집을 짓는다는 것(BUILDING THE HOUSE)

💙 집을 짓는다는 것

 ✝  마태복음 16:13 - 16:20 

“ 내가 이 반석 위에 내 교회를 세우리니 음부의 권세가 이기지 못하리라 “
[마태복음 16:18]

1889년 미국에서 가장 야심 찬 개인주택 건설 프로젝트가 시작 되었습니다. 공사 현장에서는 하루에 벽돌 약 32,000장이 생산 되었습니다. 6년이나 걸려 지은 이 집은 조지 밴더빌트 2세의 “여름 별장”입니다. 그 결과 노스캐롤라이나 주 애슈빌의 빌트모어 에스테이트가 생겼습니다. 현재까지도 이 집은 178,926 평방피트(16,226 제곱미터)의 엄청난 면적에 250개의 방(35개의 침실과 43개의 욕실 포함)이 있는 미국에서 가장 큰 개인주택으로 남아 있습니다.

그러나 이 프로젝트가 아무리 야심차다 해도 마태복음 16장에서 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하신 “건축”계획에 비하면 아무것도 아닙니다. 베드로가 예수님이 “그리스도시요 살아 계신 하나님의 아들이시니이다”(16 절)라고 대답했을 때, 예수님은 “너는 베드로라 내가 이 반석 위에 내 교회를 세우리니 음부의 권세가 이기지 못하리라”(18절)고 선언하셨습니다. 

신학자들이 “반석”이 무엇인지에 대해 논쟁하고 있지만, 예수님의 건축계획에 대해서는 논쟁의 여지가 없습니다. 주님은 세상의 모든 나라와 민족을 포함하여 (요한계시록 5:9), 주님의 교회를 세상 끝까지 세우실 것입니다(마태복음 28:19- 20).
예수님의 이 건축 프로젝트 비용은 얼마나 될까요? 십자가 위에서 흘리신 예수님의 보혈로 치른 희생의 값입니다(사도행전 20:28). 그렇게 비싼 값으로 사신 주님의 “건물”(에베소서 2:21)에 속한 구성원으로서, 주님이 보여주신 사랑의 희생을 기리고 이 위대한 사명에 주님과 동참하기를 바랍니다.

----------------------------------
교회는 어떻게 그리스도를 나타내야 합니까? 
당신이 예수님을 확실하게 닮아가는 데 방해가 되는 것들은 무엇입니까?

<하나님의 어린 양, 주님의 희생에 감사드립니다.
제가 믿음의 가족들과 함께 주님을 찬양할 수 있게 해주소서.>

*****************************
[마태복음 16:13 - 16:20]
13. ○예수께서 빌립보 가이사랴 지방에 이르러 제자들에게 물어 이르시되 사람들이 인자를 누구라 하느냐
14. 이르되 더러는 세례 요한, 더러는 엘리야, 어떤 이는 예레미야나 선지자 중의 하나라 하나이다
15. 이르시되 너희는 나를 누구라 하느냐
16. 시몬 베드로가 대답하여 이르되 주는 그리스도시요 살아 계신 하나님의 아들이시니이다
17. 예수께서 대답하여 이르시되 바요나 시몬아 네가 복이 있도다 이를 네게 알게 한 이는 혈육이 아니요 하늘에 계신 내 아버지시니라
18. 또 내가 네게 이르노니 너는 베드로라 내가 이 반석 위에 내 교회를 세우리니 음부의 권세가 이기지 못하리라
19. 내가 천국 열쇠를 네게 주리니 네가 땅에서 무엇이든지 매면 하늘에서도 매일 것이요 네가 땅에서 무엇이든지 풀면 하늘에서도 풀리리라 하시고
20. 이에 제자들에게 경고하사 자기가 그리스도인 것을 아무에게도 이르지 말라 하시니라

---

💙 BUILDING THE HOUSE

 ✝  Matthew 16:13 - 16:20 

On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 
[ MATTHEW 16:18 ]

In 1889, the most ambitious private home construction project in the United States began. On-site manufacturing produced some 32,000 bricks a day. The work continued until the completion of George Vanderbilt II’s “summer house”—six years later. The result was the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. To this day, it remains the largest private residence in America, with 250 rooms (including 35 bedrooms and 43 bath- rooms) consuming a staggering 178,926 square feet (16,226 square meters) of floor space.

This project, ambitious as it was, was nothing compared to the “building” intentions Jesus proclaimed to His disciples in  Matthew 16. After Peter had confirmed that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (V. 16), Jesus declared, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (V. 18). 

While theologians debate the identity of the “rock,” there’s no debate about Jesus’ intentions. He would build His church  to stretch to the ends of the earth (MATTHEW 28:19–20), including people from every nation and ethnic group from around the globe (REVELATION 5:9).
The cost of this building project? The sacrifice of Jesus’ own blood on the cross (ACTS 20:28). As members of His  “building” (EPHESIANS 2:21), purchased at so great a price, may we celebrate His loving sacrifice and join Him in this great mission.
-BILL CROWDER

----------------------------
How is the church to reflect Christ? 
What are some things that can hinder you from accurately reflecting Jesus?

<Lamb of God, thank You for Your sacrifice. Enable me to celebrate You in my heart as well as with others in the family of  faith.>

***********************
[Matthew 16:13 - 16:20]
13. Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He [ began] asking His disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
14. And they said, "Some [say] John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
15. He *said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16. And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17. And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal [this] to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not  overpower it.
19. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
20. Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.