Peter – Media 4 Life Ministries

What’s in a name?

I came a cross a video on YT where a Jewish believer made the case that Christians use the wrong name for God and Jesus. First let me say that God is a title not His name. People of course use the word God very frequently and there are other religions that have gods. The name of the God of the Bible is revealed as YHWH or the “I AM.”

The person in the video made the point that YHWH is His name and Christians should call Him YHWH instead of God. The name Jesus in our English translation is derived from the Greek word Iēsous. That is the name the NT writers used in their epistles and the gospels in the Greek Septuagint. Most of us Christians that speak English use the name Jesus. The same is true in German and Spanish, just with a different pronunciation. I do believe that most believers know that Jesus’ name in the Hebrew is Yehoshua or Yeshua, which means God or YHWH is our salvation.

What about calling Him Jesus rather than by His Jewish name? The point made in the video was this: if someone goes to France and meets a person named Pierre, which in English would be Peter and calls him Peter instead of Pierre and that person says stop calling me Peter my name is Pierre.

Would he not get offended if the other person keeps on calling him Peter? I’m not sure what to make of this, is it wrong to call our Lord and Savior Jesus? Many people who are not believers think that Jesus Christ is His first and last name. Christ is also a title i.e Messiah. What is your opinion? Is it a legalistic way of looking at a name or does the man have a point and we should call “Jesus” by His Jewish name? I think it would be difficult to change something that has been going on for centuries.

On a personal note, my given birth name is Freddy and sometimes people call me Fredrick or Fred. I can handle Fred but don’t like Fredrick, that is not my name. Would Jesus feel the same way? Would He say my name is not Jesus it is Yehoshua or Yeshua? I don’t really know, but I do like the name Yeshua. Should we call YHWH by His title (God) or by His name? Well, I’m not getting legalistic about it. It’s not any issue essential for salvation. I believe that “God” or “Jesus” know Who we mean when we say Jesus or God. I welcome your input and feedback on this.

Looking unto to Jesus…

Most people are probably familiar with the story in Matthew 14. It’s the story where Jesus walks on the water.

It was just before the break of dawn when Jesus walked on the water towards the boat were the disciples spend the night crossing the Sea of Galilee. At first they thought it was a ghost and they started to fear. Jesus called out to them, “Be of good cheer, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter was the first to react, I think maybe with a little bit of doubt asking Jesus, “Lord if this is You, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus answered, “Come”. So Peter stepped out of the boat and onto the water. I wonder sometimes when I read that passage, what must have gone through Peter’s mind that very moment, realizing that he was actually walking on water?

Peter stepped out in faith and was walking towards the Lord. As the story goes on, Peter got very afraid seeing the boisterous wind and the waves coming towards him. He became fearful and started to sink. He cried out to Jesus, “Lord save me.”. Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him. After this Jesus said to Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”.

I think Jesus said this with a little chuckle. Why did Peter have fear and doubts? He stepped out in faith and walk a short distance on the water before he started to drown. I think the reason is because Peter took his eyes off the Lord. His faith turned into fear. Instead of believing Jesus Who said to him “Come” he became fearful.

Fear and Faith are mutually exclusive. Faith and Fear cannot co-exist. The one cancels out the other. One cannot have faith and fear at the same time. That’s what happened to Peter, he was walking on the water and the moment he took his eyes of Jesus, he started to sink. The lesson we can learn from this is to keep our eyes on Jesus. As long as we stay focused on Jesus and do not fear whatever wave or storm may come our way, we will not sink as Peter did. The world is full of fear and doubts, people are scared about the economy, geopolitical events and many other things in their daily life’s.

We as believers in Christ should not fear or doubt. We can firmly stand on God’s word and His promises. We cannot please the Lord by fearing. Jesus said many times, “Fear Not!” The Bible says in Hebrews: “..looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith….” Heb 12:2. Looking onto Jesus… Without Jesus we can do nothing and without faith, it’s impossible to please God. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, He is the shinning light unto our path.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phl 6:4.

“It is written….” (media4lifeministries.com)
Wash my Feet… (media4lifeministries.com)

Wash my Feet…

I was doing some maintenance on my computer this morning, using an application that cleans the disk drive from junk etc. While I was doing that these following passages came to mind, I’m sure most of you know the story in the Gospel of John, when they had finished the last supper how Jesus got up to wash the feet of the disciples. “After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter]said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” John 13: 5-10.

Jesus cleansed us by His blood, we as believers are washed and justified and declared righteous before the Father, He does not remember our sins, they are removed from us as far as the east is from the west. It is not by our righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ that was imputed onto every believer. But we do live in a fallen world and stumble from time to time, we are not perfect or sinless. Just as Jesus said we are clean, but our will feet get dirty in the world and need cleaning.

That’s just like the computer needs some cleaning, we as disciple of Jesus need some cleaning from the junk of the world. Thanks to Jesus we have direct access to the Father and can come boldly before His the heavenly throne and confess our sins and the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you Lord for your continues cleansing.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1John 1:8-10