Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:42

The first recorded use of a figure speech by Jesus is here in John 1:42. This is very early in Jesus' ministry. It is the summer of AD 26. John the Baptist has baptised Jesus and Jesus is lingering there by the Jordan River. May be He liked the preaching of John the Baptist enough that he stayed to listen. Scripture does not fill in all that detail so we are left to picture the scene on our own. But what scripture does tell us is the day after Jesus was baptised, John saw Jesus and yells out, "Look! The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the whole world".

John the baptist had disciples who were with him while he preached in the wilderness. They heard this. One of them was named Andrew and after he had spent sometime with Jesus he went to get his brother Simon. As Simon approaches Jesus for the first time Jesus greets him with His very first figure of speech.

Let's mull over that first sentence. What is Jesus calling attention to? One thing can be observed, Jesus is calling attention to Peter's ancestory. This is like saying, "I know you, I know where you are coming from". And this is important regarding the man Jesus was going to give the name Peter. It is important because at this point and even in the future in his walk with Jesus Simon was not that solid. 

Simon was a very flawed human being. He was brash, over confident and immature. There were moments when he was brilliant and moments when he flopped. Jesus knew that about him, of course. But let's remember this man simon was nothing great on his own, even following Jesus, Simon was full of ups and downs. He was unsteady and unpredictable.

Now we have our metaphor. Jesus looks at that unsteady, unpredictable man and says "you will be called Cephas". Now we know Cephas means rock or stone. The difference between a rock and a stone is a matter of size, not quality. A small rock is a stone, but it is every bit a rock. Also it is important to note Jesus does not say here, "you are rock." but "you will be called rock". Jesus sees past that flawed exterior of Simon and sees what he will become under that work of the master himself. There is nothing solid in Simon, but Jesus is not hindered by that. We should learn from this how our salvation and the work God does in our lives is not because of us. God works regardless of us.

So there is the scene down by the River Jordan, John the Baptist in the background preaching repentance, his disciples being ever so casually drawn to Jesus, and now an eager young man in his 20's is being prepared for a future in Jesus' kingdom.

So what is this rock metaphor, surely it is a metaphor. We don't believe the Bible means to say that Jesus turn Simon into a stone right here. What is it Jesus is trying to illustrate with this rock he associates with Peter. We need look no further than that first sentence Jesus uttered to Simon, "you are Simon son of John".

To go a little further in our understanding of this figure of speech, let's consider some facts of nature. We know how rock is formed from diverse components under pressure and temperature. In Hawaii we see it happening daily as lava flows down from Kiluea to the sea. Where ever the lava cools it forms incredible hard rock. A similar process happens when sand and cement are combined in proper proportion to make concrete. One thing can be observed where ever rock forms: A rock turns out to be harder than its individual components. In the case before us, Jesus is talking to the unsteady Simon and predicting he will one day be called "Rock". Jesus is illustrating his ability to take any of us and turn us into something that has no appearent connection to our present condition.

Now, we will add one last consideration to our study. How is the figure of speech of "rock" used in the old testament? This is important because Simon being Jewish would have been very familar with the rock metaphor in the old testament. In the old testament every time rock is used as a figure of speech it refers to God himself. "The Lord is my Rock", "Who is the Rock except our God?" "There is no other Rock" over and over again the old testament Rock refers to God himself. Rock speaks of God's dependablity. 

So what the eternal truth contained in this "Rock" metaphor. There are several truths here to be gleaned and indeed there is much more that can be said about our God - our Rock. We look again at Simon, 30 years after this meeting with Jesus along the Jordan. Simon has become known as Cephas, Peter and he knowing his death was coming wrote these words to remind us that by faith we become "participants in the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4) That "Rock" nature of God himself can be ours if we let him work. Our unsteady past can be transformed under the work of God in our lives. Have you ever felt the pressure? Has God ever let the heat be turned up on you? Do not resist, he is working on you, changing you, making you into one of his incredible living stones.