Matthew 16:13-19
I am convinced that what we need now more than ever before is a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ. When John saw Jesus on the Isle of Patmos, it put him on his face and pushed his pen to write (Revelation 1:17). There is nothing worth bragging about that is not started by a revelation of the loveliness of Jesus. Paul had a revelation of the New Covenant and concluded, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).
Jesus took His disciples to the headwaters of the Jordan near the village of Caesarea Philippi, a city named for Philip, son of Caesar. This city was notorious for sacrificing children to their false god, and the blood of the sacrificial offerings would run into the waters, turning them red. The disciples are watching this red blood float past when Jesus asks them, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13) The disciples have a myriad of answers, but Peter states, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (verse 16).
Jesus proclaims a blessing on Peter, “For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (verse 17). The kind of revelation that Peter had was one that could not be had by hearing people talk about the healings and the miracles. No man can be convinced of the power and presence of God without feeling Him for themselves. We are all Thomas at heart; we must thrust our own hand into the Master’s spear pierced side before we will ever believe.
I have preached to countless thousands of people about the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many have come to know Jesus through this preaching of grace and favor but many have walked away, content to live in their sins. I wish that all would be fully persuaded in their own mind and heart that Jesus was exactly what I preach to them that He is, but that is simply not the case. Without a desire to see God loving them, they will relegate God’s love as a big blanket for the whole world, never seeing themselves as anything special. Millions spend day and night with knowledge no greater than this; all the while gaining more and more earthly intelligence. No degree of higher education; and no life experience can ever fill the void and thirst for knowledge like a heart open to the love of God.
When man hungers and thirsts for the righteousness that is found in Jesus Christ, God is happy to fill that heart. Commission will follow revelation, just as God empowered Peter to preach the first sermon under the New Covenant (Acts 2:14). As we have more of Jesus revealed to us, our commission in this world becomes equally clear.
Jesus is the rock of verse 18 upon which the church is built as this verse is a bit of a play on words. Peter means “stone” in Greek, and Jesus is of course “the Rock”. Though we are but stones, Jesus remains the rock and His church is powerful enough to take on hell, thus the reference to gates. Peter holds no higher place than any believer does today. You are built on the same Rock that He was, and in Christ, you have the same revelation.
I am convinced that what we need now more than ever before is a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ. When John saw Jesus on the Isle of Patmos, it put him on his face and pushed his pen to write (Revelation 1:17). There is nothing worth bragging about that is not started by a revelation of the loveliness of Jesus. Paul had a revelation of the New Covenant and concluded, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).
Jesus took His disciples to the headwaters of the Jordan near the village of Caesarea Philippi, a city named for Philip, son of Caesar. This city was notorious for sacrificing children to their false god, and the blood of the sacrificial offerings would run into the waters, turning them red. The disciples are watching this red blood float past when Jesus asks them, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13) The disciples have a myriad of answers, but Peter states, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (verse 16).
Jesus proclaims a blessing on Peter, “For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (verse 17). The kind of revelation that Peter had was one that could not be had by hearing people talk about the healings and the miracles. No man can be convinced of the power and presence of God without feeling Him for themselves. We are all Thomas at heart; we must thrust our own hand into the Master’s spear pierced side before we will ever believe.
I have preached to countless thousands of people about the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many have come to know Jesus through this preaching of grace and favor but many have walked away, content to live in their sins. I wish that all would be fully persuaded in their own mind and heart that Jesus was exactly what I preach to them that He is, but that is simply not the case. Without a desire to see God loving them, they will relegate God’s love as a big blanket for the whole world, never seeing themselves as anything special. Millions spend day and night with knowledge no greater than this; all the while gaining more and more earthly intelligence. No degree of higher education; and no life experience can ever fill the void and thirst for knowledge like a heart open to the love of God.
When man hungers and thirsts for the righteousness that is found in Jesus Christ, God is happy to fill that heart. Commission will follow revelation, just as God empowered Peter to preach the first sermon under the New Covenant (Acts 2:14). As we have more of Jesus revealed to us, our commission in this world becomes equally clear.
Jesus is the rock of verse 18 upon which the church is built as this verse is a bit of a play on words. Peter means “stone” in Greek, and Jesus is of course “the Rock”. Though we are but stones, Jesus remains the rock and His church is powerful enough to take on hell, thus the reference to gates. Peter holds no higher place than any believer does today. You are built on the same Rock that He was, and in Christ, you have the same revelation.
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