Simon The Stone

Simon The Stone

Text: John 1: 41-42

Intro: Simon Peter is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. He fills its pages with life and energy. Though he was often reckless and impetuous, he was always sincere. Simon was a man who was passionate about everything he did. Later in his life, his passion for serving Christ would become especially obvious.

In his earlier life, he was simply a rough and tumble fisherman, hardened by the elements and his daily toil. And he probably exhibited a “devil-may-care” attitude about life. But one day Simon met Jesus, and his life was changed forever.

Fortunately, Jesus was able to look beyond the flaws of Simon’s personality and see his potential. Jesus would take this unstable, wishy-washy and volatile man, and make him a man of spiritual stability, firmly grounded in Christ and His teachings.

What Christ did for Peter, He can do for you and I. Whether we like to admit it or not, there’s probably a little bit of Peter in all of us. We all have our flaws and weaknesses. We all have a tendency to follow our impulses rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit. If anything, Peter is representative of the common man. But like Peter, Jesus can take a common, ordinary man or woman, and make a very uncommon servant of God. That is always His purpose for His children.

After Simon met Jesus, his name was changed. That name change was indicative of the work Christ would perform in this man’s life. Let’s examine the transformation that took place in Simon’s life.

Theme: What process led to Simon’s transformation?

I. JESUS CAPTURED PETER’S IMAGINATION

A. Christ’s Promise Captured His Imagination.

John 1: 42 “…And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

NOTE: [1] Jesus made this promise based on what He saw in Simon. The word “beheld” carries the idea of “a close, penetrating look” (W.E. Vine, M.A., An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, Vol. III, published by Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, New Jersey; pg.13). Jesus looked inside Simon and saw not merely what he was, but what he would be.

[2] This is one of the few times Peter was speechless. Peter was weak and impetuous, yet Jesus said, “You will become a rock.” The prospects of Christ’s promise to him captured Peter’s imagination.

[3] It’s truly wonderful what God can do with a life that is given to Him.

3a. Give God a scheming and conniving Jacob, and He’ll make a prince with God out of him.

3b. Give God a legalistic, cruel and persecuting Saul of Tarsus, and He’ll make a loving and dedicated Paul the apostle out of him.

3c. Give God a weak, impetuous and cocky Simon, and He’ll make a rock-solid and stable man out of him.

B. Christ’s Power Captured Peter’s Imagination.

Luke 5: 4 “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

NOTE: [1] If there was one thing Simon knew about, it was fishing. It must have seemed strange to him to have a carpenter tell him about fishing. But to Simon’s amazement, fish began to fill his net by the droves. It was here that Peter learned that Jesus had power over his business.

[2] In this miracle Jesus was establishing His authority in the life of Peter. Peter not only learned that Jesus had power over his business, but also that the Lord wished to give his business eternal dimensions. Jesus said, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5: 10b).

[3] God doesn’t call everyone to be a preacher or a missionary. But He does want His children to realize that whatever they do in life can have eternal dimensions to it. No matter what line of honorable work one may do, they can still be a fisher of men.

[4] Peter had been captured by the power of Jesus, for Luke 5: 11 indicates that he immediately followed Jesus.

II. JESUS CHALLENGED PETER’S FAITH