Day 11 Peter the rock

 Yesterday was all about Jesus being the cornerstone. And today we come to Peter being the rock on which Jesus builds the church. How can both be true at the same time? Surely we aren't supposed to build anything on a mere human being?  It makes sense that Jesus is the foundation, the founder, the 'holder together' of the new covenant body of Christ on the earth.  So where and why does Peter come in? 

I can't say I've ever really considered this before. So it's probably about time I did.

Context is everything.  In Matthew 16 Jesus has taken His disciples to a place known for its shrines and monuments and temples to other gods. He asks them who people say He is. They answer : someone special. Definitely someone sent by God. But Peter has the guts to make the outrageous (for a Jew) and in some ways offensive assertion that Jesus is the Messiah.  It's a revelation which has come to him and a confession which has come out of him. Which makes Peter the first Christian. He is the first to confess with his mouth and believe in his heart (Romans 10: 9-10)

This is the 'rock' - the unshakable and massive unmoving truth on which the church can be built. Jesus is the long awaited Messiah who has come to mediate a new covenant - God incarnate. The Christ.

Peter, the little rock, has recognised and confessed Jesus, the big rock. Peter is the first of those living stones set into the wall on top of cornerstone Jesus. The other disciples are built in alongside him. They , (the apostles and the prophets) are part of the foundations (Eph 2 20). I love the partnership that God is always offering His people. Jesus is the first fruit. But we are also sons and daughters. Jesus establishes the church. But we build it. Jesus is the body of God on earth. But we are now the body of Christ. There is nothing remote, independent, isolating, distant about the Father. 

He is the very definition of inclusive




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