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What was the "rock" upon which Christ's church was founded?

When Christ got to Caesarea Philippi, the first question he asked was, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (Matthew 16:13-18)" They gave Him several erroneous responses that they had heard from various people.

Then He asked another question, "But whom say ye that I am?" Most of the disciples had failed to ask God. Only Peter was able to answer correctly that Jesus was the Christ, the son of God.

Then Jesus said something very interesting. He said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Jesus wanted his disciples to go directly to God for insight and not rely on men to tell them the truth.

In verse 21, Jesus began to teach them that He would soon go to Jerusalem to die and be resurrected. Jesus knew that He would not be with them for long. He wanted them to rely on revelation from God, not the teaching of men.

The "rock" that Jesus wanted the New Testament church to be founded on was not just Jesus Christ, but the revelation of Jesus Christ. He didn't want believers simply to trust men's words but God's revelation directly to them.

Do you want a relationship with Christ in which you continually ask your pastor for answers to perplexing problems, or do you want to go directly to the source of all wisdom? After you have studied His word, "revelation" is the means by which you can know the truth and have a deeper, more abiding relationship with Jesus, our Lord. He says, "My sheep listen to my voice" (John 10:27).

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