"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
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“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.” [Matthew 16:13-16]
"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Everything hinges on getting the answer to this question right: Who is Jesus Christ?
The crowds knew Jesus was unusual, but nobody could figure out why. Their best explanation—he was a rerun of one of their heroes—fell short of the truth.
It matters because if Jesus is just the latest in a long line, then we’ll always be waiting for someone else to come along and upstage him. His relevance would diminish over time, and his importance would fade. But since Jesus is the One and Only, we cannot afford to make any mistakes in our relationship with him.
The crowds knew Jesus was unusual, but nobody could figure out why. Their best explanation—he was a rerun of one of their heroes—fell short of the truth.
It matters because if Jesus is just the latest in a long line, then we’ll always be waiting for someone else to come along and upstage him. His relevance would diminish over time, and his importance would fade. But since Jesus is the One and Only, we cannot afford to make any mistakes in our relationship with him.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Our Lord pronounced a blessing on Simon. The fisherman had not arrived at this concept of the Lord Jesus through intellect or native wisdom; it had been supernaturally revealed to him by God the Father. But the Son had something important to say to Peter also. So Jesus added, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” The question is,”Who are what is the rock?” Part of the problem arises from the fact that Greek words from Peter and for rock are similar, the meanings are different. The first, petros, means a stone or loose rock; the second, petra, means a rock, such as a rocky ledge.
So what Jesus really said was “..you are Peter(stone), and on this rock I will build My church.” He did not say He would build His church on a stone but on a rock.
So what Jesus really said was “..you are Peter(stone), and on this rock I will build My church.” He did not say He would build His church on a stone but on a rock.
If Peter is not the rock, then what is? If we stick to the context, the obvious answer is that the rock is Peter’s confession that Christ is the Son of the living God, the truth on which the church is founded. Ephesians 2:20 teaches that the church is built on Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone. Christ is spoken of as a Rock in 1 Corinthians 10:4.
Jesus took up their old Hebrew illustration—rock, always the symbol of Deity—and said, “Upon God Himself—Christ, the Son of the living God—I will build my church.”
Dear friend, do you believe in the truth that God revealed to Peter, that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God? Everything hinges on getting the answer to this question right: Who is Jesus Christ?
"The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone"
“Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
[Luke 20:17-19]
has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
[Luke 20:17-19]
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