Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Comment: CS Lewis, the academic and theologian of the last century, said ‘Jesus must be considered either a lunatic, a liar, or Lord’. He didn’t make this statement on this passage specifically but on the whole of Jesus’ life and teaching. Yesterday’s passage was about knocking on the gates of heaven and being granted or denied permission to enter. Today’s passage is making sure that the Apostles know definitely who Jesus is! He is NOT in Lewis’ words either a lunatic or a liar or merely John Baptist raised from the dead or even the famous prophet Elijah or any of the other prophets BUT the Promised Messiah, the Son of Man from Daniel’s prophecy, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Peter’s name means ‘rock’, but Jesus’ church is built on the Truth of who Jesus is not on the shaky ground of any man’s personality, as some church leaders seem to be saying! Is 22:22, when talking about the coming Messiah, makes it clear that the keys belong to the Messiah! ‘And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.’
The key is the glorious gospel of Jesus and He graciously gave it to the Apostles and they have handed the Key on to all believers what Jesus Himself said – to be His witnesses, reconcilers, bearers of His Truth to the world! This is the first time that the gospels record Jesus as having used the Greek word ‘ekklesia’ translated here as ‘church’. It becomes a frequently used word from then on in the Bible and until modern times, although nowadays the connotations have become too broad for what Jesus meant when He used it!
Why does Jesus end up with this last sentence? ‘Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ’. The people of Jesus’ day thought that the Messiah would be a political and war-like individual. He planned to have His crown placed on His head as He went to the Cross!
Romans 10: 9 -…..because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. – What does the LORD mean? Understanding this is very meaningful!
Prayer: Help me to be effective in sharing this glorious key to my daily contacts.
As I read it! 