You are Peter

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church._ Matthew 16:18

There are traditions that take very serious this statement by Christ - about His choice to 'build' His church upon this man.   Plenty of theological arguments and positions have been made leaning into what this meant and what authority stems out of this.  For the sake of this post, I will sidestep this in ways and instead pose the question - might Christ be meaning that in some ways Peter would be a model of faith for us all? Both individually and corporately?

Prior to this verse, we see Peter affirmed by Christ for his faith, for coming to understand who Christ was, and how this was possible only through the movement of the Father towards Peter.

This is not to say that Peter had 'figured it out' - for as we read through the Gospels we see he and the rest of the disciples struggling over what it all meant time and again.   Towards the end of the Gospel we see Peter become a zealot for Christ.  Adamantly proclaiming his devotion to his Rabbi even to the point of death.Then to top it off he cuts off a soldier's ear in his fervent defense of Jesus. Hours later, he denies Christ - three times - avoiding the pain and suffering that was certain to come his way if their connection was made.  As the timeline continues to unfold, we see the resurrected Christ pursue him again - and Peter admits his wrong.  And Christ reaffirms his trust, his belief and his hope for Peter.So in Peter we see:

• a fervent faith

• a struggling faith

• a repentant faith

• a reconciled faith

Through Peter we can see ourselves in these 4 postures, we can see churches we've experienced or been a part of.   We know from our experience how our faith and expression of faith has evolved and adapted over the years. In many ways  we experience these flowing from one another.

None of these are any better or worse than the other, in fact all are necessary.  The danger comes when they become static places we remain.

We all know of individuals who are so burdened by their struggle that though repentant they never move into or accept reconciliation. We all have seen or can recall churches or groups of Christians who are so fervent in their faith that it produces a wake of pain to those who might outside of their convictions.  In their passion, they fail to see how they have created structures hurt and struggle to acknowledge their doubt or where they must seek repentance from both God and man.

In Peter we see an individual who had it together and who royally screwed up.  A person who modeled a full faith for us to not be ashamed of - but instead one that when fully embraced has the potential to transform a person, a people and the world.

This is the kind of faith we are invited into. So may we remember, as Christ said to Peter, He says to us here and now: 'Follow me.