the two were running

Cephas is the Bible's true rollercoaster. He went from hill to dale more often and more quickly than anyone else. And that's what makes him easy to identify with, and ultimately so endearing -- to me and to Jesus.

Case in point: John 21. In v 7, he drops everything (taking the time only to put on a shirt) and hurls himself seaward in order to reach shore faster than everyone else. Not competitively, mind you, save with himself. A perfect response, sure, would have ignored the shirtlessness and bothered not for the shocking cold. But the response was golden as is.

The reward, a private conversation with God after breakfast. This days after the humiliation with the rooster. Exaltation after humbleness -- I think there's a pattern there.