Jesus and Peter

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 32:28-42   4/2/2018

Moses continued recording the words of God’s song in the book of the law. With God on the Israelites’ side, a small force will overwhelm a large enemy. This is so because the gods of enemies aren’t really gods. God is the “Rock” of Israel.

In the song that Moses recorded, other nations are described as not having a “rock” like God. The song describes the spiritual ancestry of the other nations as the “vine of Sodom and Gomorrah”.

All of this to show that there is only one, true God.

Jesus and Peter

Jesus renamed Simon. He called him “Peter” – the Rock. He said to Peter, “And so I say to you, you are Peter [Rock], and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it”. Matt 16:18

So God the Father declares himself to be “The Rock” of Israel. But Jesus, the son of God, declares Simon to be “The Rock”.

How does that work?

Peter and the Church

Jesus didn’t refer to Peter “the Rock” in those terms without realizing what he was saying. Just as He described Himself as “I Am”, this claim was specific and challenging.

The temple system instituted by Moses had failed – and would fail again. But the church built on Peter – the Rock – would never fail. The church – bearer of the Authentic Community on earth. Faith manifest in the Authentic Community. It will prevail. Gates of hell do what they will, it will not overcome the church of the Rock.

That’s a promise.

 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matt 16:19