The Rock Becomes a Slave

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
 
HAS Peter changed since he became Jesus’ disciple along the shore of Galilee? Jesus said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). (John 1:42) Cephas means rock or stone. With “Simon”, Jesus identified Peter as who he was at the time. With “Peter” Jesus identified who he would become.
   Simon Peter also identified himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. “Servant” usually means “slave”, one in complete submission to his master. This was very difficult for Peter. For example, in John 13, Peter at first refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet: John 13:8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”  But then he submitted: “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
   Peter began to understand he must commit himself completely to Jesus. To reject Jesus’ slave-like service to his disciples was to reject Jesus’ committed love, kindness, mercy and grace. Simon could only be Peter – solid, unyielding in his faith – when he received all of Jesus.
   Then Peter still had to overcome the sin of denying Jesus. That’s when the risen Jesus washed Peter clean of his guilt. John 21:17-20 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
   Simon was a fisherman with some spiritual and personal weaknesses. Chosen by Christ, he became Peter, a solid stone for Jesus’ gospel. His questions and challenges to Jesus as recorded in the gospels transformed into sure words of power and authority to the Jews in Acts. Peter’s ministry was also the first to reach the Gentiles. God gave him a voice and power to transform hearts to faith in Jesus. Peter healed, and he raised the dead. Peter became a visible demonstration to the world of Psalms 95:1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.   
   Has Jesus called you? Does he call you “brother”, “sister”, “disciple”?  Have you fully submitted to Jesus’ love, kindness, mercy and grace?