Matthew 16:13-15 sets up one of the most powerful statements ever given to the Church!
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?
Jesus was giving them the opportunity to speak TRUTH! I LOVE Peter! You can call him anything you want, but I call him "Peter the Bold"! He was the only one, besides Jesus, who ever walked on water! Why? Because he DARED to believe and to step out in faith! Sure, he fell, BUT, for a time he DID IT! So here we have "Peter the Bold" speaking up with the answer! Verse 16:
16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Did Peter say this because he was so very smart? NO! He was able to say this because God revealed it to him! ANY of the disciples could have been the one! Jesus gave this in reply:
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].
Jesus told Peter that he was blessed because God revealed His Word through him! Then Jesus went on to call Peter a rock! He was strong and bold! Then Jesus said that on the gigantic, boulder-like rock of the revealed knowledge of God, He would build His Church! NOT on Peter! Jesus also says that the very gates of hell cannot overcome the church AND cannot hold out against it, when the Church knows, and uses, the Word of God! Jesus went on to say this in verse 19:
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Jesus said "I will give" here because He had not yet defeated the enemy for us! Once He did, He said this in Matthew 28:18-20:
18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).
OUR job? KNOW the Word, and then speak the Word into every situation! Preach the Good News and allow HIM to confirm that Word! Let's DO IT, bold ones! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":
Shalom in Him!
