PETER'S TOWN

Statue of Peter in Capernaum

Matthew 16:17-19

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁷ 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.¹⁸ 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.¹⁹ 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.”

On my recent trip to Israel, we stopped in the old city of Capernaum -- a town right on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.  It is reported that this was, perhaps, the home of Simon Peter.  In the middle of the old "ruins" is a statue of Peter, and underneath the scripture quoted above.

Did Jesus mean that "upon Peter" he would establish his church? If so, as the Roman Catholic Church believes, then Peter was the first Pope.

However, as we note in the book of Acts, during the first century, it was James (the earthly brother of Jesus) who was the head of the church in Jerusalem. No where do we see that the early church looked to Simon Peter as their leader.

I think what Jesus meant was "upon the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (the words that Peter had stated just prior to what Jesus said), HE would establish His Kingdom and His Church.

If you look in the Gospel of Mark - the first chapter - you will find Jesus and his disciples stopping in Capernaum and Jesus would go to the synagogue there to teach.

Ruins of the synagogue in Capernaum

Mark 1:21-22

New Living Translation (NLT)

²¹ Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.²² The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

I love the fact that the thing that astonished the people in Capernaum was, "for he taught with real authority - quite unlike the teachers of religious law."

That's powerful!  The words of Jesus were powerful -- with great authority -- not platitudes - not promises unfulfilled - but TRUTH!

In that same town are the ruins of the home of Simon Peter's mother-in-law.

Remember in the latter part of Mark 1, you find again and again that Jesus was "in the house" -- later Jesus came and healed Peter's mother-in-law of a fever- in this house.

Ruin's of Peter's mother-in-law's house

What a joy and inspiration it was to re-visit this city.  It reminds me of three powerful truths:

1.  Jesus Christ = Son of God and Son of Man = the founder of our faith and HIS Church

2. Jesus' teaching is with power and authority then -- and NOW

3. The power of the Lord is still "in the house" to heal any sickness and malady of life, if "you can believe"

TRUST OUR LORD TODAY!  HE IS STILL THE SAME TODAY, AS HE WAS IN CAPERNAUM BACK THEN!