Devotion 8.22.26

Matthew 16

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered 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 tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[c] in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Peter confesses Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus instructs his disciples to tell no one.

What strikes you about the passage you just read? Is it Christ's brief pop quiz? Is it Peter's bold confession? Is it the fact that Christ instructs them to tell no one?

Jesus is intentional in all he says and does. In some private time with his disciples, he chooses to reveal who he truly is, and Peter confesses boldly. Christ then says this confession will be the rock (strength, solid, the foundation as we have talked about this week) upon which the church will be built.

Christ then tells them this confession can only be revealed through God, the Father, who gives us this faith through the revelation found in God's Word and through the waters of Holy Baptism where God's Spirit breaks down the resistance and writes this faith on our hearts. He then instructs them to tell no one.

Ron Chernow tells of US Grant's remarkable victory at Vicksburg in his book titled "Grant." The topography of the city made it difficult and to many it appeared impenetrable. Grant found a way to move thousands of men into position using naval gunboats, and then he confused the Confederates by feigning movement toward one direction while sending the full strength of his army toward another. It worked. The Confederates were routed on their home turf.

Peter's confession is solid. As Christ notes, it is solid. In fact, it is so solid that nothing will prevail against it. Not even a move like Grant's.

Nothing. Will. Prevail. Against. The. Church. Christ just said this. Christ, the rock, our fortress, is the groom of the church. We are his bride as members of this faith and his church.

What do we have to fear? Nothing. Nothing will prevail against the church. Paul says it this way:

"38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8

This is a great passage from Matthew to remember that Christ is with us, and he is our rock and salvation. 

Pray we remember this daily. Pray we act with the courage, and that this rock, this confession, continue to watch and protect us daily. Pray that when an opportunity arises, we act on the faith God has given us to share God's Word. Amen. 

Chernow, Ron. "Grant." New York, NY. 2017

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.