Pursuing the Call: A Plan for New MissionariesSample

One of the Scriptures that has most helped to shape my journey as a missionary is in Matthew 16, when Jesus has the famous conversation with His disciples in which He asks, “Who do you say I am?” After Peter affirms his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus says, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). Many have speculated whether the rock is Peter himself, or rather the confession made by Peter that Jesus is the Messiah. I happen to think it’s a little of both, but I’d also like to suggest a third possibility. Jesus may have also referred to the rock in a literal sense, meaning the place where they were present as they had this conversation.

Caesarea Philippi, where this conversation took place, was widely known as a center for pagan worship during Jesus’ day. The specific religious practices incorporated into the worship of the region were quite perverse. If you look at pictures of Caesarea Philippi, you will also notice that the region is quite rocky. Given the intentionality with which Jesus operated, He may have intentionally chosen to have this conversation in Caesarea Philippi to communicate to the disciples something about the type of church He was going to build. Namely, Jesus’ church would be established in the parts of the world and nooks of society that are farthest from Him, that seem the most hopeless, and that are written off as a lost cause. Establishing this church is the mission to which Jesus was calling the disciples, and it is this same mission to which He continues to call us two thousand years later.