Peter's Confession:
Jesus asks the disciples who people think He is. They answer, "A prophet, John the Baptist, Elijah." Once again the people have blinded themselves to the truth by holding on to what they think they know. They think the Messiah will be a political leader who will establish Israel as a sovereign state. So, when they see the signs and wonders of Jesus, they automatically think "prophet."
So, Jesus asks, "Who do YOU think I am?" Peter responds for the group, "The Messiah." And now comes one of the most controversial Scriptures in the Bible. For Roman Catholics, this verse lays the foundation for the structure of their leadership. Peter is the first Pope. To Protestants, this scripture relates to Peter's confession. The church will be established on the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. I believe the second explanation. When we look further into the Scriptures, we see that Peter was a man of leadership, but he was not THE leader of the church. The disciples worked together. Nor do we see Peter as a perfect man incapable of mistakes. He was a man, plain and simple. We need to remember that our pastors are simply men and women called to shepherd a flock. Yes, they live lives devoted to God. They offer good advice, examples for living, and teaching on the Word. However, we must remember to put our faith in Jesus Christ alone.
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