Bible Reading – Matthew 16:13-18
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And 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.”
Devotion
Most theologians agree that when Jesus says “rock,” He is referring to Himself or to Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus is the Rock or the foundation upon which His church is built. In Ephesians 2:20, Paul declares that, “Christ Jesus Himself is the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple…” The church is built upon Christ. Christ is the foundation upon which everything else is built. In 1 Corinthians 3:11, Paul writes, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Here the church is identified as “a gathered people united in fellowship by faith in Christ.”
In building, the most important aspect of the build is the foundation. The foundation must be strong enough to support the structure. The church is built on the truth concerning the person and work of Christ. If you water down this truth, then the foundation is weak, and the structure will not be able to withstand the storms that will come. Jesus’ deity and His redemptive work on the cross are the unshakable truths that have allowed the church to thrive over the last two thousand years. Protecting these doctrinal truths will ensure that the church will remain relevant and impactful until Jesus returns for His bride!
The Big Question
What does it mean to say that Jesus is “the Rock” upon which the church is built? What did Jesus mean when He said, “The gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Christ’s church)? What are the foundational truths upon which your life is built? How does this passage shape your view of death? How do you define the church?
Spend some time in prayer meditating on what God revealed to you today.