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The Desire of Ages
Peter had expressed the faith of the twelve. Yet the disciples were
still far from understanding Christ’s mission. The opposition and
misrepresentation of the priests and rulers, while it could not turn them
away from Christ, still caused them great perplexity. They did not see
their way clearly. The influence of their early training, the teaching of
the rabbis, the power of tradition, still intercepted their view of truth.
From time to time precious rays of light from Jesus shone upon them,
yet often they were like men groping among shadows. But on this day,
before they were brought face to face with the great trial of their faith,
the Holy Spirit rested upon them in power. For a little time their eyes
were turned away from “the things which are seen,” to behold “the
things which are not seen.”
2 Corinthians 4:18
. Beneath the guise of
humanity they discerned the glory of the Son of God.
Jesus answered Peter, saying, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona:
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which
is in heaven.”
The truth which Peter had confessed is the foundation of the be-
liever’s faith. It is that which Christ Himself has declared to be eternal
life. But the possession of this knowledge was no ground for self-
glorification. Through no wisdom or goodness of his own had it been
revealed to Peter. Never can humanity, of itself, attain to a knowledge
of the divine. “It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than
hell; what canst thou know?”
Job 11:8
. Only the spirit of adoption can
reveal to us the deep things of God, which “eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man.” “God hath revealed
them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the
deep things of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:9, 10
. “The secret of the Lord is
with them that fear Him;” and the fact that Peter discerned the glory
of Christ was an evidence that he had been “taught of God.”
Psalm
25:14
;
John 6:45
. Ah, indeed, “blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee.”
Jesus continued: “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 a stone,—a rolling stone.
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Peter was not the rock upon which the church was founded. The gates
of hell did prevail against him when he denied his Lord with cursing
and swearing. The church was built upon One against whom the gates
of hell could not prevail.