From: Su Min
Thursday 9th January 1997
Epistle to The CyberChurch
(teknion, "tek-nee-on" Strong's concordance #5040 [diminuitive of teknon, child] darlings, little children,
Christian converts)
The sense of travel is captured in Mark. Jesus moves about with His disciples, from place to place, usually
on foot. Walking long distances takes time. Time is not wasted, for Jesus takes the opportunity to teach his
disciples. He may teach them in parables, He may explain parables: this time He asks a question.
Jesus had made an impact on the community. He was noticed. Did the Pharisees and Sadducees notice
Him? Yes they did. Did the multitudes notice Him? Yes, they did. Did the hungry notice Him? Yes, they
did. Did the demon-possessed, the sick, the lame, the blind, all who were healed by Him notice Him? Yes,
they did. What did the people make of this itinerant preacher? Who did they say He was?
Many had connected Jesus to the Messianic prophesy, but none had seen that indeed he was the Anointed
One. John the Baptist was predicted as the forerunner (Matthew_3:1-13,_14:1-2). Elijah was to precede "The
day of the Lord" (Malachi_4:5-6). Jesus indeed had the qualities of the prophets, and by popular interpretation,
perhaps he was one of the prophets of old.
Jesus was not as interested in knowing about the wrong interpretations of the multitudes. Jesus was
interested in the personal understanding of his disciples. It was a one to one relationship: "Who do YOU
say I am?"
Even today, beloved, Jesus from His throne in heaven, calls to you and asks, "Who do you say I am?". A
carpenter? A baby in the manger? A prophet? A good man? The Son of Man? The Son of God? Lord and
Saviour? Who do YOU say He is?
Simon Peter we first meet in Matt:4:18, fisherman, brother of Andrew, son of Jonah. He was one of the
inner circle of three closest disciples of Jesus (Peter James & John).: His impulsive nature is documented
clearly. He was originally called Simon, but at their first meeting (John_1:42), Jesus gives him another
name "Kepha",, or "Cephas" an Aramaic name meaning "Rock", in the Greek presentation "Petros",
Anglicised to "Peter".
When asked by Jesus, Simon Peter, one of His closest disciples blurts out "You are the Christ, The Son of
the Living God" Simon Peter confesses that their teacher and master is no less than the long awaited
Messiah, The Anointed One, the Consolation of Israel.
How did Simon Peter come across this truth, when the Pharisees and Sadducees, the teachers of the law
and the high priests could not? Jesus tells us that this understanding was revealed to him by God.
And for us, beloved, how do we come to know the saving grace of Jesus? How do we learn of eternal
salvation? How do we learn that God is love? These things are not revealed to us by man, but by our
Father in heaven.
A great doctrinal divide has resulted from this one verse:
Traditionally it has been taken to mean that the church is founded on Peter the rock. A more fundamental
look at the text suggests that The Rock upon which Jesus would found His church was not Peter, little
pebble, but The Church is to built upon the Confession That Jesus is The Christ, The Revelation, The
Anointed One, The Rock of Ages.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew_16:19)
This warning is a link to the next lesson, placed there by the gospel writers like part of the tales of the
Arabian nights, a foretaste of the pleasures and sweetness of the next episode: Watch this space....
Subject: (9 Jan) The RockCYBERCHURCHIANS
GREETINGS
My beloved tecknion,
TEXT
Today we look at Matthew_16:13-_20,_Mark_8:27-30.
CONTEXT
Jesus was continuing in his wandering ministry around Galilee. Caesaria Philippi is a city about 25 miles
north of the Sea of Galilee. It is sited in a beautiful locality at the foot of Mount Hermon, where the
eastern source of the River Jordan rushes out of a cliff. The town was known from OT times as Baalgad,
as Baal was worshipped there. Later the Greeks came and substituted their god Pan, and the town took the
name Paneas. Philip the Tetrach renamed the town Caesaria, in honour of Augustus Caesar. The addition
of "Philippi" was made to differentiate it from Caesaria, the coastal town. Today Caesaria Philippi is
known by the ancient name of "Banias". We, the church, love Caesaria Philippi as the venue where Jesus
declared He will build His church on The Rock.
THE WALK
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesaria Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who
do people say I am?" (Mark_8:27) When Jesus came to the region of Caesaria Philippi, he asked his
disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?" (Matthew_16:13)
THE QUESTION
"Who do people say I am?"
"Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
THE QUESTION BEHIND THE QUESTION
Jesus sought to edify His disciples. He wanted them to clarify in their minds and declare with their speech
what they believed in their hearts. To set the arena clear, to focus their mind on the topic, Jesus asks for a
general declaration at first: "Who do the people say I am?": but Jesus means this question to lead up to a
personal direct question.
THE ANSWERS
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." (Mark_8:28)
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the
prophets." (Matthew_16:14)
THE REAL QUESTION
"But what about you?", He asked. "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew_16:15,_Mark_8:29)
SIMON PETER CONFESSES
Peter answered, “You are the Christ". (Mark_8:29b)
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, The Son of the Living God" (Matthew_16:16)
REVEALED BY GOD
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my
Father in heaven." (Matthew_16:17)
BUILDING THE CHURCH
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not
overcome it. (Matthew_16:18)
WARNING
Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.(Matthew_16:20)
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. (Mark_8:30)
CLOSING PRAYER
Abba Father, we thank you for your lesson today
Thank you for founding your church, the congregation of saints, and for giving keys of the kingdom of
heaven.
Give us the will to reflect these spiritual truths in our lives In the name of JESUS. Amen.
For any comments or enquiries please write to Dr. Lim Su Min
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