THE CHURCH BUILT ON THE ROCK WILL LAST

Matthew 16:13-18 Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah, but still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Until this point Jesus had not taught the disciples the full revelation of who he was. In this passage, God opened Peter’s eyes and heart and revealed that Jesus is the Christ. What a revelation. Jesus responds by saying, “You are Peter” - a play on words, Peter or Petra is a rock. “Upon this rock I will build my church.” The rock or foundation is Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ. Peter, himself, is not the foundation though he and the disciples helped build the church. The MacArthur Study Bible notes that “Christ called it My Church, emphasizing that He alone is the Architect, Builder, Owner, and Lord.” Jesus also promised that nothing would/could destroy the church.

Jesus refers to the church as “My Church. And it is often referred to as the Body of Christ. Through the ages it has been persecuted and protected, admired and despised, elevated and secreted. The church is built on the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus indicated that Peter could only know this if God revealed it to him. Similarly, we can only know Him as our Lord and Savior if we have learned it from Him. We are saved by His grace! It’s thrilling to know in this day and age of anti-Christian sentiment and persecution that no matter what – nothing can overcome Christ and the Church. They will be triumphant ultimately.

Dear Father,

We thank you for your Son Jesus Christ and for His Church. We thank you that you have revealed the Truth to us; that we have opened our hearts to Christ and are saved by His grace. How amazing. We thank you that we are in Christ and in the Church. Help us cling to you through the difficult days that may come. We thank you for the assurance that nothing will prevail against Christ or the Church – not even Death and Hell. Your promises remind us to trust you always.

In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.