What’s In A Name?

Almost 19 years ago, my husband and I found out we were going to be parents for the first time and had to come up with a name for our son.  We quickly chose a family name that meant “conqueror or victor.”  A strong name would serve him well we thought.

A few years later, we went through the process again, this time for our daughter.  We made list after list, but nothing seemed “just right.”  A baby name book sat on my nightstand for months.  As my due date approached, we finally settled on a name despite the fact it meant “bitter.”  I prayed the name’s meaning would have no real influence on her personality. (It hasn’t.)

In today’s passage – Matthew 16: 15-19 – Jesus informs his disciple Simon that he is Peter.  The Message translation states: “And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out” (v 18).

Giving Simon the name Peter was very intentional.  Peter means rock and Peter was to truly be the rock on which the church was built.

In Matthew 7: 24-25, Jesus explains that a wise man builds his house on rock, so when it rains and the wind blows, it doesn’t fall because it has a firm foundation. When our faith is built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, then we can withstand whatever tries to knock us down.

Jesus, thank you for being the true embodiment of YOUR name’s meaning – Savior.