Through Jesus. Matthew 16:17-20 NLT

It's an image a lot of people have. Peter standing at the pearly gates letting people in or turning people away. Now, I don't know if Peter will be at a pearly gate welcoming us to Heaven  but I do know the only way to Heaven is through Jesus, not past Peter.

John 14:16 NLT
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me."

Matthew 7:13 NLT
"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way."

I think Jesus had a soft spot for Peter. Peter made a lot of mistakes but Jesus was always patient with him.  Peter seemed to have a trusting eagerness to learn, follow, love and serve Jesus. Yet, he still had doubts, fears and shortcomings he had to deal with and Jesus knew that. In this passage Peter "gets it". Through faith, he understands, not just in his head, not just in his heart but in his soul that Jesus is the Messiah. God revealed this to Peter because of his relationship with Jesus.

Jesus has a soft spot for you too. He knows about your doubts, fears and shortcomings yet He is patient. Jesus has so many blessings He wants to reveal to you, what's holding you back from a relationship with Him?

Matthew 16:17-20 NLT

17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

20 Then He sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.

Blessings, Cecilia