He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter)… (Mark 3:16 ESV)
Special
It is popular these days to suggest that Jesus loves us just the way we are.
And in a sense, that is true. God’s Love (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is unconditional. He loves us ‘just the way we are’ in that our unlovely aspects do NOT drive Him away from us, or cause Him to reject us, or put a series of things we must do (or be) to earn His love.
But just the way we are?
No… He has plans for His people. He is moving us towards more submission to Him. He is moving us towards more desire to love Him in return. He is moving us towards becoming more Christlike, and less us-like.
Christ displayed this particularly when He changed Simon’s name to Peter.
I am not sure exactly what the transition was, to be clear. While, “Peter” is usually understood to mean, “Rock”, “Simon” has a number of possible meanings. Simon can mean, “Listen”. Simon can mean, “Flat-nosed”. Neither of which really seems to contrast “Rock” very clearly.
But apparently the most common name in Judea around that time was Simon.
While Peter, at that time, was an extremely rare name.
Maybe Christ, when appointing Simon as one of the twelve, was declaring that being a child of God changes us from ‘common’ to ‘special.’
Not because we are skilled, or popular, or well-dressed, or good looking, or pious, or anything… anything but chosen by Him.
He changes us from the common sinner, into the special forgiven sinner, yes?
And there is nothing more special than that.