Two Names

In the following verse, ‘Peter’ answered the tax man but Jesus called him ‘Simon’ and taught him a thing or two about taxes!

 When they arrived at Capernaum, the tax men came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay taxes?” Peter said, “Of course.” But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. “Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes; who pays—his children or his subjects?”(Matthew 17:24-25, MSG)

And in Mark 14:37-38, MSG, Peter goes to sleep but Jesus calls on Simon to wake up!

He found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, you went to sleep on me?”

No wonder Peter is of ‘two names’ when he is awaiting the outcome of Jesus’ trial. His old self is afraid; his new self wants to be true to Jesus.

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” He denied it, “Not me.”(John 18:25, MSG)

But in Acts chapter 1, Simon Peter is called Peter.

So they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. It was a little over half a mile. They went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas, son of James. (Acts 1:12-13, MSG)

None of us are changed in the twinkling of an eye. Well, at least not till the last days. (1 Corinthians 15:52-57, MSG)    

Like Peter, we aren’t changed overnight. It takes time, God’s grace and a realization of who we really are in Christ.

Prayer- Lord, thank you that with your help, we are a little bit more like Christ every day.  Amen.