Matthew 16:13-19
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-19 (NIV)
Suppose that tomorrow, you are asked by a stranger who is actually Jesus, “Who do you think I am?” The setting and your role would influence your answer, but it is highly unlikely that any of us would answer, Jesus. I would probably think that stranger might be someone looking for a handout even if I were in a religious setting! I can’t think of any setting that would help me come to the correct answer. The setting in today’s world and that of Peter’s are obviously vastly different so such a comparison may be irrelevant. But even in the appropriate setting, most disciples did not know the correct answer. Jesus had been in the vicinity for some time (NIV, Life Application Bible, p. 1567, note 16:13-17). Some of the disciples had guesses based on their roles and surroundings. Only Peter had the correct answer which led Jesus to declare that Peter is a “rock” upon which “I will build my church.” Apparently, there is some debate about what Jesus meant by the “rock” in verse 18 (NIV LAB, p. 1567, note 16:18), but it seems obvious to me that Jesus meant, Peter. Peter went on to be an important cog in the building of our Christian beliefs and understandings! Apparently, there is even more debate about the meaning of verse 19. I will not go into all the different ideas (NIV, LAB, p. 1568, note 16:19). If you are interested, the previous reference will get you started down that road. My own conclusion is that Jesus was giving Peter the authority and knowledge to spread His word and teach others about the Kingdom of Heaven. That is strong medicine indeed, but the New Testament is strong medicine for those of us who believe in Christ!
Questions for Reflection:
- Could you identify Christ if he approached you in church? What about on the streets of Lincoln?
- Do you help others understand our Christian beliefs? Isn’t that what verse 16:19 is all about?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me develop a better and more complete understanding of our Christian faith. There is much to learn so I can do a better job of helping others become strong members of our faith. In Jesus name, I pray.
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