Walking on the Water
189
and unbelief would persecute them, and he wished to encourage and
strengthen them for their trials. He accordingly went away by himself
and prayed for them, interceding with the Father, that in the time of that
fearful test which awaited them, their faith would prove steadfast, and
his sufferings and death might not utterly overwhelm them with despair.
What tender love was this, that, in view of his own approaching agony,
reached forward to shield his companions from danger!
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When he again joined his disciples, he asked them: “Whom do
men say that I, the Son of Man, am? And they said, Some say that
thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of
the prophets.” Questioning still closer, he inquired, “But whom say
ye that I am?” Peter, ever ready to speak, answered for himself and
his brethren: “Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus
answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is
in Heaven.”
Notwithstanding the faith of many had utterly failed, and the power
of the priests and rulers was mighty against them, the brave disciple
thus boldly declared his belief. Jesus saw, in this acknowledgment,
the living principle that would animate the hearts of his believers in
coming ages. It is the mysterious working of God’s Spirit upon the
human heart, that elevates the humblest mind to a knowledge above
all earthly wisdom, an acquaintance with the sacred truths of God. Ah,
indeed, “blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona, for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee.”
Jesus continued: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it.” The word Peter signifies rolling stone. Christ
did not refer to Peter as being the rock upon which he would found
his church. His expression, “this rock,” applied to himself as the
foundation of the Christian church. In
Isaiah 28:16
, the same reference
is made: “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion,
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for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure
foundation.” It is the same stone to which reference is made in
Luke
20:17, 18
: “And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is
written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become
the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be
broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”