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Go ahead and look first at Matthew 16 . See how God speaks to you individually. Then come back, if you wish, and see what God has put in my mind/heart.

Key Verse(s): Matthew 16:17-18

"Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter,^[c] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades^[d] will not overcome it.

Title: The Glory and The Power

Observation: Simon’s (Peter’s) father isn’t Jonah, it is John (see Gospel of John 1:42 and 21:15-16). Some have tried to say that Jesus was just in error getting similar names confused, or that the Apostle John confused what Jesus was trying to say. I think Jesus is making a very specific point (and if you want a more credible source, this is also Dr. Colin Brown’s view, editor of The New International Dictionary of The New Testament Theology). Look at v. 4 in this chapter and you will see that Jesus is telling them that this generation will only be given the sign of Jonah.

How then is Jesus like Jonah? Both spent three days “hidden” before the were released from their captivity. Instead of the belly of the Great Fish, as incredible as that is, Jesus overcame death. And the generation he was speaking too would have to deal with this somehow, that God raised Jesus from the dead. What would they do with this incredible truth?

Some believed. Some didn’t. Some created a fiction that the disciples stole Jesus body (this is amazing… with the exception of the Beloved Disciple the disciples were too terrified to even show up at the crucifixion, much less overpower the guard). We too have to come to a decision about how Jesus is and whether we believe that He was the Son of God as he claimed to be.

While the current reality maybe that Western Christianity is on the decline (certainly this isn’t the case worldwide- Praise God!) Jesus allows us in this passage to skip ahead to the end of the story. We know that not only will the church survive this era, we know that the Church will ultimately be victorious. The key, if nothing else to be said for the Christian life, is that we will be on the winning side in the end, which is always where you want to be.

Application: I can be encouraged that the church of Jesus Christ will be victorious. Even the great power of Evil will be conquered and will not be able to stand up to the awesome power of the Church and it Great Hero, Jesus Christ. The victory is ours. We may gain ground or lose ground every day in our society, but we do not need to waver. God is our great comfort and our strength. We will see justice and mercy spread throughout all people. All humanity will bow before Jesus as Lord and Master. Praise God.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to be unwavering on the side of justice, peace and love. Let me always remember that you will be victorious, even if I don’t see it in my lifetime. Let me never weary of doing right, but to delight in your goodness and truth. Lord help me continue in knowledge of your victory.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.