Christ is the Rock

I believe understanding what the Jews knew is central to comprehending the scriptures. When we have that in mind the greater meaning of the scriptures becomes clear.

In Matthew Christ asks the disciples who people say that he is. There is a whole list of people that the world think that he is. He then ask who do you think that I am. Peter accurately identifies him as the very Messiah, the Savior of the World. Christ acknowledges that Peter knows this by revelation and that by revelation the truths of the God will be know.

For centuries this has been misunderstood by many religions. Peter is given the nick name of the "Rock" and Christ says that upon the is "Rock" I will build my church. Why would  Mathew make this mistake? Turns out it wasn't Matthew. The Greek equivalent of Cephas is Petros which means stone and the word Petra was used in the exchange to refer to Christ the "Rock". So it was the translators that didn't understand the meaning and significants of the two words.

So lets understand who the Jew would have consider the "Rock". Looking at the Topical Guide we find that there are several reference to "God" being the "Rock"

• He is the Rock, Deut. 32:4
• lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation, Deut. 32:15
• neither is there any rock like our God, 1 Sam. 2:2
• Lord is my rock, 2 Sam. 22:2
• Rock of Israel spake to me, 2 Sam. 23:3
• Lord is my rock, and my fortress, Ps. 18:2
• who is a rock save our God, Ps. 18:31
• my rock … the God of my salvation, Ps. 18:46 (1 Ne. 15:15; 2 Ne. 4:30; 2 Ne. 9:45; Jacob 7:25).
• lead me to the rock that is higher than I, Ps. 61:2
• He only is my rock, Ps. 62:6
• a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, Isa. 8:14
• not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, Isa. 17:10
• rock whence ye are hewn, Isa. 51:1 (2 Ne. 8:1).
• drank of … spiritual Rock … and that Rock was Christ, 1 Cor. 10:4
• Lamb, and my rock, 1 Ne. 13:36
• rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, Hel. 5:12
• I am Messiah, the … Rock of Heaven, Moses 7:53

There are enough reference here that  make it clear to me that if there were any discussion of who was the "Rock" that the Jews would already believe that it was "God".

I would also like to point out that Joseph Smith added to our understanding in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. When Peter is called to work with Christ he is given the name Cephas. John points out that means a "Stone". Joseph Smith adds in the footnotes a "Seer" or a "Stone". 

I found this interesting. Seer Stones where had among the Jews at various times. They would  have been familiar with their uses. I think Joseph Smith adds the idea that Christ knew of Peters mission as the First Prophet, Seer and Revelator of his time. He highlights his ability to receive revelation in the discussion outlined above.

Christ is the "Rock" and Peter is the "Seer Stone". Stark contrast that demonstrate how Christ will run his church until that great millennial day when he will rein personally on the earth.

Then thanks to the Book of Mormon it become plainly clear who the "Rock" is. This is from the Book of Helaman 5:12

"12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation ; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

I testify that Christ runs his church through great prophets like Peter, Joseph Smith and President Thomas S. Monson. All Seer and Revelators!