Confess Christ

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

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:18-20; 16:13-23

ONE DAY WHEN Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he found Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, fishing. (Matt. 4:18) When Jesus invited them to follow him, they both quickly left their pursuits and heeded his invitation. This incident made a lasting impression upon Peter, especially, who quickly recognized the Master.

Later, when the Lord was visiting the coastal town of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples—while identifying himself as the Son of Man—what they had heard concerning who he was. (Matt. 16:13) Various answers were given as to what they had heard men say about him. Some thought he was John the Baptist, while others had said that he might be Elijah. They had also heard that he might be one of the prophets such as Jeremiah, or, perhaps others might have thought that he could be that unnamed special prophet spoken of by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15,18.

Our Lord then turned and addressed his question directly to the disciples: But who do you think I am? Peter had followed Jesus during the early days of his ministry and had witnessed the marvelous deeds that he had done, as well as heard him preach. He had gained much insight into whom the Master was, so he was ready to give his answer without hesitation. “Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:16) Jesus was obviously well pleased with the answer he had received from Peter, for he then said to him: “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”—vs. 17

Jesus explained to Peter that he was preparing to build his “church,” which is the first time that he had used that terminology. He wished to emphasize that he himself would be the “rock” upon which that church would be founded, and he would become the ransom, permitting the selection of “living stones” for a spiritual house.—I Pet. 2:5, Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott

Peter, whose name means ‘stone’, would be an important part of that church as one of the twelve apostles who had chosen to follow him. Further, he would receive the “keys of the kingdom of heaven,” a special blessing to the humble fisherman who had so eagerly responded to the Master’s calling. He would use these keys to open the way for ‘the church’ or called-out ones, using the first key when he explained the meaning of events to Israel on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:14-40) The second key was used when he was sent to the home of Cornelius and his family and friends, the first Gentile converts.—Acts 10:34-48

Until that time, Jesus’ disciples did not properly understand what his earthly ministry was about. They had thought that he would set up his kingdom in their lifetime. But he began to prepare them for the days ahead. “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”—Matt 16: 21

The hard reality that Jesus needed to endure the pain of death put a new dimension on his ministry. He would not disobey the Heavenly Father’s will, but would gladly lay down his life as earth’s Redeemer, in spite of Peter’s wish to spare him pain, suffering and death.

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