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Luke 9:18-20
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”
20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”
In all generations, WHAT THE CROWDS (see vv. 18, 19) have to say about Jesus is usually unpredictable, and misguided, according to the Orthodox study Bible commentary. Sometimes it can be evil and downright humiliating depending on the environment you find yourself in. When this occurs remember rejoice in those moments of tribulations and afflictions, because those moments help define us in Christ, He guides us through all the storms.
WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? (See v. 20): This is the greatest question in the Scripture and all of theology. Peter defined the universe when he answered this question back to Christ. Christ in Hebrew means "ANOINTED ONE." The declaration of Peter that Jesus is THE CHRIST OF GOD truly reveals Christ as the long awaited Savior.
Matthew 16:13-20
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some 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 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 [a]prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [b]will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
PETER/ROCK according to the commentary of the Orthodox study Bible is a play on the word for "rock" in both Aramaic and Greek (petros/petra). Jesus is not referring to Peter per se, but to "the faith of his confession" (JohnChr). The true ROCK is Christ Himself - (1 Corinthians 10:4), the Church is built on the faithful confession of Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:4: 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
I read this in my study video, JOHN 21:17-19- Jesus telling Peter he will crucified for His faith in Christ and asked Him to follow Him.
Jesus prays for us - Romans 8:34: Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Jesus forgives us and renews us - Acts 3:19: Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Jesus guides and keeps us - John 10:27-28: 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
Christ loves our souls- Ephesians 2:4-5: But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Jesus is the Christ of God, Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me a sinner.
John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
In Christ love Jared W Campbell
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