthew 16:18 that Petros means rock and you will found my church. That’s not the point. The point here is: Jesus has authority to give you whatever name he pleases and, in giving you a name, determine your destiny. The point is the glory of Christ, not the glory of Peter.

And the truth is that he does this for all of us. Jesus says in Revelation 2:17, “To the one who conquers [and the power that conquers is faith, 1 John 5:4] I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

Don’t miss the implicit authority in what Jesus does here in John 1:42. “You are Simon. You shall be called Peter.” Period. Not “if you like it,” or “if it works out.” This is the absolute authority of Jesus to choose Simon and name Simon and determine Simon’s destiny.

And there is no identity for your life better than the one Jesus gives you. We receive grace upon grace from this fullness of authority.

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