Crossroads of Becoming
Following Jesus begins with belief, but faith isn’t just a moment, it’s a lifetime journey, learning to listen, discern, be patient, and follow Jesus and His purpose for our lives. Our journey is full of crossroads, which Pastor Jay explained as “moments in our journey; junctures that determine the next season in our life.”
When we read about the disciples walking with Jesus on earth, it can seem like it would have been the easiest thing in the world. They were called by Him, traveled with Him, listened to His teaching, saw His miracles, heard Him pray, asked Him questions, and watched Him interact with people from every part of society. And from our vantage point, reading these stories centuries later, it seems obvious who Jesus was. But even the disciples spent their years with Him questioning, misunderstanding, and needing reassurance again and again.
The many crossroads in Peter’s life feel a lot like our own journeys.
When we first meet him, he is called Simon. And after barely an introduction, Jesus drops a bomb on him: “You are Simon… you will be called Peter (which means rock)."
Simon didn’t look much like a rock in the beginning. Throughout the Gospels we see him fumbling his way along. Peter questions Jesus, argues with the other disciples, misunderstands parables, loses faith while actually walking on water, speaks when he should stay quiet, stays quiet when he should speak up, rebukes Jesus, denies Him, and eventually quits the whole disciple life and goes back to fishing.
But Jesus wasn’t naming who Simon was. He was naming who Simon would become.
Peter had his own ideas about who Jesus was and how the Messiah should act. It takes many chapters, and many crossroads, before we finally see Simon truly become Peter.
In John 21 we find him back at his old job as a fisherman, humbled and uncertain after running away at Jesus crucifixion. There, Jesus meets him again, forgives him, restores him, and calls him forward into his purpose.
It took twenty-one chapters for Simon’s identity to begin to line up to how Jesus saw him years before; to become the rock, Peter.
For most of us, our Christian transformation often works the same way. It takes time, pressure, and many decisions along the journey. At each crossroads, Peter had to let go of the false version of himself he’d built on fear, pride, and control. The Simon who tried to correct Jesus had to fade so the Peter Jesus saw could emerge.
Like him, our identity in Christ shapes everything: how we see ourselves, how we relate to God, and how we treat others. We can choose at each crossroad to walk toward our true self which is built on love, humility, and concern for others.
When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He was inviting Peter into a relationship that would change him over time. That kind of transformation only happens by walking with Him day after day.
Every day we come to small crossroads of our own. We wonder what is happening around us and what the future might hold. In those moments we choose how we will walk forward.
And again and again, Jesus simply says, “Follow Me”.
Reflection Questions::
• What crossroads are you currently facing where you need to trust Jesus rather than your own understanding or control?
• In what areas of your life do you see the “old Simon” showing up? Is there fear, pride, or trying to manage things on your own?
• What might it look like today to take one small step toward the person Jesus is calling you to become?
