Jesus said, “…You are Peter and on this rock I will build My Church and the Gates of Hades (Hell) will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”
Matthew 16:18-19 (NRSVCE)
Peter’s Declaration About Jesus
When Jesus came into the District of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His Disciples, “Who do
people say that the Son of Man is?’ They said, ‘Some say John the Baptist but other say Elijah
and still others say Jeremiah or one of the Prophets.” Jesus said to them, “Who do you say that
I am?” Simon Peter answered,’You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.’
Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not
revealed this to you but My Father in Heaven and I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will
build My Church and the Gates of Hades (Hell) will not prevail against it. I will give you they
keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.”
Then Jesus sternly Ordered the Disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
From that time on, Jesus began to show His Disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and
undergo great suffering at the hands of the Elders, Chief Priests, Scribes and be killed and on
the Third Day be raised. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him saying, ‘God forbid it,
Lord! This must never happen to you.’
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; For
you are setting your mind not on Divine Things but on human things.”
The Cross and Self Denial
Then Jesus told His Disciples, “If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves
and take up their cross and follow Me. For those who want to save their life will lose it and
those who lose their life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the
whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
For the Son of Man is to come with His Angels in the Glory of His Father and then He will repay
everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not
taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.” –Matthew 16:13-28
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