2021 Daily Devotion - Day 335
Matthew 16:13-18 RSV
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli′jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
This is one of the places in the New Testament where Jesus establishes His Church. There are several things to note in this text. Jesus asks His disciples who people think He is. They give Him the various opinions people had, and then He asks the more poignant and important question as to who they believe He is.
Peter makes this strong confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ. Then Jesus says, “You are Peter.” The word in the original Greek is the word Petros which means small stone. Then He goes on to say, “And on this rock, I will build my church.” The word here for rock is the Greek word Petra which means a massive stone. So what Jesus is saying is not that He will found the Church on Peter (this little stone), but rather upon the truth of what He just said. It is found on the massive rock of truth that Jesus is the Christ – the Savior and promised Messiah.
Here, Jesus establishes His Church. It doesn’t belong to anyone but Jesus. In the original Greek, the word used for church is the ekklesia. This word means the called-out ones. We get the sense of the word by the prefix of the word, ekk, which means “out of”. It is where we get the word “exit”. So, His Church will be those who are called out of the world into fellowship and ministry together. Jesus is teaching us that to follow Him is to do so in Christian community, and He promises nothing will ever stop His Church.
Pray with me:
Lord Jesus, we live in a world where great value is placed on the individual, and it is sometimes difficult for us to understand the need for community. But You have arranged things in such a way that to be one of your followers, we must do so in the midst of Christian community. Help us to go deeper in Christian community – the Church. In Your Holy name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli′jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
This is one of the places in the New Testament where Jesus establishes His Church. There are several things to note in this text. Jesus asks His disciples who people think He is. They give Him the various opinions people had, and then He asks the more poignant and important question as to who they believe He is.
Peter makes this strong confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ. Then Jesus says, “You are Peter.” The word in the original Greek is the word Petros which means small stone. Then He goes on to say, “And on this rock, I will build my church.” The word here for rock is the Greek word Petra which means a massive stone. So what Jesus is saying is not that He will found the Church on Peter (this little stone), but rather upon the truth of what He just said. It is found on the massive rock of truth that Jesus is the Christ – the Savior and promised Messiah.
Here, Jesus establishes His Church. It doesn’t belong to anyone but Jesus. In the original Greek, the word used for church is the ekklesia. This word means the called-out ones. We get the sense of the word by the prefix of the word, ekk, which means “out of”. It is where we get the word “exit”. So, His Church will be those who are called out of the world into fellowship and ministry together. Jesus is teaching us that to follow Him is to do so in Christian community, and He promises nothing will ever stop His Church.
Pray with me:
Lord Jesus, we live in a world where great value is placed on the individual, and it is sometimes difficult for us to understand the need for community. But You have arranged things in such a way that to be one of your followers, we must do so in the midst of Christian community. Help us to go deeper in Christian community – the Church. In Your Holy name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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