Okay ... that begs the questions ‘how, when & where’ ;-)
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In my living room, a few years ago . . . I saw the back cover of John Paul II’s “Crossing the Threshold of Hope.” I had bought the book years and years before (I love beautiful books and this one was gold embossed, first english edition, awesome looking book). I’d never read it. Three words were on the back: “Be Not Afraid.”
I was 38, cynical about religions, not at all seeking, had not been to church in 26 years, since I was a boy. I had a good job, a baby on the way. I had explored western philosophy, stoicism, buddhism, and basically convinced myself there was no answer or that at a minimum I wasn’t the guy to figure it out, so I had stopped looking for spiritual answers.
I didn’t read the book. I didn’t read the Bible. I didn’t listen to a sermon or have an evangelist per se speak to me. I just saw the three words “Be Not Afraid” on the back of the book. The Holy Spirit filled me up when I saw them and that was it; I went into that day an agnostic/athiest and ended the day being taught by God. Wave after wave after wave. The Spirit came and went for days and days, constantly that first night and next morning and then in waves, shallower and less long, for a while after.
I found a church, read the Bible, and have been a believer ever since.
I was being prepared prior. When I wasn’t a Christian, a few weeks maybe before I was touched by him, I picked up a King James Bible and said to my wife let’s see what is in here for me, joking, but not fully; I was interested. I plunked down my finger into John 1 on this line:
42And 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.
Now, I think God has a sense of humor, because I made fun of that! I saw in scripture this man, Jesus meeting a man named Simon and telling him, out of the blue, not knowing him, that Simon would be called Cephas, a stone. I laughed.
If I had looked at the line above it, it says: “We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
If I had looked at the line below it, Christ says: “Follow me.”
But I didn’t look. I laughed.
A few years after I became a Christian, I went to a class about evangelism. They taught us to pray for the people in our lives that we want to help come to Christ. I said to my wife “I wonder if anyone ever prayed for me.” She laughed and named about 10 people. She had practically every Christian we knew praying for me to find Christ. I don’t know whether it’s to my wife’s credit or discredit that she didn’t try to proselytize to me directly; I think it’s to her credit. I think I would have been contemptuous towards anything but her example and personal faith if she or anyone else had come on too strong. I just thought it was all poppycock.
Not anymore.
I have been a member of FR for many years now. I just spent 1/2 hour composing the following response to you. When I went to post it, a login screen popped up advising me that I was not a member and needed to create a login account. That is totally bizarre! Someone or something does not want you to read this response.
I was being prepared prior. When I wasn’t a Christian, a few weeks maybe before I was touched by him, I picked up a King James Bible and said to my wife let’s see what is in here for me, joking, but not fully; I was interested. I plunked down my finger into John 1 on this line: 42And 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.
Now, I think God has a sense of humor, because I made fun of that! I saw in scripture this man, Jesus meeting a man named Simon and telling him, out of the blue, not knowing him, that Simon would be called Cephas, a stone. I laughed.
If I had looked at the line above it, it says: “We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
If I had looked at the line below it, Christ says: “Follow me.”
Absolutely fascinating! There's more to this than even you realize at this time. (BTW - 'cephas' is Aramaic and means large rock, not stone. 'Petros' is the Greek for small stone). Both in Mark 3:16 & John 1:42, Jesus renames Simon "Kepha" (cepha) in Aramaic which literally means "rock." This was an extraordinary thing for Jesus to do, because "rock" was not even a name in Jesus' time. Jesus did this, not to give Simon a strange name, but to identify his new status among the apostles. When God changes a person's name, He changes their status. Think about this! Do you recall another time in Biblical history when God changed a person's name? Yes! He changed Abram's name to Abraham and promised that he would be the Father of many nations.
It's certainly important that you recognized that the lines above and below pointed to the Messiah. What you need to ask yourself is why He chose to show you that particular line, that points to Peter.
Thank you for sharing your story! It's right up there with Roy Schoeman (a former Jew) and Fr. John Corapi.
Right out of the mouth of Jesus...A Stone...
So who led you to the bible, God, or Satan...And who led you to that verse, God, or Satan???
These people are trying to rob you of your faith and salvation (eternal security)...
Very similar to my story....
“...Simon would be called Cephas, a stone. I laughed.”
You see the humor and beauty, too. After all, St Peter floats like a “rock” when trying to walk on waves without holding Jesus’ hand. The imagery is perfect for “fishers of men” who net souls from the darkness of the abyss.