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Oct 10, 2022 18:30pm

The Whole Picture

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I’ve seen this picture floating around Facebook and it’s got a lot of truth to it. When you see the picture on the left, you automatically assume this dog is killing this poor sheep. He’s got it by the neck and he’s going to tear it apart. But when you see the whole picture, you get the full context of what’s REALLY happening. Now we can see that the dog is protecting the sheep, and even rescuing this one from the mud, water, and perhaps drowning.

Context is important.

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, 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. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19)

To see the full context of this scripture, we need the whole conversation. So, this morning, we are using some of our scriptures from our previous study.

If we only looked at verse 18, we might assume Jesus is talking about Peter as the rock on which He is building His church. But as we see the entire passage, we realize it’s something different.

First, let’s examine why it’s not Peter specifically. I mean, Peter was an amazing guy, I’m definitely not taking anything from him, but he was just that- a man. Let’s look at that scripture again. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18).

Peter is petros, which means little stone. And then we get to the word “rock” and that is Petras, which means giant stone. So, we can see here, these are two different words. Jesus is not saying the church is built on Peter himself, the little stone, but instead on something greater. So, what is it?

Let’s look back at the context to get the whole picture.

Jesus had just asked them who men say that he is. And then “they” answer accordingly. But when Jesus asks who the disciples say that He is, Peter speaks up and says, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter got it right! But where did he get that? Was it within himself? Did he just figure it out? No. Look at the following scripture. “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17) God revealed it to Peter! This was new! This was just a taste of how the Lord would speak to His people!

Peter knew within his heart that Jesus was the Messiah and he boldly proclaimed it by the power of God that revealed it to him.

THAT is the rock on which Jesus said He would build the church. Not a man, but the power of God to those that believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

The very foundation is Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. Those that believe in Him being the Son of God, His death and resurrection, they are the ones He describes as “thee” in verse 19.

What is the key to the kingdom? What unlocks the door to Heaven? It’s faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ! And we have the amazing opportunity and privilege of sharing that with others! Do you realize that?! We hold the very keys in our hands to the kingdom of God! We have the very thing that will open the door to Heaven and an eternity with Jesus, if only we will just share it with someone! They will make the choice to accept it or decline it, but we must obey our Heavenly Father and share it!

Are you seeing the whole picture? Get the full context by searching the scriptures!