Have you ever wondered why Jesus chose Simon Peter as the rock for which the church is built on?

Peter was renamed by Jesus. “Simon (who is called Peter)” (Matthew 10:2). “These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), (Mark 3:13).

Greek meaning for Peter is Rock: Πέτρος, Πέτρου, ὁ an appellative proper name, signifying ‘a stone,’ ‘a rock,’ ‘a ledge’ or ‘cliff’; used metaphorically of a soul hard and unyielding, and so resembling a rock (Strongs Greek: 4074).

Jesus says Peter is the Rock: “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18).

But!

Peter questioned Jesus,  “Lord, if it’s you, Peter replied, tell me to come to you on the water. Come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus” (Matthew 14:28).

Peter was fearful: “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30).

Peter had anger issues: “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) (John 18:10).

Peter challenged Jesus: “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Never, Lord! he said. This shall never happen to you! Jesus turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:22-24).

Peter denied Jesus: Matthew 26:69-75, “Peter replied, Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. Truly I tell you, Jesus answered, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times” (Matthew 26: 33, 34).

Peter was challenged by Jesus:, “Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs. Simon son of John, do you love me? He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Take care of my sheep. The third time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me? He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

 What is the meaning of this?

Church then is filled with fearful, sometimes angry,  people who are challenged and people who are in denial of Jesus sometimes. Jesus could have chosen John the Beloved who believed Jesus throughout scriptures.

If you love me, Feed My Sheep, Take care of My Sheep and Feed my Lambs. Who are the sheep and lambs Jesus talked about. But Peter was a fisherman, not a Sheppard, so what does feeding Jesus’s flock mean?

The church flock which is filled with anxious and sometimes fearful people are often in need of feeding and taking care of. Jesus asked Simon Peter as the Rock where the church is built to take care and to feed his flock. Meaning the people within the church. Feeding the hungry much like the Israelites who were hungry in the desert were also hungry, angry and fearful. God provided Manna (μάννα Hebrew, Greek μάννα, Strong’s Number G3131). Jesus also referred himself as the living bread “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

That message to Simon Peter about feeding the flock in the church must mean providing Jesus through homilies about Jesus to the flock is for sustenance, as the living bread. And the word meaning Jesus, as John the Beloved says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1).

Feed my sheep through the word about Jesus is the manna needed in the church for the flock meaning the people who attend the church. Jesus was not specific about what church just that the flock needed to be fed. Paul fed both Jews and Christians the Word.

—

FCM Member Hailey Okeif  has a D.Min, M.Div, master’s in pastoral counseling and is currently working on a third master’s degree in homeland security disaster services.