John 1:40-42: "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone."  

It was said of Luther Burbank, the famous American horticulturist that he looked at every weed as potentially a flower. Jesus looked at people in the same way. His choice of twelve men would most likely not have been ours.

The disciples he chose were young, relatively poor, educationally challenged, and very ordinary men of the rawest of raw material. They were not the kind of people who would give instant credibility to Jesus' ministry. In our day, when people want to start a new venture, they seek to assure their future participants by lining their letter-head with the names of well known persons so as to impress potential donors, investors or members.

Looking back in biblical history, it is easy to forget where Jesus had to begin with the Twelve. These were not men made out of superior stuff that gave them the innate ability to accomplish extraordinary things. It is a sobering, but greatly encouraging fact that Jesus selected ordinary, plain-vanilla people who were no different from you or me.

This should serve as a constant encouragement to us today as we seek to be disciples and to build disciples of all nations. It was not the brightest, the biggest, or those with personality plus, or the most influential, or the most gifted that Jesus called and transformed into world-changers, but just ordinary, plain-vanilla people who were no different from you or me.

We have a classic example of how Jesus looked at potential disciples in his meeting, claiming, re-naming, and taming Simon Peter. Perhaps the most well known and loved character in the Bible, apart from Jesus Himself, is Simon Peter. For contradiction of personality, for mixture of saint and sinner in one person, the life of Simon Peter is at the top of the list. Perhaps the reason we like him so well is because he is so much like us and when we read his story, we are looking at a full-length reflection of ourselves.

In John 1:42, Jesus sees Simon the fisherman for the first time. His view of him is one that we need to allow the Holy Spirit to build into our lives as well.

I. Jesus Looks at You with a Prophetic Revelation that Involves a Double Perception, or Outlook, In His Eye!

The old Puritan, Matthew Henry, said, “It should seem that Peter was utterly a stranger to Christ, and if so it was a proof of Christ's omniscience that upon the first sight, without any enquiry, he could tell the name both of him and of his father.” With his assertion, I beg to differ. I don’t believe that Jesus operated by any of His omnis’ – omnipotence, omniscience, and I know He didn’t function by omnipresence – instead He operated as a man filled with the Spirit and in the gifts of the Spirit. These same gifts of the Spirit are available to believers today so that we can see with the same look that Jesus did!

A. By Prophetic Revelation, He saw Simon the Natural Man – Simon was his natural, family-given name as well as his pre-conversion name. The Bible says, "Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas,'" which, when translated, is "Peter." (Simon, son of John, now the Stone i.e. Simon Johnstone–true apostolic succession!)

Jesus saw Simon as he was at that very moment. He saw Simon, the raw, rugged, real man. What He saw was not a pretty picture. He saw a cursing, hot-heated, quick-tongued, swearing fisherman. He saw the weak, unstable, undependable brother of Andrew. He saw a man with a nature that could fly off the handle in a heart-beat and act rashly and impulsively. After having had one of his flesh-flashes, Simon had probably thought a thousand times, “Oh God, please change me and make me into what You want me to be!” But when Jesus first saw Simon, he was not what God wanted him to be at all!

No doubt all those who knew Simon looked at him as the fickle, fleshy, son of John. Jesus looks at him, and by prophetic word of wisdom and knowledge, He sees Cephas or Peter, which means "rock." At this point Simon (whose name means “hearing”) was more like a shaky little pebble than a solid rock. For the next three years as Jesus' disciple, Simon demonstrated his volatility, his unpredictability, his stupidity, his flashes of true spirituality, and his up-and-down-ness. But Jesus looks at Simon and sees, not just the roller coaster man he is, but the rock he's going to become as he follows Jesus.

When Jesus looks at you, He always sees double. He looks at you with a double perception or vision in His eye. He always looks at you with bifocals. He sees not one person, but two. When Jesus looked at Simon Peter in the moment of their first encounter, He saw two persons – Simon, the natural man—and Peter, the new man.

When Jesus looks at you, He sees what you yourself have never seen -- His handmade creation, designed to make a unique difference on this planet. In the words of Ephesians 2:10, "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

And, most important, Jesus sees in you someone He thought was worth dying for. He was willing and able to pay for all the junk you've ever done against Him so you could be forgiven and so you could be allowed into His kingdom. In a sense, when Jesus looks at you, He sees a tree - the cross where He poured out His life for someone for who He would rather die than live without, for one He didn't want to lose.

We must cultivate the same vision that Jesus had and see people as he saw them and speak about them as he spoke about them. Jesus knows the worst about you but that won’t stop his plans for you. 

B. By Prophetic Revelation, He saw Simon the New Man – “Jesus looked at him…” The Greek word for looked or beheld is emblepsas, which means to “look into.” It is not an outside glance, but an inward gaze. Jesus saw in the Spirit and thus saw Simon as he could be.

Jesus also saw Simon as he would be after Jesus finished with him. He saw the man that God's grace could and would make out of Simon. And the two men -- what Simon was and what he could be -- were so different that each of them required a different name. Looking at this man as he was, Jesus said, using KJV English, “Thou art Simon”; looking at him as he could become, He said, “Thou shalt be called Cephas, a Rock.” And every time the Lord Jesus Christ looks at a person, He sees not one person, but two.

(1)  He looked at Simon and saw Peter;

(2)  He looked at Saul of Tarsus and saw Paul the Apostle;

(3)  He looked at Jacob the liar and cheat, and saw Israel, the prince with God.

(4)  He looked at Abram (exalted father) and saw Abraham (father of a multitude)

(5) He looked at Sarai (my princess) and saw Sarah (princess of all princesses)! Her former name Sarai signifies "my princess", or rather "princesses", being that personally to Abram; she was better than ten thousand; yet only a princess to him, and in his family, being sole mistress there: but Sarah signifies "princess" absolutely, because she was princess over all the princes and people that should come of her, as well as be the mother and princess of all female believers, who are called her daughters, 1Pet_3:6.

God changes Abram's and Sarai’s (Saw ra- ee) name by adding something to Abram and Sarai.  He adds to their names the Hebrew letter he, the repeated letter among the four letters of the sacred Tetragrammaton (YHWH – Yahweh or Jehovah). Ye- future – I will be; Hov – present – I am; Ah – past – I was. In Genesis 17:2,5, 15, God is making covenant with Abram. In ancient times the covenant Superior’s name was given to the subject, or inferior. God’s name, Yahweh, or Jehovah, has a dominate letter --“H”, or “hov”. It is a sound in the Hebrew language, like the letter H in the English language, that is made by breathing out. The Hebrew word used for the Spirit of God is the word Ruach.  It means literally "the outbreathing." God breathes Himself into Abram and makes him Abraham, Father of Multitudes.  The new syllable of Abram's name is placed in its center. Abram, with [Jehovah's breath] within him, becomes Abraham."

So, what happened to Abram? Inhale and blow a deep breath onto the palm of your hand.  What you just did to your palm, Jehovah did to Abram.  The difference?  His breath brings life!  "I have made you a father of many nations" (Gen 17:5).  Bask in the past tense of the statement. God had made Abraham a father of many nations before Abraham had glimpsed a single descendant. Beloved, I wonder what God has already made you. Things that perhaps you've not even glimpsed. Believe God! 

Like Abram of the O.T., in order for Simon to become Peter, he must be breathed upon by the Spirit of God. And when He breathes that breathe of the Spirit upon us, he renames us in order to aim us at our destiny. He tells us what we are going to be and then sets out to make us like what he has decreed.  So when he looks at you or me, He sees two people -- the one I am, and the one He can make of me.

It was Ralph Waldo Emerson, the famous poet, who put this truth into these lines: If in a vision you could see Yourself as the person God meant; You could never more be the person you are content.

II. Jesus Looks at You with a Prophetic Revelation that Involves a Divine Potential, or Optimism, in His Heart

A. The Optimism of Jesus is Realistic – He is called Simon, Simon Peter and then after the Day of Pentecost primarily just Peter. The circumstances in which these various texts refers to the son of John as Simon, Simon, or Simon Peter reveals that he is capable of acting like the natural or the spiritual man; the old man or the new man. Jesus often called him Simon when he was acting or about to act like the person he was by nature. (Read Luke 22:31-32.)

John 2:25 says that “Jesus needed not anyone to testify to Him about man, for He knew what was in man.” Nothing was (or is) hidden or secret from Him. All of the sin and shame that you think is hidden lays naked and open to Jesus’ searching, penetrating gaze. No one knows as much about human nature as Jesus. So He knew exactly the kind of man Peter was.

When He said to him, “You are Simon, “it is as if He had said, ‘I know all about you. I know full well the character that is associated with that name. I know all that people say about you, and much more. I know your reputation around the fishing docks in Galilee. I know about all your weaknesses and insecurities that you try to hide by being a bottom-line, tell-it-like-it-is boisterous brash person. I know what is in your fickle, fearful heart. You are Simon.” But then, His glorious optimism reveals itself. Knowing Simon as He does, He adds, “but You shall be called Cephas or Peter, a Rock.”

B. The Optimism of Jesus is Idealistic – Could Jesus be anything less than idealistic, and still be Who He was? This unconquerable, idealistic optimism at least partially explains the secret of His redeeming power. It was this optimism that helped to redeem and save Simon.

When Andrew brought him to Jesus, Simon was perhaps downcast and ready to despair. When Andrew said, “We have found the Messiah,” Simon did not think the message concerned him much. Peter probably thought that if Jesus wanted disciples, it was surely steady, reliable men like Andrew that He wanted, and not impulsive, volatile men like himself. But the first words Jesus spoke to him put new courage into his heart, new resolution into his soul, for they were words of glorious and splendid hope. “You are Simon... You shall be Peter!” At that moment, Peter’s radical redemption began. This is true of all who come to saving faith in Christ if we follow the gaze of Jesus, He will enable us to look right through what we are to see what He knows we can become. This optimism of Jesus explains His ability to save many who seemed utterly beyond saving. He saved publicans and sinners because He first believed they could be saved. Jesus Christ never met a hopeless case.

He found Mary Magdalene in her shame, and spoke to her a “thou shalt be” of forgiveness and purity.

He found Levi, a hard, greedy tax collector, and spoke to him a “thou shalt be” of sainthood and service, and he became Matthew.

He found Saul of Tarsus, a blasphemer and a persecutor, and spoke to him a “thou shalt be” of grace and apostleship, and he became Paul.

What is it that Jesus sees that He can do in your life?!

Note in Acts 2:14, Peter, not Simon has emerged. Yet toward the end of his life Peter refers to himself as Simon Peter – 2 Peter 1:1 – Why? Because after all those years, he still knows that he has the potential to erupt as old Simon given the right circumstances.

Note—Whatever we speak to in ourselves or other Persons, Rises Up!  If we speak to the flesh only, it will rise up against us. If we speak only to faults and flaws in ourselves and others, they will resist and rise against us. (One newlywed husband said to his wife after the honeymoon –“Dear, I want to point out some of your faults and flaws – He did – to which she responded by saying, “Yes, and that is the reason I could not get a better husband than I did!) In contrast, if we will speak to the spiritual DNA God has or can deposit in them, then faith will rise to the ascendency!

III. Jesus Looks at You with a Prophetic Revelation that Involves a Definite Purpose, or Objective, in His Mind

A. An Ongoing Process of Transformation – There was a Man to Make!

Jesus did not see the perfection, but He did see ongoing, increasing potential in them. Jesus named him properly and accurately for identity and then works out his destiny.

Let me repeat a previously declared truth: God is a destiny writer who names us in order to aim us toward our destiny! (In Hebrew the word "name" means position and designation from God.) When God views us in Christ, destiny is the standard, not past history!!! Destiny keeps us forward focused and not past possessed. When God speaks to me as a king's kid in training for reigning, it's always in terms of my future destiny and not my sinful past! The formation of correct identity is crucial, both to our BEING Disciples and to our BUILDING Disciples, because how we see ourselves is what we become. What you see you will be.

Identity is Found in Believing Who Jesus Says I Am!

A Wrong Perception of Our Identity Results in a Strong Misconception of Our Destiny! A Mistaken Identity Causes a Misplaced Faith in which the Focus is on the Size of the Problems to the Neglect of the Size of God!

A Mistaken Identity Causes a Focus on the Problems Ones Going Through instead of on the Destiny Ones Going To!

A Biblically Named Position in God’s Plan doesn’t Automatically Result in a Transformed Nature in Our Person – A classic example is that of the children of Israel who had been freed from Egyptian slavery and brought out of their circumstances of bondage by a mighty, miraculous intervention of God on their behalf. But they demonstrate a great truth for us -- being released from the Oppressor doesn’t guarantee a release from oppression. Having slave-manacles removed from one’s body doesn’t automatically remove the slave-mentality from one’s mind.

A Scriptural Name doesn’t automatically translate into Saintly Nature! True Position in Christ doesn’t equal Transformed Disposition or attitude. Again consider the people of Israel that God brought out of Egypt!

Father's task with His old covenant people Israel is the same with His new covenant people -- the Church -- to bring our nature into alignment with our new name and position. To not only bring us out of slavery by freeing us from slavery's manacles, but to transform our slave-mentality into that of Sons of God, and impart His vision. He must transform us into warrior/priest who worship and war. A people who are Victors and not victims; from "tunnel-vision" to "world-vision"; from a people who "succumb" to those who "overcome" -- in short a people who fully embrace their destiny of devotion-giving, dominion-taking and disciple-making sons of God!

A number of years ago during a practice session for the Green Bay Packers, things were not going well for Coach Vince Lombardi’s team. Lombardi singled out one big guard for this failure to ‘put out’ much effort. It was a hot, muggy day. The coach called his guard aside and leveled his awesome vocal guns on him, as only Lombardi could do. “Son, you are a lousy football player. You’re not blocking, you’re not tackling, and you’re not putting out. As a matter of fact, it’s all over for you today, so go take a shower.” The big guard dropped his head and walked into the dressing room. Forty-five minutes later when Lombardi walked in, he saw the big guard sitting in front of his locker still wearing his uniform. His head was bowed, and he was sobbing quietly. Vince Lombardi, ever the changeable but always the compassionate warrior, did something of an about-face that also was typical of him. He walked over to his football player and put his arm around his shoulder.

“Son”, he said, “I told you the truth. You are a lousy football player. You’re not blocking, you’re not tackling, and you’re not putting out. However, in all fairness to you, I should have finished the story. Inside of you, son, there is a great football player, and I’m going to stick by your side until the great football player inside of you has a chance to come out and assert himself.”

With these words, Jerry Kramer straightened up and felt a great deal better. As a matter of fact, he felt so much better he went on to become one of the all time greats in football. A few years ago Jerry Kramer was voted the all time guard in the first fifty years of professional football.

B. Outgoing Purpose is Transmitted – There was a Mission to Undertake!

Destiny will be Fulfilled as Jesus Brings Our Nature into Alignment with Our Biblical Names – You Are – You Will Be! (You were a sinner, now you are a saint; you were a slave, now you are a son; you were a prodigal, now you are a co-partner in the Family Firm of Almighty and Sons!)

1. Peter became the Leader of the Twelve -- Look at how Jesus used Peter! Peter became the mighty preacher of the Day of Pentecost, and 3,000 men were won to Christ. Peter became one of the two greatest leaders of the Apostles and the early church (Peter the Apostle to the Jews, and Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles).

2. Opener of Doors for the NT Church –Mt 16:18 – Jesus gave him the keys of the kingdom.

3. Writer of Two Books of the NT -- Peter became the writer of two of the great books of the New Testament (I and II Peter), books full of optimism, courage, faith and hope.

 God Himself is the Only Foundation for a Secure Sense of Identity – This means that we Must Be God-centered and not Self-centered, in our view of ourselves. Knowing who He is forms a solid basis for knowing who I am.  God has revealed Himself so that I can experience, enjoy Him, and express His life and love. He has breathed upon me the Pneuma – the breathe of the His Spirit, giving me a new name and a new nature!

Character transformation doesn’t come about by seeing who we are, but by seeing who He is. True vision is seeing Him, who He is, and where He now sits. We will never be changed into His glory by seeing who we are, but only by seeing Him.

If you have been birthed into God's family by the supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit, you have been brought into the New Covenant, with a new name written down in glory. You are a child of God. You are in Christ and Christ is in you. You are a Designer's original, and despite what others may consider to be a defect in God's design, he made you the way you are for greater effect. That is, He gave you the frame that you have so that it would have the effect of calling more attention to the image of Christ being formed in it than in the frame itself.

You are not unloved or unwanted, but one of the few, the free and the forgiven! You are not condemned or cursed but chosen of God and called of the Spirit and made complete in Christ.

Failure is an event in your life, but it's not you. You fail a lot but failing in life doesn't mean your life is a failure. Failure should be our teacher and not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It's a temporary detour and not a dead-end street!"

You are not inferior nor are or you superior, but by God's grace you have become the object of the Holy Spirit's ministry on your interior!  YOU ARE – NOW BE! 

I would like for you to finish the sermon for me. Jesus Christ says, “You are  _______.”  You fill in the blank; you know what you are. Be absolutely honest. Weak? Fickle? Sinful? Guilty? Helpless? Fill in the blank!

Then hear Jesus as He says, “You Shall Be ______”! Begin to seek Him and pray to see Him more clearly and then you will discover the possible becoming the actual; the real beginning to line up with the ideal; and what is will begin to look more and more like what was meant to be!