Upon This Rock (Sandstone?)
And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Peter! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” Matt. 16:17-18
“Simon, are you sleeping!? Could you not watch one hour?” Mk. 14:37
“…He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God but the side of men!” Mk. 8:33
“I do not know this man…! And immediately, the cock crowed the second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And Peter broke down and wept.” Mk. 14:66
Undoubtedly you ran across the news blurbs just prior to Easter (what a coincidence in timing, huh?) from the National Geographic Society about the ancient “Gospel of Judas” manuscript. As one digs into this and begins the internal dialogue about Judas, it’s hard not to think about Peter as well. They both “sold out” Jesus. One for thirty pieces of silver, the other by consistent shortcoming and outright denial.
Judas hanged himself. Peter is the “Rock” upon which Jesus built His Church. Huh?
Peter fell asleep when Jesus was focused in blood-wrenching prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mk. 14:33,37).
Peter rebuked Jesus when Jesus foretold His sufferings and Jesus called Peter “Satan!”
You think Peter’s frailty was a surprise to Jesus? Not at all. He foretold, “You all will become deserters, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.’ “ (Mk 14:27)
Was Peter “there” when Jesus needed him? As they led Jesus away, history records Peter followed Jesus …”at a distance(!)” (Mk. 14:54). What a guy.
And, as we know, after Peter denied even knowing Jesus…and denied it again….and denied it again…he broke down and wept (Mk. 14:72).
Yet, there now is a grand cathedral in Rome erected to St. Peter (he’s a saint, too, you know). And, as our Risen Lord said, upon that rock Christ has built His Church.
I guess it’s all about our willingness to let the Risen Christ work through us rather than allowing our own frailties, shortcomings, and sinfulness to dominate.
To Christ be the Power…and Glory…forever….and ever…amen!
Blessings Always in All Ways,
Steve
<><
“Simon, are you sleeping!? Could you not watch one hour?” Mk. 14:37
“…He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God but the side of men!” Mk. 8:33
“I do not know this man…! And immediately, the cock crowed the second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And Peter broke down and wept.” Mk. 14:66
Undoubtedly you ran across the news blurbs just prior to Easter (what a coincidence in timing, huh?) from the National Geographic Society about the ancient “Gospel of Judas” manuscript. As one digs into this and begins the internal dialogue about Judas, it’s hard not to think about Peter as well. They both “sold out” Jesus. One for thirty pieces of silver, the other by consistent shortcoming and outright denial.
Judas hanged himself. Peter is the “Rock” upon which Jesus built His Church. Huh?
Peter fell asleep when Jesus was focused in blood-wrenching prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mk. 14:33,37).
Peter rebuked Jesus when Jesus foretold His sufferings and Jesus called Peter “Satan!”
You think Peter’s frailty was a surprise to Jesus? Not at all. He foretold, “You all will become deserters, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.’ “ (Mk 14:27)
Was Peter “there” when Jesus needed him? As they led Jesus away, history records Peter followed Jesus …”at a distance(!)” (Mk. 14:54). What a guy.
And, as we know, after Peter denied even knowing Jesus…and denied it again….and denied it again…he broke down and wept (Mk. 14:72).
Yet, there now is a grand cathedral in Rome erected to St. Peter (he’s a saint, too, you know). And, as our Risen Lord said, upon that rock Christ has built His Church.
I guess it’s all about our willingness to let the Risen Christ work through us rather than allowing our own frailties, shortcomings, and sinfulness to dominate.
To Christ be the Power…and Glory…forever….and ever…amen!
Blessings Always in All Ways,
Steve
<><
posted by BreadBakers at 12:18 PM
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