Matthew 16:15-19 – “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  NKJV

            Upon this rock!  What rock should be the logical question?  The name Jesus used to identify Cephas (stone) was Peter (rock) is important but if we make Peter the foundation of the church what shall we do with Jesus?  The name Peter or Petros literally means a stone or fragment of a rock and without question, it is used in describing Peter metaphorically as one who has strength and stability.  Yet, when Jesus said, “… and on this rock” he used the word (Petra) which could be described as a Gibraltar type rock or mass which is unmovable and gives the image of impenetrability. 

If we go back to the question of Jesus for the disciples about whom the people believed Him to be and the response of Peter, we understand the rock that Jesus is building His church on.  Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  You are the Messiah.  You are the One who is to come.  You are the Everlasting Lord.  You are Him!  Therefore, without question, the ROCK upon which the Church of Jesus is being established is the TRUTH of CHRIST, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  The one who is the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE.  The one who is the DOOR and only access to the Father.  UPON THAT ROCK stands the Church of Jesus Christ, the Glorious Church He was and is building.

This ROCK is unique for it is not immobile but able to assault the very gates of hell for Jesus declares, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.  Jesus conquered hell and the grave and is not ascended on high making intercession for us.  He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us and is with us to the end of the age.  In His Father’s house are many mansions and He has gone to make a place for us and will come again to receive us unto Himself and we will ever be with the LORD.  The ROCK upon which I stand is Jesus Christ!  I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day! 

God bless you as your rest on and in the ROCK.  May your daily walk be in peace, power, and love!