Confessing and Following Christ

GOLDEN TEXT: “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” —Matthew 16:16

MATTHEW 16:13-25

WHEN Peter said to Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” the Master replied, “Flesh and blood bath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” “Flesh and blood” vision could see Jesus only as a great prophet. Those who heard him gladly, and rejoiced in the gracious words which he spoke, were convinced of his virtues, and knew that he was an outstanding servant of God, but they did not perceive who he really was with relationship to the divine plan of human redemption and restoration.

Human wisdom saw Jesus merely as a prophet, but the vision given to Peter by God, enabled him to see in Jesus the One whom all the prophets had promised, the One whom God would send, and through whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed. Few, even of Jesus’ disciples, grasped this glorious truth concerning the true identity of the Master.

“Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church.” Two Greek words are used in this statement, both meaning a rock. However, the one which is translated “Peter” signifies a small stone, or a fragment of rock; while the one translated “rock” denotes a great boulder, or mass of rock. It seems reasonable to conclude that Jesus is contrasting the meaning of Peter’s name with the great fact that the Christ, or the Messiah, was to be the foundation upon which the church would be built. Certainly Peter never claimed to be the foundation of the church of Christ.

“And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This assurance may well be related to the fact that soon after this Jesus was taken from his disciples and crucified. Until they learned the purpose of his death it must have seemed that “hades” had scored a victory over the divine purpose as centered in him. But the “gates of hell” were not powerful enough to hold the Head of the church in death. Divine power burst their bands asunder. He was raised from the dead, and all power was given to him, both in heaven and in earth.—Matt. 28:18

Nor could his body members be holden of death. True, they all “die like men,” and “fall like one of the princes” (Ps. 82:6,7); but in the divine purpose they are brought forth in the “first resurrection” to live and reign with Christ a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6) Thus the “gates of hell” do not “prevail” against them.

Peter’s confession was evidently near the close of the Master’s earthly ministry, for we are informed that it was from this time forward that Jesus began to tell his disciples about his coming death and resurrection. Announcing his intention to go to Jerusalem where his enemies were waiting to kill him, Peter said to Jesus, “Be it far from thee, Lord.” The Heavenly Father had given Peter sufficient spiritual vision to recognize that Jesus was the Christ; but as yet he did not discern that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and die as the Redeemer and Savior of the world.

Peter was not then able to understand how Jesus could become the ruler of the world if he were put to death. Evidently he had not clearly grasped the promise of a resurrection on the third day. He thought Jesus should at least make an effort to save his life instead of voluntarily putting himself in the path of danger. He knew that Jesus had done no wrong, so why should he be put to death?

With the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter’s vision was expanded to understand this also, not only as the principle of sacrifice involved related to Jesus, but he saw also that the church has the privilege of suffering and dying with him. He wrote, “If when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.”—I Pet. 2:20,21

Not many throughout the age have grasped this further truth concerning the sufferings of Christ, that is, that these sufferings were not finished on Calvary. Paul wrote that he rejoiced in the privilege he had of filling up that which was “behind” of the sufferings of Christ.—Col. 1:24

All true followers of Jesus have likewise been given the opportunity of suffering with Christ. Jesus himself made this one of the terms of discipleship—“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”—Matt. 16:24

The promise is that those who suffer with Christ shall also reign with him. But to attain to this position with Jesus in his kingdom it is essential to continue in the narrow way of sacrifice and suffering “even unto death.”—Rev. 2:10

QUESTIONS

Why were the people of Jesus’ day unable to discern his true identity?

Explain what Jesus meant when he said to Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my church.”

What did Jesus mean when he said that “the gates of hell” would not prevail against the church?

What great truth did Peter fail to understand prior to Pentecost?

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