Life has some valley moments, but also some mountain top experiences. Recall five of your best moments.
This week’s blog and next week’s record two of the highest moments of Peter’s life. While familiar these experiences shape Peter. There will be ample time to examine the struggles Peter faced and the failures that result. Remind yourself of Peter’s great mountaintop experiences and your own.
The setting
Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,
This mountaintop experience has three significant settings.
- First, the setting in the ongoing ministry of Jesus. His ministry around the Sea of Galilee seems to have ended. The people largely rejected him. He lived the truth of Scripture that a prophet was without honor in his own country.
- Second, Jesus allowed for their rejection and travelled twenty miles further north. He is now in Caesarea Philippi. This was the ancient city of Paneas which was the center of the worship of pagan deity. The city was lush and beautiful.
- Third, this confession is at a critical juncture in Jesus’ ministry. He is six to nine months from the cross. This experience and the Mount of Transfiguration we examine next week begin a series of teachings in which Jesus clearly is focused forward. He tells them of His coming death. He faces the future and tries to point the disciples towards his own death.
The First Question: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
Jesus now seeks to turn people’s attention to His own identity. He begins with an innocuous question. “Who do the people think I am?” It is an important question asked in a specific language. He calls Himself the Son of Man. This is Jesus’ favorite title for Himself. He identifies with humanity and is curious what they are thinking of who He is.
Answers
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Their answer was a list of the three great voices of salvation history. Some suggested he was the reincarnation of John the Baptist. That is an ironic answer as John and Jesus were contemporaries. Other people believed Jesus to be a second coming of Elijah. They hoped Jesus would duplicate Elijah’s powerful miracles. Finally, some thought He was the revived prophet, Jeremiah. They hoped Jesus would bring the reformation and hope that Jeremiah brought.
The Second Question
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Now Jesus turns the attention to the twelve gathered around him. He wants to know what they have to say. After two years of travelling with Him, how much had they learned? It is a personal question. “Who is Jesus to you?” You must decide.
The Confession:
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Peter speaks up. Of course he does! He makes the twofold confession that reveals His faith in who Jesus. Is. He is THE Messiah. Peter believed that Jesus was the only one who could save him.
Jesus was the only one who could lead him or help him. Jesus was and is the only way we can be saved. Peter’s first confession must be ours.
The second part of Peter’s confession focuses on Jesus’ identity. He is the Son of the Living God. This statement is critical to our faith. Who is Jesus? He is either God or He is not. Peter confesses His belief that Jesus is God.
The Response
- 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, e and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus gives five responses to Peter’s confession and one statement to the group.
First, Jesus identifies that Peter did not come to this confession on His own. His insight was given to Peter by His wisdom or by the teachings of others. He received His understanding from God Himself.
You must make a similar confession. It will come to you by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. He will give you the insight, but the confession must come from you.
Second, Jesus reminds Peter of Peter’s identity. He reminds Peter that he was given the name that is translated Rock. He will sometimes be strong, and other times an abject failure. But Jesus sees who He will be. He will be rock.
Jesus’ third response is packed with significance. Jesus referred to Himself as the Rock. “On this rock” has been misinterpreted many times historically. Some believe Jesus to be saying that Peter would be the foundation of the church. Jesus was making no such statement. He referred to His own identity as the Foundation stone. Peter explained this carefully. (Examine 1 Peter 2:1-6)
Upon the truth that Jesus is the foundation, Jesus will build His church. We learn that it is Jesus’ job to build the church. In this setting we see the first Biblical use of the word church. The Greek word Ekklesia is means “called out ones.” We are collection of those who are called about by Jesus.
We also see in this third response of Jesus that He will build HIS church. The church does not belong to its leaders or its people. The church belongs to Jesus. We are His and He builds us.
The fourth part of Jesus’ response helps us understand that we are to charge the gates of hell. Some, mistakenly, believe that Jesus is talking about the body of Christ being a barrier Satan cannot knock down. They think we are to remain in a defensive position.
But gates do not charge. Satan and hell have gates. We are to charge them. We, the church, the called-out body of Christ, are to storm the gates of hell. We march against the gates, and they cannot withstand us.
Finally, Jesus reveals that the church has tremendous power. We have been given the keys to the kingdom. We alone have the message of salvation. We hold the keys that set people free. If we open the doors of the kingdom people can be saved. If we refuse to open the doors, people are bound.
It is a tremendous power given to the church. We hold the ability to storm the gates of hell and unlock the doors binding people. This miracle occurs every time someone accepts the gospel and, through faith, receives Jesus. They are free.
So, the questions today are two-fold. First, have you made the confession from your soul that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. If you have not done so confess today. The second question is simple, who do you need to release? What gate must you storm today. Do not delay, charge forward. The gates of hell cannot stop you. Give them the chance to believe.
