Calendar

JESUS THE SAVING ROCK (I)
LORD’S DAY, JUNE 22
Matthew 16:13-20

1 Peter 2:4-8

 

“…Thou art the Christ,

the Son of the living God.”

 

JESUS THE SAVING ROCK (I)
 
After Jesus had ministered extensively in the regions of Judaea, Samaria, and Galilee, the Jewish populace still could not see that He was their promised Messiah. They merely classed Him together with the great prophets of old like John, Elijah, and Jeremiah. When Jesus asked the twelve, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter gave an A+ answer, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus commended Peter for identifying Him as the Messiah who is the living and true God Himself. The Old Testament describes the Messiah in clear terms of deity (eg. Isa 7:14, 9:6). Peter understood Scripture, and identified Jesus accurately. How was it that Peter was able to see this while others could not? Jesus said that this could happen only by divine illumination. Human intelligence by itself is blind towards spiritual matters. Unless God opens our eyes, we cannot see Him (Matt 11:25-27; 1 Cor 2:7-14). Just as the naked eye is blind towards micro-organisms without the help of a microscope, so is the sinful eye blind towards spiritual matters without the help of God’s Spirit.
 
Then Jesus said these powerful words to Peter, “Thou art Peter (petros), and upon this rock (petra) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” There is a play on words here. Petros means “stone,” and petra means “rock,” or “bedrock.” Peter’s name means “a stone.” But Jesus will build His church upon “this rock.” Who is “this rock” to which Jesus referred? Was Jesus referring to Peter or to Himself?
 
THOUGHT: Who is the Rock?

PRAYER: “Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.”

Search