Ministry of the Father

In Capernaum is the house of Peter, or so archaeologist tell us. They have found in their excavations a house whose living room has been expanded and some 3rd century markings have lead many to think this was actually the house in which Peter lived.  The expansion was for the church that meet at Peter's house. Today if you go to the house there is a huge octangular building directly over the excavation of the house. This building is known as "the church of Peter's house". Yes in the middle of the excavation of the city, the homes, the synagogue is Peter's monolithic building. Monolith may not be the exact word but it is one hugh structure. Where did this come from? Well that story began up by mountain Hermon, probably by the spirngs there. It was definitely in the region of Cesarea of Phillipi according to the scriptures where Jesus was talking with his disciples one day. Let's look at the story in Matthew 16 and we will read from verse 13 to 17 to begin with.

 "When Jesus came into the region 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 do you say 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 you, but my Father which is in heaven."

Very interesting interplay with the "son" theme here. First who is the "son of man". Then who is the "son of God" and finally "son of Jona". Christ was saying to Peter that he was getting this information about Christ revealed straight from God. God showed this to Peter. Peter did not get it from his father, or at the synagogue just up the street from his house, or from his friends or read it in a book or saw a movie about it, but he got it straight from the Father. Christ was the son of God. 

Why was this important? Because Christ operated that way. As God's son he did only what his father showed him (John 5:19-23). He revealed His Father. He told Philip if you have seen me you have seen the Father. Still what is important about this?

Christ knew that if Peter was receiving direction and information from God the Father, then he would do the things that God the Father showed him. To Peter, then could be entrusted the keys to build His church. Not Peter's church, but the church of God. Because God wanted it built His way. He's funny that way. 

Peter wasn't going to seek how to build the church from his father, Jona, or neighbors or the chief priest, but from the revealed word from God. Since we are the church, called out ones, how we build up one another is very important. Peter would later put it in his letter (1Peter 2) we are 'lively stones" built up together into a "spiritual house". It is how we relate. We reveal our Father to one another. And we become his sons by doing what our Father wants, wills, asks, and directs.

Let's read on.

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. 

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. 

      Peter was blessed because he did not rest his opinions on man but on God. He was given authority to bind and loose on earth. Could Peter do what he wanted? No, Christ was saying that Peter could do what God showed him to bind and to loose. 

     This is where the confusion comes in. Some churches think Christ said his church would be built on Peter or Peter's confession. But that is not what Christ said. It was on the rock of revelation from the Father, this is what the church is built upon. Knowing that the monolithic mushroom hanging over Peter's house sure seems strange and out of place.