My name is Simeon, though you are probably more familiar with three other names by which I am known: Simon, Peter and Cephas. Simeon is actually my given name in Hebrew, and in certain Jewish circles, I am still referred to that way. James, the Lord’s brother, sometimes calls me Simeon¹ and I have used that name in correspondence.² But in the culture at large, where the Greek influence is predominant, I usually go by Simon, which is the Greek form of Simeon.

            But that was before the Lord gave me another name: Cephas, though you may have heard it as Peter. When Jesus first met me, he said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas.”³ Aramaic is our everyday language, and Cephas is from the Aramaic word for “rock”; Peter is from the Greek word for rock. So I am called “rock” in both languages.

            At the time, I didn’t know why Jesus wanted to call me “rock,” but I found out later.

Before the Resurrection

            I am here this morning in part because I was a witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. But more importantly, I am here to tell you how the Lord wants us to live now that he has returned to his Father in heaven. For, you see, the resurrection of Jesus marked a turning point for those who follow him. There is a definite “before” and “after,” and my own life illustrates it.

            Most of you probably know of my greatest failure. The account of my denying Jesus, not once, but three times the night he was arrested has been well circulated. It’s often retold during the time you call Holy Week, and it should be. It was a shameful failure on my part. But you should also know about it because it is an example of the “before” part of my life, and perhaps some of you can identify with it.

            But there were some other moments when I was with Jesus where I fell short, too. One was when he told us that he was going to Jerusalem to be killed and raised again. I blurted out “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.”⁴ I spoke out of my love for him, but it was a blind love, one that didn’t listen to what he was saying, one that failed to understand his mission.

            Another time was when Jesus was talking about how hard it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. That got me to thinking about what we

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