“So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My lambs.’ He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Shepherd My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep’” (John 21:15-17).

Living up to One’s Name New beginnings are sometimes marked with new names. This happened repeatedly in the Bible. Thus, when God gave His promises to Abram, he became “Abraham” (Gen. 17:5). Likewise, Jacob became “Israel” (Gen. 32:28). When Daniel was taken into exile to serve the Babylonian king, he became “Belteshazzar” (Dan. 1:7). When Saul was converted to Christ, he became “Paul” (Acts 13:9). The citizens of the “new Jerusalem” were to be called by a new name (Isa. 62:2). This is not surprising, since names become so closely identified with their bearers that they become who they are. This is so true, that names sometimes not only reflect what people are, but even make them who they are. Thus, a new life requires a new name. With this in mind, it is interesting and informative to observe when Jesus addresses Peter either by that name or by “Simon.” While the original “Sim[e]on” had tainted his name with murder (Gen. 34:25; 49:5,6), “Peter,” the name Jesus gave to the apostle Peter, means “rock” (Jn. 1:40-42). It was when Peter reverted to his old, weak self that Jesus called him “Simon.” Thus, when Peter was about to deny Jesus, He doubly denominates him as such: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat” (Lk. 22:31). When Peter slept at Gethsemane, Jesus called him “Simon” (Mk. 14:37). When Peter returned to his old life of fishing (Jn. 21:1-17), Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (Jn. 21:1-17). On the other hand, when Peter acted according to the great role Jesus had for him, Jesus called him “Peter.” Thus, when Peter took a big step in the transition from his “Simon” persona to his “Peter” persona by confessing Him as the Christ, Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona … . And I also say to you that you are Peter …” (Matt. 16:16-18). It was also when Jesus called Peter to preach the gospel to Gentiles for the first time that He called him “Peter” (Acts 10:13). That there is significance in this transition from being called “Simon” to being called “Peter” is supported by two facts. First, “Simon,” as a name for Peter, virtually disappears from the New Testament after the Gospels, when Peter fully and finally undertakes his apostolic duties. Second, it seems that, when the outcome of the transition from “the old Simon” to “the new Peter” hangs in the balance, the two names are combined as “Simon Peter” (Jn. 21:1-17). Thus, the last time either “Simon” or “Peter” occur in the Bible is when Peter refers to himself as “Simon Peter” before his death (2 Pet. 1:1,14). Perhaps he wants to show that, after a lifetime of struggling to put “Simon” away, he has finally managed to make the full “Simon-to-Peter,” “fisherman-to-shepherd,” conversion Jesus had asked Him to make so many years ago. Each person who would receive a new, heavenly name must strive to grow into it (Rev. 2:17; 3:12). He must take on a new identity and character which reflect that name. Those who would live up in heaven must live up to that name. As Paul said, “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him” (Col. 3:9,10).