Thoughts for the Day

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and 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 Messiah, the Son of the living God.'

And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.'

Thoughts

Peter is the most wonderful disciple, he is so ordinary in some ways - he loses confidence in Jesus, he rushes in where others would think first - yet here we see his confidence in Jesus. He has seen the way people have been healed by his touch; he has listened to his teaching; and he has been there when feats of nature have occurred like the calming of the storm and the walking on water. Suddenly, Peter makes the connection that Jesus is the Messiah, God's Anointed, who had come to save His people. Typically he simply blurts out "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!" But, within three verses of this passage, Peter is being rebuked by Jesus and called a "stumbling block"!

Peter, is the disciple upon whom the church will be built - notice his emblem is the key! Peter gives me hope for all of us, that despite our lack of faith, the way we turn away from God, and our deliberate sin, we are given a fresh opportunity to start again when we repent.

Lord Jesus,
we so often let You down,
believing we can manage
without You,
or turn from You
through lack of faith.
Help us to return to You
knowing that You will welcome us
when we truly repent.
Amen.