Daily Bread 2010
Matthew 16
Peter's Confession of Christ
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I 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." 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Most all of us have nicknames that our friends have given us that capture something of who we were at that stage of life. Many of us were given names at our birth that either was in honor of a father or grandfather, or possibly even given a name because of its meaning. Both of my kids names’, Isabella and Ethan, have Hebrew origins. Isabella is a form of Elizabeth, and means, “consecrated to God”, or “God’s promise”. Ethan means “strong, firm and/or pure”. As our kids grow up we see them living up to their names.
Jesus was interested in who the disciples thought he was. His given name was Jesus, a form of Joshua, which means God saves. But Peter also got it right when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” “Christ” is the word for “Messiah”, or “Anointed One”. Of course this had deep roots in the Jewish tradition, as the one who would deliver the people of Israel. As Simon Peter confesses this, Jesus takes his nickname, “Peter”, and applies it to Peter’s character, being a rock on which Jesus would build the church. The name Peter is a word-play on “petros” which mean “rock” in the Greek language.
Importantly it is Peter and his confession on which Jesus would build the church. Simon was his name of origin, and Peter was his name of destiny. He was destined to be the first apostle on which the church would be built. Of course there are different interpretations about what this means in the Protestant and Catholic church, but the bottom line is that as we acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God; we too are given a new name and new purpose in life. We are all used by God as rocks upon which he will build the church until Jesus returns.
Prayer: God we thank you for calling us like Peter to be the rocks on which you build your church. As we confess you as Lord we know that you give us kingdom authority to move mountains in Your name. God help us to live lives worthy of the calling you have given us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Peter's Confession of Christ
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I 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." 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Most all of us have nicknames that our friends have given us that capture something of who we were at that stage of life. Many of us were given names at our birth that either was in honor of a father or grandfather, or possibly even given a name because of its meaning. Both of my kids names’, Isabella and Ethan, have Hebrew origins. Isabella is a form of Elizabeth, and means, “consecrated to God”, or “God’s promise”. Ethan means “strong, firm and/or pure”. As our kids grow up we see them living up to their names.
Jesus was interested in who the disciples thought he was. His given name was Jesus, a form of Joshua, which means God saves. But Peter also got it right when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” “Christ” is the word for “Messiah”, or “Anointed One”. Of course this had deep roots in the Jewish tradition, as the one who would deliver the people of Israel. As Simon Peter confesses this, Jesus takes his nickname, “Peter”, and applies it to Peter’s character, being a rock on which Jesus would build the church. The name Peter is a word-play on “petros” which mean “rock” in the Greek language.
Importantly it is Peter and his confession on which Jesus would build the church. Simon was his name of origin, and Peter was his name of destiny. He was destined to be the first apostle on which the church would be built. Of course there are different interpretations about what this means in the Protestant and Catholic church, but the bottom line is that as we acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God; we too are given a new name and new purpose in life. We are all used by God as rocks upon which he will build the church until Jesus returns.
Prayer: God we thank you for calling us like Peter to be the rocks on which you build your church. As we confess you as Lord we know that you give us kingdom authority to move mountains in Your name. God help us to live lives worthy of the calling you have given us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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