Day 3: Another Perspective

First Friday in Lent

Scripture: John 1:40-42

^{NRS 40} One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. ⁴¹ He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). ⁴² He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).

Devotional: Matthew and Mark provide accounts that are short and sweet, fisherman called to fish for people. Luke reveals a sinner called to serve in God’s Holy Kingdom. John paints a slightly different picture. Simon Peter’s brother, Andrew, was a disciple of John the Baptizer who was present at the baptism of Jesus. Afterwards he followed Him and realized that Jesus was the Messiah, so Andrew found his brother and brought him to meet the Christ. Rather than calling Simon to fish for men, Jesus renamed him Cephas. Skeptics argue that these different accounts discredit the Bible as a reliable source of information about God. They offer that conflicting accounts are evidence of falsification, failing to understand a difference between ancient and modern writers. Today, writers record details with a certain detachment to simply report the facts. First century writers sought to communicate a larger message and details were presented in a manner to support that message. Luke’s account communicates the truth that God calls the unlikely and his details support that message. John is highlighting the transformation that happens when we encounter Jesus. His account of Peter’s calling records the detail of Simon being renamed Cephas. In ancient culture, one’s name defined ones identity, thus a new name meant being made new. John goes on to record Jesus’ first miracle of transforming water into wine. Something old is made new. The details establish Jesus’ ministry as one of transformation. All who encounter Jesus will be made new. We won’t understand Simon’s new name until Jesus declares Peter as the rock upon which He will build His church, but we don’t have too. John records his account in a way that his readers will understand that encountering Christ transforms us into something new. Matthew and Mark help us see the simplicity of deciding to follow Christ; Luke reminds us that we don’t have to be qualified to be called and John shows us that in Christ we are made brand new.

Prayer: Father, today we hunger to be made new. We long to recognize Your transformation in our own lives. Whether we have been following You all of our lives, or we have recently come into relationship with You, we know that Lent is a season of preparing our hearts to be made new. As we prepare to receive You, the Risen Lord, we ask You to transform our lives into Your new creation. Redeem, restore, and refresh our hearts to free us for ministry in Your Precious Son’s Name, Amen.

Song of praise:                 All Things New by Steven Curtis Chapman

                                                

                        

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today, following the idea of making all things new, we focus on the spiritual discipline of confession. Today we are being challenged to develop a Christian relationship within which we can feel comfortable revealing our sins and receiving words of forgiveness thus freeing us to be made new.