Peter was the only Disciple that was renamed if you can recall from the texts. His name was originally “Simon” which in Greek means “reed.” Before his name change he was a man easily moved and easily swayed by circumstances, etc. Jesus renamed him Peter which means “rock” because he had revelation knowledge of the diety of Jesus. And as a way to say that he was rock solid in his convictions going forward. None of the other Disciples knew exactly who Jesus was.
They just figured he was a guy that went around doing good and performing miracles, they did not discern his divine nature. When Jesus says to Peter “On this rock I will build my church,” Christ was saying the Church would be built or have its anchor not on man, but on revelation from Christ. You must also remember that names were very important in the Bible. Whenever God changed someone's name, he was giving them a new identity. Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah.
Jacob became Israel and Simon Bar-Jonah became Peter. Some might ask why was Peter called “Son of Jonah?” Jesus was making a comparison between the prophet Jonah and Peter. Jonah was given an assignment by God to preach the gospel in Nineveh, he didn't want to go left, so he went right and got swallowed up by a large fish where he stayed for three days before being spat out on dry land.
After the experience, he is humbled, and takes advantage of another chance to go and preach the message where God originally commanded him to. Peter, even after he became “the rock,” didn't always act in accordance to his new identity. He was still the foul mouthed guy that he was, and he tried to prevent Jesus from going to the Cross twice. He was rebuked and the second time Peter tried to halt Jesus’ destiny, Jesus actually had to restore the ear of an arresting soldier after Peter cut it off.
When Christ was brought before the authorities, Peter was sitting by a charcoal fire warming himself when a little girl approached and accused him of being a Follower of Christ. Peter ends up denying Christ three times, and spends three days weeping bitterly over his human weakness of giving into pressure and betraying The Lord. Isn't it amazing how Jesus appeared to Peter on a beach, after his resurrection, with his own charcoal fire, grilling fish for Peter and himself, and removes Peter’s condemnation by asking him three times if he loved him? Everything in the scriptures is connected.
Matthew 16:18-19 18
I also tell you that you are Peter/Petros, [Petros is Greek (masculine) for rock/stone] and on this stone/rock/petra [petra is Greek (feminine) for rock/stone] I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
The Rock that Yeshua was talking about was the truth that Peter stated in verse 16 (and anyone who lives by and professes that truth):
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah/[Anointed One], the Son of the living God.” In other words, Yeshua was talking about himself. The church is established on the Truth that Yeshua/Immanuel is THE Messiah, the Son of the living God and anyone who believes in and promotes The Truth, as we see in Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:19-21 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and of the household of God,
20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Yeshua/Joshua himself being the chief cornerstone;
21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord; We also see in Matthew that Jesus includes his other followers when he repeats something he said earlier (that some people assume he was saying only to Peter):
Matthew 18:18-20 18 “Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” Again, he was saying that to all his followers.
Ephesians 1:21-22 21 [Jesus Christ is] far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age/world, but also in that which is to come.
22 He(God the Father) put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the church, Paul reemphasizes The Truth/The Rock as the stone foundation of the church:
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Yeshua/Joshua The Messiah. So then, why was Simon (Peter) nicknamed Cephas/Rock? Because he was the first of the apostles to correctly state this foundational truth:
Matthew 16:13-17 13 Now when Yeshua came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 They said, “Some say John the Baptiser/Immerser, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It might have also been a reference to when Peter was walking on water, lost faith, and began to sink like a stone. (Matthew 14:29-31)
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