1. Upon This Rock Matthew 16:13-18
The Lord is our Rock – the foundation of the church and of our hope for everlasting life. Let us build our lives on His word.
Matthew 16:13-18

3. Caesarea Philippi At the foot of Mount Hermon.
An ancient center of idol worship.
One of three places in Israel where Herod erected temples for the worship of Caesar.
Regarded by ancient pagans as the birthplace of Pan, the god of the wild.

4. Water source of the Jordan River at Caesarea Philippi

5. Artist’s rendering of the temples at Caesarea Philippi
“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’” (Matthew 16:13)

6. Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Upon this Rock
God is our eternal rock
The only sure source of truth, righteousness, and justice. (Deut. 32:3-4)
The One from whom Israel had come. (Deut. 32:15-18; Isaiah 44:1-9)
An everlasting Savior and Deliverer (2 Sam. 22:1-47)
The source of life and the hope of eternal life (Habakkuk 1:12)
Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
He said, “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

7. Because Christ is our Rock, death cannot prevail
Upon this Rock
Because Christ is our Rock, death cannot prevail
It could not prevail against the establishment of the church (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:27-31)
Christ and those who comprise His church are “living stones” (1 Peter 2:4-6)
Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
He said, “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

8. Stones placed on Jewish Graves on the Mount of Olives
“Jewish authorities likely objected to the flower ritual because of its proximity to pagan customs… stones last for eternity - as opposed to the short life span of flowers. Like the memory of our loved ones, stones will never die.” (Jewish Virtual Library)

9. Because Christ is our Rock, death cannot prevail
Upon this Rock
Because Christ is our Rock, death cannot prevail
It could not prevail against the establishment of the church (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:27-31)
Christ and those who comprise His church are “living stones” (1 Peter 2:4-6)
No storm can prevail against those built upon the Rock (2 Timothy 1:12; Phil. 1:20-21; 1 John 2:28; Isaiah 26:3-4)
Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
He said, “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

10. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5)
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)