Upon this Rock
Notes
Transcript
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
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.”
20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
Upon this Rock
Upon this Rock
This is one of those passages from that Bible that is very familiar to most Christians. With passages like this there is a danger of missing the important truth because we all know the passage and we’ve heard hundreds of messages about it. For a pastor there can be the desire to find something new to say from it.
Protestants and Roman Catholics have different interpretations of what Jesus meant when he replied to Peter. I think both branches of Christianity would agree that this is Peter’s grand confession of faith.
Jesus has been on the move. When he fed the 5,000 he was looking for a place to be alone with his disciples. As you read from that passage to today’s focus passage, he has been making his way northward from the west side to the east side of the Sea of Galilee.
He’s now arrived in the region of Caesarea Philippi. It is in the far north eastern corner of Galilee. The name was in honor of both Caesar and Herod Philippi.
What is interesting about this area is that it was once called Panium. It was dedicated to the pagan god Pan. It had been a center for the worship of Baal. Herod the Great had built a temple to honor and worship Augustus Caesar.
Another name for the pagan god Pan was “All.” This picture is an artists impression of what this place of worship looked like. According to one author, this served
Nelson’s New Testament Survey B. A Series of Revelations by Jesus (16:13–18:35)
as the perfect background for the interchange between Jesus and His followers about His identity. Carved into the sides of the bedrock of Mount Hermon are niches with inscriptions celebrating the worship of the pagan god named Pan, dating back to days before the time of Jesus Christ. This nature god was revered in this region because of the massive mountain from which flows a key tributary for the Jordan River.
K. V. Turley in an article about the archeological discoveries here wrote:
Is it any coincidence that such a question and such a reply sounded against the walls of one of the most important temples dedicated to a pagan deity — Pan, the so-called son of the herald of the gods?
The profound truth that Peter proclaimed here was that the authority of the false gods was no more, and that it had been superseded by reign of the true God Incarnate, an announcement that did not induce panic or fear but instead welcomed the reign of the Prince of Peace. And, what is more, against his Kingdom not even the Gates of Hell could prevail. [1]
Jesus asked the disciples “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered
16 Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Baal, Pan and all other pagan god’s were not living gods. Peter said that Jesus was the Christ, the messiah, the Son of the living God.
You see, our identity as Christians is not primarily defined by our roles, accomplishments, or labels in the world, but by our relationship with Christ.
Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in my body, I live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God’s Son, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul is saying that his identity is not about himself, but that he has died to himself and Christ lives within him.
When we become a Christian we are not putting some label on. We become totally new. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!”
John captured this idea of new creation when he wrote in the Revelation Revelation 21:1-3 “1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God.”
Our identity with Christ is linked to the holiness of God. God Himself said in Leviticus 11:44
Leviticus 11:44 (NKJV)
44 For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.
The holiness of God depicts His perfect and pure nature. Aligning ourselves with God's holiness involves striving for ways to conform to His standards and values. This entails accepting that we have been called to be set apart for His purposes and to embody His moral and ethical values.
Just as a mirror reflects an image, so should our lives reflect God's character. God's qualities include love, compassion, justice, humility, forgiveness, and righteousness. We demonstrate these characteristics in our interactions, decisions, and behaviors when we reflect His character.
Attitudes, actions, and thoughts: This triad includes various areas of our lives:
Thoughts: our patterns of thought, beliefs, and worldview. We connect our thinking with God's revealed truth in Scripture.
Actions are our actions and deeds. In our actions, we aim to embody God's teachings by treating people with love and kindness.
Attitudes are our emotional reactions and internal tendencies. We instill humility, gratitude, patience, and forgiveness in our students.
Striving recognizes that the process of aligning with God's holiness and reflecting His character is continual and takes work. It's a never-ending journey distinguished by growth, learning, and, sometimes, setbacks.
Our identity as Christians is inseparably related to God's holiness and character. Understanding His nature requires us to intentionally align our ideas, behaviors, and attitudes with His. It is about striving to be more like Christ in all aspects of our lives, guided by the Holy Spirit's transformative power. This journey is a response to God's grace as well as a demonstration of our determination to live out our faith.
This identifying with Jesus involves a life of discipleship, of following him. Jesus said in John’s Gospel
12 Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Discipleship is at the heart of the Christian journey, a sincere commitment to walk in Jesus' footsteps. Discipleship is essentially a multilayered process of getting near to Jesus, learning from His teachings, and imitating His way of life. Observing Jesus is more than just observing religious rituals; it is an intimate path that shapes our entire existence.
Following Jesus is more than just following in His footsteps; it also entails aligning our hearts with His purpose and mission. We discover a roadmap for our own lives as we study the Gospel stories of His encounters, compassion for the marginalized, humility in the face of hardship, and unflinching dedication to God's plan. Discipleship means embracing Jesus' call to journey with Him totally, and in doing so, we are not only transformed ourselves but also contribute to the transformation of the world around us.
Learning from Jesus is an important part of discipleship. His teachings transcend time, culture, and situation, addressing the most fundamental issues of human existence. He teaches about love, forgiveness, faith, and the Kingdom of God through parables, sermons, and personal relationships. As disciples, we are called to be active learners rather than passive recipients of this information, engaging with His words in a way that influences our beliefs and behaviors. Learning from Jesus is a continual process, as His teachings continue to reveal greater insights and significance in various stages of our lives.
The culmination of the discipleship journey is imitating His life. The life of Jesus serves as the highest example of pure love, humility, and sacrifice. The call to copy Him is a call to mirror His character rather than to do miracles. It is to face adversity with unshakable faith, to show people grace and compassion, to embrace humility and servanthood, and to live truthfully in accordance with our convictions. Imitating Jesus transforms us into vessels of His transformative grace, illuminating His light in a world that longs for the manifestation of His love.
In essence, discipleship is a life-long journey of growth directed by the One who walked this earth as the manifestation of divine love and truth.
Peter was ultimately transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit showed up at their prayer meeting. He along with the others that were there were filled with the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit makes His presence known you just can’t keep quiet about it. Peter stood up and preached his first sermon. As he drew it to a close Luke records
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Luke writes that he exhorted them some more and when the day comes to a close about 3,000 came to Jesus and were welcomed into the Church that Jesus was building.
Jesus said to Peter beginning there in verse 18
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
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.”
Here they are in a region that was famous for the worship of false gods and Jesus says that He is going to build His church on “this rock,” this truth that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. They were at a place where false god’s were worshipped.
Our religious journey as Christ's disciples is not merely individualized; it is community. The transformation that occurs inside us as a result of faith and discipleship equips us to positively guide and influence others. We are transformed into vessels of God's love and light, tasked with spreading the Good News and assisting others on their spiritual journeys.
The spiritual authority that comes from faith in Christ is based on serving others rather than lording over them. Jesus demonstrated servant leadership by washing His disciples' feet and sacrificing His life for humanity. Our authority is demonstrated by acts of humility, compassion, and sacrificial love, in the manner of Christ.
Guiding others entails shepherding them, just as Jesus is regarded as the Good Shepherd. This includes guidance, teaching, and nurturing. It also includes providing others with the resources they need to grow in their faith and live meaningful lives in accordance with God's desire.
Let us be reminded of the great honor and responsibility that has been bestowed upon us. Our confession of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, transforms us from within, just as Peter's confession did.
We acknowledge that our lives are interwoven with God's holiness via the lens of our identity in Christ. We are called to mirror His character in our thoughts, deeds, and attitudes as His loving offspring. This is not a solitary trip; rather, it is a journey illuminated by our Savior's life and teachings.
Embracing our identity motivates us to be change agents. We have been given the authority to guide others on this journey as humble servants rather than rulers. Our spiritual power is an expression of our faith in Christ, and it comes with the holy responsibility to lead with love, kindness, and compassion.
Let us keep in mind that discipleship is a constant process of growth distinguished by moments of submission, learning, and service. We are called to be living stones, building on the cornerstone that is Jesus Christ, just as the early disciples were called to be the foundation of Christ's church.
May our journey of embracing our identity and guiding others be one of unshakable dedication, fueled by the transformative power of Christ's love. Let us proceed with the knowledge that whatever we bind or loose in accordance with His Word, heaven itself concurs.
As we conclude our reflection, we move from the spoken word to the sacred act of the Lord's Supper. This celebration, this communion, is a visible reminder of our identity in Christ and the discipleship path we've undertaken together.
We confront the essence of our faith in the breaking of bread and sharing of the cup—a Savior who offered His body and blood so that we might enjoy life abundantly. The components in front of us signify the profound sacrifice that defines our identity and propels us forward on our journey.
Let us remember, when we partake in the Lord's Supper, that Christ's authority derives not from earthly power, but from His sacrificial love. Similarly, our spiritual authority is grounded on our unity with Him and our resolve to love and serve in the same way that He did.
Allow this moment of communion to be a sacred pause for us to reaffirm our identity as Christ-followers and recommit to the path of discipleship. Let us come to the table with hearts open to transformation, minds eager to learn, and hands eager to share the grace and truth we've discovered.
As we break the bread and share the cup, may we be reminded that Christ's presence is with us on our journey. Let us leave this celebration prepared to lead with humility, guide with compassion, and live out our identity in Christ in such a way that His light shines into every area of our lives.
Now, let us come to the Lord's Supper table with reverence and gratitude, united in faith and purpose, as we continue our path of embracing our identity and leading with Christ's authority.
[1] Turley, K. V. (2021, March 21). The Gates of Hell and the death of Pan. NCR. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/the-death-of-pan