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which 〃eye hath not seen； nor ear heard； neither have entered into the heart of man。〃 〃God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit： for the Spirit searcheth all things； yea； the deep things of God。〃 1 Cor。 2：9； 10。 〃The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him；〃 and the fact that Peter discerned the glory of Christ was an evidence that he had been 〃taught of God。〃 Ps。 25：14； John 6：45。 Ah； indeed； 〃blessed art thou； Simon Bar…jona： for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee。〃
Jesus continued： 〃I say also unto thee； That thou art Peter； and upon this rock I will build My church； and the gates of hell shall not prevail
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against it。〃 The word Peter signifies a stone；a rolling stone。 Peter was not the rock upon which the church was founded。 The gates of hell did prevail against him when he denied his Lord with cursing and swearing。 The church was built upon One against whom the gates of hell could not prevail。
Centuries before the Saviour's advent Moses had pointed to the Rock of Israel's salvation。 The psalmist had sung of 〃the Rock of my strength。〃 Isaiah had written； 〃Thus saith the Lord God； Behold； I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone； a tried stone； a precious cornerstone； a sure foundation。〃 Deut。 32：4； Ps。 62：7； Isa。 28：16。 Peter himself； writing by inspiration； applies this prophecy to Jesus。 He says； 〃If ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious： unto whom coming； a living stone； rejected indeed of men； but with God elect； precious； ye also； as living stones； are built up a spiritual house。〃 1 Peter 2：3…5； R。 V。
〃Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid； which is Jesus Christ。〃 1 Cor。 3：11。 〃Upon this rock；〃 said Jesus； 〃I will build My church。〃 In the presence of God； and all the heavenly intelligences； in the presence of the unseen army of hell； Christ founded His church upon the living Rock。 That Rock is Himself；His own body； for us broken and bruised。 Against the church built upon this foundation； the gates of hell shall not prevail。
How feeble the church appeared when Christ spoke these words！ There was only a handful of believers； against whom all the power of demons and evil men would be directed； yet the followers of Christ were not to fear。 Built upon the Rock of their strength； they could not be overthrown。
For six thousand years； faith has builded upon Christ。 For six thousand years the floods and tempests of satanic wrath have beaten upon the Rock of our salvation； but it stands unmoved。
Peter had expressed the truth which is the foundation of the church's faith； and Jesus now honored him as the representative of the whole body of believers。 He said； 〃I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven： and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven： and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven。〃
〃The keys of the kingdom of heaven〃 are the words of Christ。 All the words of Holy Scripture are His； and are here included。 These words have power to open and to shut heaven。 They declare the conditions
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upon which men are received or rejected。 Thus the work of those who preach God's word is a savor of life unto life or of death unto death。 Theirs is a mission weighted with eternal results。
The Saviour did not commit the work of the gospel to Peter individually。 At a later time； repeating the words that were spoken to Peter； He applied them directly to the church。 And the same in substance was spoken also to the twelve as representatives of the body of believers。 If Jesus had delegated any special authority to one of the disciples above the others； we should not find them so often contending as to who should be the greatest。 They would have submitted to the wish of their Master； and honored the one whom He had chosen。
Instead of appointing one to be their head； Christ said to the disciples； 〃Be not ye called Rabbi；〃 〃neither be ye called masters： for one is your Master； even Christ。〃 Matt。 23：8； 10。
〃The head of every man is Christ。〃 God； who put all things under the Saviour's feet； 〃gave Him to be the head over all things to the church； which is His body； the fullness of Him that filleth all in all。〃 1 Cor。 11：3； Eph。 1：22； 23。 The church is built upon Christ as its foundation； it is to obey Christ as its head。 It is not to depend upon man； or be controlled by man。 Many claim that a position of trust in the church gives them authority to dictate what other men shall believe and what they shall do。 This claim God does not sanction。 The Saviour declares； 〃All ye are brethren。〃 All are exposed to temptation； and are liable to error。 Upon no finite being can we depend for guidance。 The Rock of faith is the living presence of Christ in the church。 Upon this the weakest may depend； and those who think themselves the strongest will prove to be the weakest； unless they make Christ their efficiency。 〃Cursed be the man that trusteth in man； and maketh flesh his arm。〃 The Lord 〃is the Rock； His work is perfect。〃 〃Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him。〃 Jer。 17：5； Deut。 32：4； Ps。 2：12。
After Peter's confession； Jesus charged the disciples to tell no man that He was the Christ。 This charge was given because of the determined opposition of the scribes and Pharisees。 More than this； the people； and even the disciples； had so false a conception of the Messiah that a public announcement of Him would give them no true idea of His character or His work。 But day by day He was revealing Himself to them as the Saviour； and thus He desired to give them a true conception of Him as the Messiah。
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The disciples still expected Christ to reign as a temporal prince。 Although He had so long concealed His design； they believed that He would not always remain in poverty and obscurity； the time was near when He would establish His kingdom。 That the hatred of the priests and rabbis would never be overcome； that Christ would be rejected by His own nation； condemned as a deceiver； and crucified as a malefactor；such a thought the disciples had never entertained。 But the hour of the power of darkness was drawing on； and Jesus must open to His disciples the conflict before them。 He was sad as He anticipated the trial。
Hitherto He had refrained from making known to them anything relative to His sufferings and death。 In His conversation with Nicodemus He had said； 〃As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness； even so must the Son of man be lifted up： that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish； but have eternal life。〃 John 3：14； 15。 But the disciples did not hear this； and had they heard； would not have understood。 But now they have been with Jesus； listening to His words； beholding His works； until； notwithstanding the humility of His surroundings； and the opposition of priests and people； they can join in the testimony of Peter； 〃Thou art the Christ； the Son of the living God。〃 Now the time has come for the veil that hides the future to be withdrawn。 〃From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples； how that He must go unto Jerusalem； and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes； and be killed； and be raised again the third day。〃
Speechless with grief and amazement； the disciples listened。 Christ had accepted Peter's acknowledgment of Him as the Son of God； and now His words pointing to His suffering and death seemed incomprehensible。 Peter could not keep silent。 He laid hold upon his Master； as if to draw Him back from His impending doom； exclaiming； 〃Be it far from Thee； Lord： this shall not be unto Thee。〃
Peter loved his Lord； but Jesus did not commend him for thus manifesting the desire to shield Him from suffering。 Peter's words were not such as would be a help and solace to Jesus in the great trial before Him。 They were not in harmony with God's purpose of grace toward a lost world； nor with the lesson of self…sacrifice that Jesus had come to teach by His own example。 Peter did not desire to see the cross in the work of Christ。 The impression which his words would make was directly opposed to that which Christ desired to make on the minds of His followers； and the Saviour was moved to utter one of the sternest rebukes
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that ever fell from His lips： 〃Get thee behind Me； Satan： thou art an offense unto Me： for thou savorest not the things that be of God； but those that be of men。〃
Satan was trying to discourage Jesus； and turn Him from His mission； and Peter； in his blind love； was giving voice to the temptation。 The prince of evil was the author of the thought。 His instigation was behind that impulsive appeal。 In the wilderness； Satan had offered Christ the dominion of the world on condition of forsaking the path of humiliation and sacrifice。 Now he was presenting the same temptation to the disciple of Christ。 He was seeking to fix Peter's gaze upon the earthly glory； that he might not behold the cross to which Jesus desired to turn his eyes。 And through Peter； Satan was again pressing the temptation upon Jesus。 But the Saviour heeded it not； His thought was for His disciple。 Satan had interposed between Peter and his Ma