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Jesus founded His Church in the shadows of Caesarea Philippi, a city named after and built by the Roman emperor (Mt 16:13). In contrast, Jesus' Church had no land or buildings. It was just a few common people. Jesus founded His Church on Simon Peter, a simple Jewish fisherman, rather than on the mighty Roman emperor or other worldly powers (Mt 16:18). Jesus implied that His Church would be victorious not by inflicting suffering and death but by sharing in His sufferings and death. Jesus paints the picture of a poor, weak, and suffering Church, at least by the world's standards. Amazingly, this Church holds the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 16:19). It can attack and conquer Caesarea Philippi and all Satan's strongholds (Mt 16:18). Whatever it binds or looses on earth is bound or loosed in heaven (Mt 16:19). This is the Church of Jesus Christ. |
