“The RoseBouquet”

So they finally came to a quiet area in Caesarea Philippi, and it was just Jesus and His disciples. They could talk privately. Jesus began by asking them what folks were saying about Him. They started tossing out answers; some thought He was John the Baptist come to life again, some thought Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Then He zeroed in on them. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter, who did most of his thinking aloud, blurted out his answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus did not say, “Slow down, Peter!” Instead, He told Peter he was blessed and that God in Heaven had revealed this to him.

He added this well-known, controversial line, “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.”

The Catholic church is founded on the understanding that the church was to be built on Peter, and thus they have had a succession of Popes to follow in his place.

Most protestant, evangelical churches teach that it was Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ, that was the rock on which He would build His Church universal, the one that is to be His Bride. This is what I read in this passage too.

Jesus next gave them a wonderful, marvelous teaching that is often skipped or misunderstood, namely that those who believe in Him as the Christ receive power to loose or bind on earth just as it is done in Heaven. Oh, that all true believers would grasp and know how to use this authority!

PRAYER: Yes, Lord Jesus, I do glimpse this from time to time, but often forget that You have delegated this privilege to those who truly believe You are the Christ, and who abide and walk with You in the light. Help me to do that from this day forward! Help me to know how You want it in Heaven and to do it here too, binding evil, and loosing Your glorious power here!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. You don’t really have time to read on the couch, but if you’re like me, you do read snatches on the run, and somehow make time to read a GOOD book completely.

So how can you be sure this Ruthe in the book is not some kook? Read the eight sample chapters.