Confession of St. Peter

The Jesus Tree–Day Twenty-Nine

Today’s reading was about Peter’s confession of Christ and his receiving the keys to heaven. We read all three accounts, from Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, and Luke 9:18-21. The Matthew reading is the most detailed, and I love the boldness of Peter’s response when Jesus asks Peter Who he says Jesus is: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter may have stuck his foot in his mouth a lot, (one of the reasons I like him so much…I can relate to him!), but he also had a great faith, and is a great example to believers.

Hymn of the Day–“By All Your Saints in Warfare”

I love the versatility of this hymn…there are 24 separate verses appropriate to different feasts and festivals throughout the church year, (plus one verse for saints and martyrs in general). And while each verse does tell us something about the saint, the real focus of each verse is on Christ’s work through said saint–great hymn-writing! Today’s verse reflects today’s festival–The Confession of St. Peter.

By all Your saints in warfare,
For all Your saints at rest,
Your holy name, O Jesus,
Forevermore be blest!
For You have won the battle
That they might wear the crown;
And now they shine in glory
Reflected from Your throne.

Praise for Your great apostle
So eager and so bold,
Thrice falling, yet repentant,
Thrice charged to feed Your fold.
Lord, make Your pastors faithful
To guard Your flock from harm,
And hold them when they waver
With Your almighty arm.

Then let us praise the Father
And worship God the Son
And sing to God the Spirit,
Eternal Three in One,
Till all the ransomed number
Fall down before the throne,
Ascribing pow’r and glory
And praise to God alone. Lutheran Service Book #517, verses 1, 10, and 3

January 18–The Confession of St. Peter

From the Treasury of Daily Prayer:

The confession of St. Peter did not arise in the imagination of Peter’s heart but was revealed to him by the Father. The reason this confession is important is seen Jesus’ response: “You are Peter [Greek Petros], and on this rock [Greek petra] I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). As the people of God in the Old Testament began with the person of Abraham, the rock from which God’s people were hewn (Isaiah 51:1-2), so the people of God in the New Testament would begin with the person of Peter, whose confession is the rock on which Christ would build His Church. But Peter was not alone (the “keys” given to him in Matthew 16:19 were given to all the disciples in Matthew 18:18 and John 20:21-23). As St. Paul tells us, Peter and the other apostles take their place with the prophets as the foundation of the Church, with Christ Himself as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). The confession of Peter, therefore, is the witness of the entire apostolic band and is foundational in the building of Christ’s Church. Thus the Church gives thanks to God for St. Peter and the other apostles who have instructed Christ’s Holy Church in His divine and saving truth.