Day: May 21, 2013

Genesis 2:21-22 gives the account of the creation of the woman. The Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep and while he slept, he took one of his ribs and using the rib, God made a woman and brought her unto the man. Cursorily, one has the tendency to write this account off as the mere creation of the woman, but closer scrutiny and study reveals a hidden treasure in this account.

When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”, Simon Peter, responded, “Thou art The Christ” to which Jesus commended Peter and said, “Blessed are you, Simon, for flesh and blood has not revealed to you, your rightful recognition of me, but my Father (God) who is in heaven has done so” and then Jesus went on to say, “Thou art Peter. Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:13-18)

Thou many often think of this as a commission, given to Peter the Apostle, for the birth or origin of the Church (as is often the case with the papacy and the establishment of the office of the Pope – with Peter considered the first Pope), close attention would reveal that, Jesus did not say, “Peter, upon YOU I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against YOU”, but instead said, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Christ is referred to as the rock in many places in the Bible (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 18:2). He is the ROCK of our Salvation (Psalm 89:26; Psalm 95:1), which makes me believe, that it was upon the confession of Peter that “Jesus is The Christ (the foundational Rock)” that brings about the birth of the church. Out of the confession that Jesus is The Christ, is born the church of God, the Woman or bride of Christ.

Points to ponder:
Jesus, the last Adam, was put to death and as he slept (in death), he was pierced on his side (by his ribs) and the blood that sanctifies mankind flowed from him. Those who believe in him are sanctified by his blood and they become part of his church. Jesus is the anointed one, the Christ, ‘The Man’ in heaven. He is not only the progenitor of the Church but its power as well and the gates of hell cannot prevail against his church. Just as the woman was made for the man, the church of God is made for The Christ, Jesus Christ. Do you belong to Jesus?

Genesis 2:21-22 (KJV)
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Matthew 16:13-18 (KJV)
¹³ 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?
¹⁴ And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
¹⁵ He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
¹⁶ And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
¹⁷ 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.
¹⁸ 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.