02/10/12

Taking the foolish and rejected of the world

Matthew 4:18 - And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.


Galilee was situated near the sea and was one of the busiest ports during the time of Jesus. The only profession that competed with the merchants in that area was fishing. Someone took great pain to chronically put the events of the life on Jesus in order and accordingly according to date the records. Today's event (Matthew 4:18) as stated by him had happened in the spring of 26AD. This was the time Jesus after being baptized by John and coming back from His desert experience started recruiting His 12 select disciples. The first of those twelve disciples whom Jesus trained were the two brothers Simon and Andrew. Some claim they were John the Baptist's followers (since John had a very large number of people who considered him a Prophet and followed him) and these 2 brothers had overheard John declare Jesus as the 'Lamb of God' therefore followed Jesus without questioning Him.

One thing we need to note Simon was nicknamed Peter by the people even before Jesus met him (people think Jesus gave him the name in Mark 3:16 and Luke 6:14 the word 'he' is not part of the Greek text). People do not realize Peter was not a nice name that is why Jesus rarely used it to refer to Simon. Since Simon was a common name people nicknamed him Peter. The word Peter means a small stone (pebble) it symbolized a person who was foolish for half crack. If one translates it into Hebrew it takes an even serious note for the word is used for Satan. Jesus preferred using the other standard followed in cases like Simon which was a common name, of calling a person along with their father's name.

There are only 2 times in the Gospels when Jesus takes the name Peter to refer to Simon once in (Matthew 16) when Jesus declared His Church is founded on Truth and how the Simon being called foolish by the world yet knew the truth on Jesus. It was like Jesus saying 'You are called a foolish man but this truth which was revealed to you is on which My Church will be founded on'. But then Simon who was known for putting his foot in his mouth, soon rebuked Jesus for saying He would die for mankind. Then Jesus needed to bring sense to Simon telling him he was influenced by Satan and was mindful of the thinks of this world (note Jesus was speaking to Simon).

The other place Jesus used the name Peter was to warn Simon that he would deny His trice. It was like Jesus saying 'I tell you foolish man before the cock crows for the day you will have denied me trice'. Note here Jesus starts His conversation with Simon using his original name Simon and not the nickname Peter.

The word Andrew in Greek means 'manly'.

In today's message the Lord is telling us the world may call us foolish, insane or people who are rude but yet the Lord has chosen us to work in us and change us like He did with Simon and Andrew. So let us not look at the mistakes we may have made in our lives in the past but look ahead at the Lord working in us and renewing us.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You do not look for people who think they know everything or are wise, but You prefer to choose people who are ridiculed by the world or looked down on and by your work in them You show your glory and make them shine like You did with Simon who was called Peter at Pentecost. When He spoke no man could answer him and all were stunned at his authority. Lord, we pray specially for those brothers and sisters who are depressed and have fear of the world because they feel they are incompetent. May your Word take root in them and bring a new hope in them...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Mark 3: 16 And <2532> Simon <4613> he surnamed <2007> (5656) <3686> Peter <4074>;

Luke 6:14 Simon <4613>, (whom <3739> he also <2532> named <3687> (5656) Peter <4074>,) and <2532> Andrew <406> his <846> brother <80>, James <2385> and <2532> John <2491>, Philip <5376> and <2532> Bartholomew <918>,

Matthew 16:15-23
15 He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ.
21 From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.
22 And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee.
23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.

Luke 22:31-34
31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:
32 but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.


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