Revelation: key to the Kingdom

In Matthew 16:18-21 Simon Peter has a revelation of Jesus. In answer to Jesus’ question “Who do YOU say that I am?” Simon exclaims “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus is pleased with this answer and tells Simon “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Tradition has blurred the significance of this interaction for many people: cartoonish images of St. Peter guarding the pearly gates of heaven and the notion that the whole Church rests on Peter as its foundation.

The truth is much more revolutionary, and life-changing for us. Jesus is saying that our Father gives us revelations of the truths of scripture, and that the kingdom is open to those who receive them. Whenever we read (and find Jesus in a fresh light) the Kingdom of God comes to us and expands through us!

The Bible is not a dusty historical tome. It is God’s living Word, Jesus, in recorded form bringing the Kingdom of God alive to us.

That’s great motivation to read, and clear direction on how: look for Jesus!