When Jesus began his ministry the first two disciples were those that had been following John the Baptist. One of them, Andrew, had a brother called Simon.  Andrew wanted to let his brother know about Jesus so he went to get him saying, “We have found the Messiah!” and brought Simon to meet Jesus.  When Andrew and Simon arrived, Jesus said to him, “You are Simon, the son of John, you will be called Peter” (Jn 1.42; cf Mk 3.16).

Imagine how Simon must’ve felt in that moment.  This man, this Prophet, this one his brother called the Messiah just initiated an intimate encounter with him.   And, in doing so, forever altered Simon’s identity.

In that culture, men were identified as being the son of their father.  That’s why so many people are introduced as the ‘Son of …..’.   Yet, without having met Simon previously, Jesus calls out Simon’s name, “You are Simon the son of John”.

Jesus seems to jump right into the deep, personal places of Simon’s heart by giving him a new name.  Not only is he stating how much he knows about Simon, but he is also stating how well he knows Simon.  The depth of intimate knowledge Jesus has for Simon is exemplified by giving him a new name – but this is more than just a new pet name, or a nick-name like you’d get from your friends.  In this re-naming, Jesus is telling Simon, ‘I am giving you a new identity, a new direction for your life.  Not only do you have a new name, now you have a new Father.’

But there’s even more to this.  We know from other parts of Scripture that when Jesus speaks his words actually create the reality he speaks about.  So, imagine being Simon in that moment.  Not only does Jesus speak to something about his identity, but inwardly he must’ve felt something that went deeper than an intimate moment of self-awareness.  The new reality which was created as Jesus spoke would have initiated a stirring in the depths of Simon’s spirit.  He most likely would not have been able to articulate what he was experiencing, but a new reality had just been conceived in the very depths of Simon’s identity.

Have you ever had a similar experience with Jesus?  Have you felt a shift in your identity when he spoke to you about something?  I have.  There was a day many years ago when he clarified a vision – a life calling.  The clarity of that vision changed everything.  From that point to now I have attempted to work out that vision in every way possible.  When Jesus speaks something like this it cannot be forgotten, nor can it be manufactured or forced into being.  There’s an element of faithfully working toward it, but there’s an even larger element of allowing God to orchestrate all the required parts.