Mennonite Weekly Review

“Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am?”

Dueckman

These questions posed by Jesus come at a crucial point in his ministry. As we have seen in previous lessons, Jesus has been preaching, performing miracles and healing many people. He has become well known among the people of Israel. But he has also been rejected in his hometown. Jesus is now on the course leading to the cross.

Jesus’ first question to the disciples here, asking them who others say that he is, is an introductory question. The answers they give — that some say he is John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets — show that people do not comprehend that Jesus is the Messiah. His more pointed second question is aimed directly at the disciples, and Peter answers on all their behalf in verse 16: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus commends Peter for this succinct yet powerful answer. Through faith, Peter has grasped the truth of Jesus’ true identity.

A rock for the ages

Jesus now engages in a bit of wordplay here when he says, “On this rock (petra) I will build my church.” The name “Peter” (petros in Greek) means “stone,” but it refers more to an individual or detached stone. According to W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, “Petra denotes a mass of rock, as distinct from petros, a detached stone or boulder, or a stone that might be thrown or easily moved.”

This disciple’s faith was certainly not always solid. A short time before, Peter faltered in walking on water (Matt. 14:28-31), and Jesus admonished him, “You of little faith!” Later Peter will deny Jesus three times after his arrest. How can Peter be considered a solid, immovable rock on which Christ’s church is to be built?

Joined with the first stone

In any building project, there must be a beginning, a first brick or stone laid. If Jesus is the builder, Peter is the foundation of the building. In confessing Jesus as the Christ, Peter is the “first stone” in the sense that he is the stone next to which all others will be placed into position. All who want to be part of Christ’s church must confess Jesus, and Peter is the first to do so. In a sense, then, all Christians of succeeding generations, and all of us who confess Christ today, are Peter too.

Jesus’ words that “The gates of Hades shall not overcome [the church]” are a promise of what his church is to be. The community Jesus Christ builds in the church cannot be destroyed by outside forces. It is a solid rock, as Christ himself is the rock.

There are some wonderful hymn words that speak of this rock: