Who do you say I am?
Posted by Bob Kenward on June 22, 2008
For me one of the most powerful realities of the authenticity of my faith in the true Church of God is found from within the recorded traditions of so many people across thousands of years. The Sacred Deposit of Faith including both Tradition and Sacred Scripture is entrusted to the bishops-the successors to the apostles-in union with the successor of Peter by the authority of Jesus. Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Son of the living God” – Mt:16:16. To which Jesus replied, for it was not flesh and blood that revealed this but my Father who is in heaven – Mt:16:17.
Jesus entrusted the keys to the kingdom of heaven to Peter in the vicinity of Caesarea Phillipi. This city was built on a huge rock formation. This rock formation was also in a place where the false Greek god Pan was worshipped. Pan was the god of sheperds and flocks. He was a god of fear and from his name we get the word “panic”. It is very interesting that Jesus chose to travel a long distance to Caesarea Phillipi with his disciples to this giant wall of rock where the false god of sheperds and flocks who instilled fear was worshipped. Jesus chose this place to tell Peter that his name is rock and that upon this rock, I will build my church and the powers of death will not prevail over it. He gave him the keys of the kingdom of heaven and said whatever you bind and loose on earth will be bound and loose in heaven.
For the early Christians, many of them gladly accepted death at the hands of their persecutors rather than deny their faith. Peter himself after denying Jesus three times during His passion would later die a martyr’s death choosing to be crucified upside down.
The early Christians knew that a crown of righteousness in the kingdom of heaven awaited them and that in the end God would deliver them from every evil. Peter himself had a great deliverance as he was recued from death in prison by an angel of God – Acts:12:6-11. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear Him.
PRAYER:
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule and guide AMEN
