Upon this Rock
I will build my church,
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matt. 16:18
What is that Rock?
And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matt. 16:16 That realization is the Rock upon which Christ is building His church.
Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew 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.
16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
The church of Jesus Christ has lost site of its Captain and His ways. This is why its ship (the Christian Church as a whole) lay in ruins, (impotent), cast about upon the waves of this worlds seas. Jesus said,"That upon this rock" (The realization of who Jesus is and the nature of the kingdom into which He has called His disciples), That upon THAT rock (THAT realization) He would build his church and "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Jesus said he will give those possessing THAT realization the keys of the kingdom and that, that which they loose will be loosed and that which they bind will be bound. He went on to state that as their leader he would be persecuted, tortured and crucified. Peter said, "Be it far from thee Lord," and Jesus said, "Get thee behind me Satan: you are an offense to me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Then said Jesus unto his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
Jesus is imparting an entirely "other kingdoms order" and "way of thinking" to his disciples. The way of power is a way of self denial and submission to wholeheartedly "follow Jesus." Jesus did not come to establish churches or "do church", He came to make disciples; and to have those disciples (once fully formed) go out and make other disciples who (once fully formed) would go out and make other disciples. He said, "Go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."
Jesus didn't "do church" 2 hours on Sunday. He chose his disciples carefully and went 24/7 - 365 for 3 years. He started by saying, "Come follow me," and when he left He said, "Now, Go and make disciples of all men." And the early church, full of the Holy Spirit rocked the world.
The church today needs to "ReJesus" itself if it is to become effective in this world. Christ calls us to an adventure of the highest order. Are you in or not?
This is not about comfortable pews and Sunday sermons, this is about complete personal transformation into the Lions of Judah. Jesus was dead serious about people following Him, when given excuses He said, "Let the dead bury the dead, you follow me." "He that loves father or mother or brother or sister more than me is not worthy of me." Jesus was a radical. Jesus was an antireligious wild man. Jesus wanted most of all to have disciples sold out to Him. Are you in or not?
