“‘But what about you?’ He asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah.’” – Mark 8:29
When Jesus asked this question to his disciples, they focused on “who do people say?“ In their minds, they were answering that question.
Peter was rarely one to go with what the crowd said. His immediate answer was what the truth was, not what was the general consensus, even though that wasn’t really the question (or so we thought).
The book of Mark doesn’t tell the next part, my favorite part, but in Matthew it says, “Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 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.’”
(Mark doesn’t tell that part of the story because this book is believed to be Peter‘s dictations to his friend, and we assume that in his humility he left out this part of the story.)
*Hell will not overcome it.*
- For Peter’s simple act of speaking the truth in the face of public opinion, Jesus makes him a promise that He will build the church on him that will not be shaken.
Rocks are the foundation of the world. I have always loved it that Jesus acknowledged Peter as a corner stone, because a stone upon which you build something massive has to have great integrity so it doesn’t crack and break under the pressure.
Do you stand even in the little questions? Do you answer the absolute truth, even when public opinion could suffice? When the river is rushing through, do you hold your position so that God can strengthen and smooth you and build something great on your legacy?
Mark goes straight into the story where Jesus tells Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Again we see Peter’s great humility and integrity. He’s honest and tells about how he got it wrong no matter how it makes him look because of the lesson in it, even in the face of his greatest victory.
How often do we admit our own guilt? Especially on the record? And how often should we? Because it could teach people and strengthen their faith maybe even for generations.
The truth has a sound and we know it in our hearts when we hear it. God shows us again and again that the heart that speaks the truth is blessed.
Peter was always my favorite disciple, and I think it’s like that for most Christians. We see his flaws and his impetuousness and we identify.
What about his integrity?
May we all be more like Peter. ❤️
