Warriors Arise: October 10, 2020
John 21:15-16a (NKJV) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
I find it interesting that Jesus continued to address Simon in correlation with his father, son of Jonah. It does make me wonder how many were there, watching, listening, hoping Jesus would call them to walk with Him. Because we have the disciples in the boat fishing, I tend to forget at some point nearly 500 more arrived.
Paul writes to the Corinthians testifying of Jesus being the Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (NKJV) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
We know by Scripture that Cephas was not the first one to see Jesus; therefore, the possibility remains that Cephas, as my cross-reference refers to as Peter, is talking about the point in time when Jesus calls him out to speak to him in John 21:15-18. "He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve." When you go to the doctor you are seen by the doctor. Someone might ask, "Have you been seen by the doctor yet?" When you go to the doctor, hopefully he talks with you, asking you questions, getting a better picture of what sickness is bothering you and then giving you the solution. Paul, being a proper Jew, a Jew among Jews, would have called Peter by his formal name, Cephas. Jesus spoke with Peter and the eleven disciples.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all refer to Jesus speaking to the eleven, commissioning them before He ascends to heaven. However, I have difficulty explaining why Jesus, calls one of His best friends by his full name, "Simon, son of Jonah." The eleven would have known who Jesus wanted to speak to if Jesus had called Simon by Peter. It makes me think there were more people there than just the eleven disciples.
1 Corinthians 15:5-6 (NKJV) and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
Jesus spoke to Peter, then to His eleven disciples, then Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:6, "after that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once." When the disciples left Jerusalem, word got out. Other disciples wanted to know where they had gone. As we know from Scripture, other people had seen and spoken with Jesus after His resurrection before the disciples, Mary Magdalene, the two on the road to Emmaus, and another Simon. This has been shared in other Warrior Arise prayer strategies. Just as they came and testified to the disciples, they would have gone and told others as well.
When the disciples leave Jerusalem to meet Jesus where He had told them to meet Him before He died on the cross, others followed, others wanted to be with Jesus, some just wanted to see for themselves. This is what leads me to believe Jesus called Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah" because there were others gathered there. It also may have been why Jesus called to them fishing. He wanted to meet with them, they were the ones He needed to speak with. Too many others were gathering and He needed time with them. He needed them to receive what He was about to commission them to do. Before any more gathered, He needed to speak with Peter.
Even in a crowd, Jesus can call your name and you hear His voice. He may call you by your full name and when He does it compels you to get up and walk with Him.
Father, this is promising. In the midst of the crowd, You call my name in such a way, I know You are talking to me. I want to respond immediately when You call my name. I want to walk with You and have You speak directly to me. I pray my ears would be open to hear You, my heart and mind would be focused on what You are saying. I am thankful that in a crowd You speak and I respond to Your voice. I ask for people all over the world to hear You call their name. I pray for revival to light a fire in our hearts again. I pray You would open their ears to hear You call their name. I ask in the name of Jesus for each one to respond to Your call. I ask they would get up and follow You. I ask for each one to let go of what they think they know and listen to what You are telling them. I pray for each one to submit to Your ways and honor You in their words and actions. I pray those who hear Your voice call their name will give their life over to You and walk in the destiny in which You have created them in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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