When it’s as hard as a rock, its pretty much as hard as it can be; is it not?

The rock of something is typically its stronghold.

Yet, even going back thousands of years the term rock was used then too.

God used the term ‘Rock’ in the Old Testament when Moses struck the ‘rock’, (Exodus  Chapter 17 verse 6.)   Then, numerous times within the new Testament.

If it is from God, then it is indeed, to be within the ‘strength’ of He who made us!

Appointed by God, Jesus puts forth to us the very strength of God Our Father, when He assigns to Peter The Rock, which was to be His church!   Book of Matthew:   Chapter 17 verses 13-20 PETER THE ROCK

13) “When Jesus came to the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples this question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”   14)They replied, “Some say John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”   15)“And you,”  he said to them, “Who do you say that I am?”   16) ” You are the Messiah,”  Simon Peter answered, “the Son of the living God!”   17  Jesus replied, “Blest are you, Simon son of Jonah!   No mere man has revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.  18)I for my part declare to you, you are ‘Rock, ‘ and on this rock I will build my church, and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it.   19)  I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.   Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”   20)Then he strictly ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.” 

When Jesus said this to Peter, He proved His great love once again!   For Jesus, gave to Peter the greatest gift He had to give.   The home of His Father!    Think of it!    Peter, was  like you and I, he was only human.   Yet, so pleased was Our Lord, He blessed him beyond all human expectations!

With in my writing in ‘Exulted’ I pointed out how Paul was blessed beyond all his worldly expectations!    This is Christ!   Whether you speak of Jesus then or now, it is still Christ!!    He gives beyond all human expectations!

What is most interesting is that both Peter, and Paul ‘betrayed’ Christ.   Peter, denied Christ, rather than defend him, and Paul persecuted Christ, (a form of betrayal).   Jesus knew everything before it happened!   He knew Peter was going to deny Him.    He knew Saul (PAUL) was  persecuting Him.   Yet, it is important to realize that, Jesus, divine, accepted them, and transformed them, to become greater, and more fruitful than they could ever have been without His instruction.

In the life of Christ, He passed on to us, the teachings of God, passed unto Him.   Though He was God and Man, He was appointed by God to live out God’s laws.   The evidence is in the Book of Hebrews: Chapter 5 verses 5-10      5) “Even Christ did not glorify himself with the office of high priest; he recieved it from the ONE who said to him,”You are my son, today I have begotten you;”  6)  just as he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”  7)  In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to God, who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.   8) Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; 9) and when perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10) designed by God as high priest according to the order of Mechizedek.”

Blessing for Jew and Gentile: THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE EPHESAINS:

Chapter 1 verse 11-14

11) “In him we were chosen; for in the decree of God, who administers eveything according to his will and counsel,  12) we were predestined to praise his glory by being the first to hope in Christ.   13)  In him you too were chosen; when you heard the glad tidings of salvation, the word of truth, and believed in it, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit who had been promised.   14) He is the pledge of our inheritance, the first payment against the  full redemption of a people God has made his own, to praise his glory.”

First Epistle of Paul to Timothy:   Chapter 1 verses 12-17

12)  “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that he has made me his servant judged me faithful.   13) I was once a blashpemer, a persecutor, a man filled with arrogance;  but because I did not know what I was doing in my unbelief, I have been treated mercifully,  14) and the grace of our Lord has been granted me in overflowing measure, along with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.   15) You can depend on this as worthy of full acceptance; that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.   Of these I myself am the worst.   16)  But on that very account I was dealt with mercifully, so that in me, as an extreme case, Jesus Christ might display all his patience and that I might become and example to those who would later have faith in him and gain everlasting life.   17) To the King of ages, the immortal, the invisible, the only  God, be the honor and glory forever, and ever!  Amen. ”

Mark Chapter 8 verses 36-37  Jesus is Speaking:

36)” What profit does a man show who gains the whole world  and destroys himself in the process?   37) What can a man offer in exchange  for his life?”

The church founded by Jesus Christ is the Roman Catholic Church!   Jesus dwells within the Holy Eucharist.   It is He who is calling you!  The Church is Christ’s Bride.   The ‘doors’ and heart of Christ are open.   You have only to enter, and the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ will be taught to you.   As was Paul, so too will you become a new creature in Christ!