"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
I say also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." Matthew 16:13-18 NAS
Jesus gave Simon a new name, Peter, the Greek word "Petros" meaning small rock.
He called James and John the "Sons of Thunder," because they prayed for lightning to strike people. One day, God is going to give us all new names.
Here is what Peter wrote about the rock in 1 Peter chpt 2.
"And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For this is contained in Scripture:
"Behold, I Lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed."
This precious value, then, is for you who believe;
but those who disbelieve,
"The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone," and,
"A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense";
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word,
and to this doom they were also appointed.
I Peter 2: 4-8 NAS
Jesus Christ is the Rock, the corner stone.
Peter was the first of the little rocks, because he believed that He was the Messiah. Each believer is a living stone built upon the choice stone--Jesus. That's what we call the church.
For those who do not believe, the Rock is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.
All throughout scripture, the Rock is a picture of Christ. Do you remember when Moses struck the rock twice and got in trouble with God. The Apostle Paul talks about this rock...
"For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. I Corinthians 10:1-4 NAS
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 NAS
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
For those who believe in Him and give their life to Him, he will make you a living stone. And you will be built on the chief cornerstone--Jesus the rock.
For those who don't believe, He will be a rock of offense and a stumbling stone.
"And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For this is contained in Scripture:
"Behold, I Lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed."
This precious value, then, is for you who believe;
but those who disbelieve,
"The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone," and,
"A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense";
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word,
and to this doom they were also appointed.
I Peter 2: 4-8 NAS
Jesus Christ is the Rock, the corner stone.
Peter was the first of the little rocks, because he believed that He was the Messiah. Each believer is a living stone built upon the choice stone--Jesus. That's what we call the church.
For those who do not believe, the Rock is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.
All throughout scripture, the Rock is a picture of Christ. Do you remember when Moses struck the rock twice and got in trouble with God. The Apostle Paul talks about this rock...
"For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. I Corinthians 10:1-4 NAS
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 NAS
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
For those who believe in Him and give their life to Him, he will make you a living stone. And you will be built on the chief cornerstone--Jesus the rock.
For those who don't believe, He will be a rock of offense and a stumbling stone.
