STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD YOU - Matthew 16:13-20
What Does is Say?  When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah

What Does it Mean?  After Peter told Jesus that he thought He was the Son of the living God, Jesus told Peter who he was and what his job would be.  Peter knew Jesus well.  It was through their relationship that God revealed to Peter who Jesus was.  Peter's relationship with Jesus and his confidence in who Jesus was made him a powerful leader who influenced many people in the early church to believe. God tells us about himself in the Bible, but we come to know Him and learn to trust Him through interacting with Him and trusting Him in the small areas of our lives.  We can't develop a relationship with someone by reading about them in a book.  We need to spend time with them and know them well if we are to trust them.  Peter trusted Jesus and his confidence grew as their relationship deepened and then Jesus was crucified, resurrected, and then returned to heaven.  Our gut level confidence in God is what gives our faith strength to follow Jesus when the stakes are high.  How well do you know Jesus?  Who is Jesus to you: someone talked about in the Bible, the creator of the universe, or your saviour, protector and Abba, Father?   How much do you trust Him?  If you want to know Jesus well, invest in your relationship with Him.