Way back in the 1970’s my family owned a restaurant in Ishpeming, Michigan. For those of you not into geography, Ishpeming is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Fondly called the ‘U.P.’ by residents. Who also like to be known ‘Yoopers’ and they are a very distinctive and hearty bunch. You have to be to live in a place where winter is not a season, it is more like a nine-month event.
And even though I was born in Chicago, my family had strong roots in Ishpeming. My mother and most of her Italian brood were either born there or came straight from the ‘old country’ to live in the wilds of Michigan. As a kid we vacationed there just about every year. My family built a summer home not far from Ishpeming and eventually we moved there and opened the restaurant with a formable name, ‘House of Weston’.
Considering it was more or less a diner I always thought the name a bit grandiose. But my father was a man who’s dreams sometimes outsized reality or so I thought. And maybe over the years he might have felt the same way somewhat because eventually the name morphed into just, HOW. Of course, this spawned its own humorous axioms, especially with the house specialty, a ¼ pound hamburger that came to be known as the HOW burger. Originally named the ‘Alaskan’ for reasons only known to my father, the new moniker left some people speechless when trying to order it. The jokes were endless and tedious all at once.
All of this came to a head for me when I confronted my father with the idea of changing the name one more time to something more mundane and less controversial. Not surprisingly he stubbornly refused and the HOW restaurant and burger stood for the remainder of the years he owned the joint. And in the end my father was proven right. The distinctive name did gain recognition and proved to set the place and the burger apart from other diners in the area.
I guess I tell this slice of my life because it reminds me once again, what’s in a name? Even though it seemed to me that all my father’s instincts were wrong, I was proven to be the one who did not see the ‘big picture’ when it came to the names he had chosen. I think this is true more than once when we are looking at Bible characters. God sees the beginning from the end, so when he chooses a character whose name does not seem to fit, it is our first instinct to doubt. But, O ye of little faith. And when I think in these terms one guy stands out from all the rest and his name is Peter.
Most of you might know, he did not start his life with that name. Jesus met this fisherman named Simon and immediately saw something I don’t think anyone else did and changed his name to Cephas, Aramaic for ‘rock’ (Peter comes from the Greek, Petros). Strange, huh? The Bible does not tell us if anyone questioned this but I would have, especially when I see in the gospel stories on how un-rock like Simon seems to have been. What I am I missing that Jesus saw?
I mean, repeatedly, Peter fails in matters of faith. But none stand out more than at the moment when Jesus calls His disciples to be ‘rocks’, the night he is arrested. Peter as he had done so many times before is ready to make boastful claim to his given name. He promises Jesus that he will stand like a rock, even if the others fall away, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33) But Jesus knows better, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” (Matthew 26:34b) But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Matthew 26:35a) Peter, the rock, is strong yet the moment comes, and fear overcomes his boastful promises and as Jesus predicted, Peter denies Him.
If it ended there I would be so discouraged. Because I like Peter have failed in moments of trial, even to the point of denying the Lord. But Jesus did not name Simon the rock for no reason. After those denials he could have taken the same route as Judas, lost in his sin, he could have taken his own life. But Peter, maybe because he had failed so many times before will seek out Jesus after He is risen and on a beach over breakfast he will confess and be forgiven and given the mission for the remainder of his life. Three times Jesus will ask him if he loves Him and three times Simon will sorrowfully answer that he does. The last time Jesus asks is so poignant, “The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter hurt because he had asked him for the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord you know all things, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17) In these three questions Peter is asked to finally confirm he is ready to be the rock and recommit himself to not only Jesus but to caring for the flock. And after Jesus predicts that someday Peter himself would be crucified, he gives him the simple order, “Follow me.” Something Simon, now truly Peter will do the rest of his life.
If you get a chance you can read in the New Testament book of Acts Peter now is the rock no one could see on the beach the day Jesus gave him that name. The same man who feared for his life now stands boldly before the rulers of Israel proclaiming, “Which is right in God’s eyes to listen to you or to Him? You be the judges! We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20) In this I find hope.
Sometimes a name change can seem to be laughable. Some might have believed that about Simon when Jesus named him Peter. I am seeking today to share that name. I would like to be a ‘rock’ of faith and know if I am called to stand that I will. I am blessed to have the gospel and know it is possible, Peter shows me the way. I would like to have a piece of the rock. How about you?
Blessings John
1/29/18
