A question arose concerning John the baptists ministry regarding fasting.
Jesus' disciples said John taught his disciples to fast but Jesus himself did not.
And Jesus replied Can the children of the bridegroom mourn while he is yet with him.. I'll find it..
Luk 5:33
And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise
the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
Luk 5:34
And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
Luk 5:35
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
It was not long after the beheading of John the Baptist that Jesus gave Simon his new name Peter.
What if Petros is Petra?
What I mean is... bare with me here. I can understand this in my mind but the words are hard to find.
I am reminded of the story of Isaac and Rebekah. Isaac's mother had passed away and he then took Rebekah to wife.
Gen 24:67
And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's
death.
John the Baptist represents the old covenant or the old wine skin. And as John preached he said:
Isa 40:3
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
This salutation that John made is not unlike the one his mother Elizabeth said concerning Jesus.
Luk 1:43
And whence
is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luk 1:44
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
Luk 1:45
And blessed
is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
At this time the babe inside Elizabeth's womb lept for joy.
30 years later John is baptizing in the Jordan and sees Jesus coming to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:13
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Mat 3:14
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
John the Baptist is the representation of the faithful bride under the old covenant.
When John died (first wife under the old covenant) Jesus took a new bride(New covenant)
This new bride would have responsibility for the children under the first marriage, and also become a mother of the new children yet to be born.
If Peter is Petra then when Jesus says upon this rock will I build my church, He is speaking to his new bride and all the children that will follow.
Peter feed my lambs... go unto the lost sheep of Israel.. those from the Old covenant.
And yet Paul was sent to the Gentiles. The strangers, the orphans, other people not under the old covenant.
Exo 12:49
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Rev 21:2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:10
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11
Having the glory of God:
and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
Side note concerning the Sabbath.
Consider..
Exo 16:5
And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare
that which they bring in; and
it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
Twice as much, both Jew and Gentile will be gathered on the sixth day.
Perhaps Peter needed a help meet for him so the Lord gave Paul to assist in the gathering?
Gal 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Dang this puts a whole new swing on the transgender movement.
There is a purpose for this "new thing". Perhaps it is to make us understand that God can use any gender for whatever purpose he needs them to be.
And because we still have our understanding according to the outward appearance, we can't understand the inner dilemma these people who are one way outwardly believe they are another way inwardly.
What if being male or female in the flesh is not as important to God as who they are in the spirit?
Do we judge much?
Anywhooo..
those are just a few thoughts that came to mind regarding Petros and Petra.
You are free to chew on them and spit them out if you so please.
Hugs