Read Matthew 16:17-18 from a child-friendly Bible.
Peter’s name in Greek is "Petros",
which means "small stone". "Petros" sounds very similar to
another Greek word, "Petra", which means "Rock or Boulder".
The statement that Jesus said to Peter used these two Greek words, "Petros",
"small stone" and "Petra", "boulder".*
If we could understand Greek, Jesus’ statement would
have sounded something like this:
"Jesus, replied, ‘Blessed are you "Petros"
or "Small Stone", for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my
heavenly Father. And I tell you that you are "Petros", "Small
Stone", and on this "Petra" or "Boulder" I will build
my church...’ "
Jesus did not say on this "Petros" or
"small stone" I will build my church. He said, "On this
"rock or boulder", "Petra", I will build my church. Jesus
was referring to Peter’s statement. And what did Peter* say? He said, "You
(Jesus) are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." His statement,
concerning Jesus, is
the boulder, the "Petra", or the foundation of our faith. The church must be built on
Jesus and no one else.
If we do not build our lives on Jesus and his
teachings, if we trust in anyone or anything else, we will crumble and fall like
a house that isn’t built on a strong foundation. To remember this important
message we will make Petra "ROCK" Necklaces.
What You Need: Flat, polished river rocks or colored landscape rocks
(Approximately 1" in diameter, available in craft or garden stores.
Polished rocks are more difficult to work with.), 20 gauge copper or brass wire,
scissors, needle nose pliers, hole punch, Peter’s confession (in the patterns
section of the book), 2-1/2’ jute or strips of rawhide, hot glue.
What You Do: Cut out pattern and punch hole. Beginning at the back of the
stone, wrap wire tightly around rock so as to encase it (see picture above). Twist
ends of wire shut with needle nose pliers. Turn ends of wire under. String jute
through top of wire. Cut out Bible verse, punch hole and slide onto jute. Adjust
necklace length to fit over child’s head and tie shut.
Copyright 2005 Sarah Keith
sarah@SundaySchoolNetwork.com
* Strong's Exhaustive Concordance - Greek
Bible Dictionary states:
4073. Petra; fem. of the same as 4074; (a
mass of) rock (lit. or fig.):-rock.
4074. Petros; appar. a prim. word; a (piece
of) rock (larger than 3037); as a name, Petrus, an apostle:-
Peter, rock.
3037 says:
lithos; appar. a prim. word; a stone
(lit. or fig.):- (mill-, stumbling-) stone.
Peter understood that Jesus, not
himself, was
the boulder-foundation of the church. (See 1 Peter 2:4-10,
Acts 10:25-26; also
Revelation: 21:14.)
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