Simon Named Peter - Mark 3:16

Mark wrote how Jesus, “went up into a mountain, and called unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils”, and in chapter three and verse sixteen of his book, Mark shares how Jesus changed a man's name from “Simon” to “Peter” where we read:

And Simon he surnamed Peter;

The verse reads, “and Simon he surnamed Peter ...” Mark began with the words, “and Simon” which means “a rock or stone” “he surnamed” which means “he called or named” “Peter” or “solid rock”. Mark shared how Jesus renamed “Simon” and gave him the name “Peter”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus changed the name of “Simon” to “Peter”. “Simeon” was the Hebrew name given to “Simon” which was his Greek name and means “he that hears”. “Peter” implies “a spiritual rock” whereby Jesus would alter the manner in which “Peter” lived. In other words, He went from the name which means “shifting sand” to “solid rock”, and this was only by the power of Jesus working in him. God loves people, and sometimes He changes their names to reflect more closely His work within them. May all who read these words submit themselves to Jesus who is able to change “shifting sand” into a “solid rock”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus calls James and John, “The sons of thunder”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".