The Rock
Matthew 16:13-23; Luke 22:54-62
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."(Psalm 103:11-12)
Sometimes I wonder if I will ever get living the Christian life right. Looking at the disciple Peter, "the rock," reassures me.
The New Testament reveals Peter's often impulsive, hardheaded, blundering ways. He walked on water - and sank, spontaneously cut off a soldier's ear, and informed Jesus, "You can't die!" Worst, he denied all association with Jesus three times. Jesus rescued Peter, healed the ear, called him out in his sin, and predicted his denials. But Jesus also commended him for recognizing Christ as the Son of God, revealing that he and his confession of faith would build the church through the ages. Later He commissioned Peter to feed His sheep.
By the opening of the book of Acts, Peter has become a respected leader and fearless speaker for the new church. Jesus, in His great love, would transform Peter through the cross and by the Holy Spirit.
Our journey is not measured only by victories. God, our Rock, knows our shortcomings and loves us - even uses us - anyway.
INSIGHT
"God...knows no season of change. He has a single relentless stance toward us. He loves us."
(Brennan Manning)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 3-4
Psalm 44
Luke 7
Matthew 16:13-23
New Living Translation (NLT)
Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”[a]
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,[b] the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,[c] because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),[d] and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell[e] will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid[f] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit[g] on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus Predicts His Death
21 From then on Jesus[h] began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.
22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him[i] for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 16:13 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
b. Matthew 16:16 Or the Christ. Messiah (a Hebrew term) and Christ (a Greek term) both mean “the anointed one.”
c. Matthew 16:17 Greek Simon bar-Jonah; see John 1:42; 21:15-17.
d. Matthew 16:18 Greek that you are Peter.
e. Matthew 16:18 Greek and the gates of Hades.
f. Matthew 16:19 Or bind, or lock.
g. Matthew 16:19 Or loose, or open.
h. Matthew 16:21 Some manuscripts read Jesus the Messiah.
i. Matthew 16:22 Or began to correct him.
Luke 22:54-62
New Living Translation (NLT)
Peter Denies Jesus
54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”
57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”
58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”
“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.
59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
GOD MY REDEEMER IS WITH ME [PART 2]
with Ann Spangler
We are born with a craving that this world cannot satisfy. God understand that better than we do, which is why invites us to know Him as "Goel" and "Emmanuel". Do you know God in this way?
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