I always enjoy reading this passage in Matthew 16:13-18:
13 Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 14 And they answered, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 15 He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? 16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].
When Jesus asked His disciples who THEY said He was, Peter's spontaneous response was "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God"! That did NOT come from Peter's own understanding, but by the Spirit of God! No amount of "book learning" will cause you to really "see" and understand the Word of God! 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that the Word of God must be spiritually discerned. No amount of natural learning will give you "spiritual discernment"! THAT comes only by the revelation of the Word of God given by the Spirit of God. When Jesus said that to Peter, and then said that "on this Rock (a HUGE piece of rock) I will build My church, He was NOT speaking of Peter being the "head of the church"! We already HAVE a "Head". His Name is JESUS! No, the rock that Jesus was referring to is the revealed knowledge of God and His Word! When God's people finally discover just who they are, in HIM, then we will see the lost saved, the sick healed, the dead raised, and all of the other "works" that Jesus did! The very gates of hell are NO MATCH for the Blood bought Church of Jesus Christ, WHEN we know who we are and walk in it! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Lost Are Found":
Shalom in Him!
