Great Gospel Words - "The Rock"

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
for You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
Psalm 61:1-3

Jesus is famous for His “I am” sayings in the Gospel of John. “I am the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Door for the Sheep, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way and the Truth and the Life, the True Vine” are all heard from the lips of Jesus in John’s Gospel.

Although He never directly said, “I am the Rock!” we are on solid Biblical ground to assert that Jesus is the Rock. This word picture presents compelling truth about the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Before we glean a few spiritual truths contained in this picture of Christ, let’s establish the Biblical certainty that stands behind this great Gospel word. The first rock photograph in our Biblical picture album records one of the many miracles provided by God during the time of the Exodus and Israel’s time in the wilderness.

The Lord said, “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." Exodus 17:6.

What a picture! Work gushes forth from a rock. The thirsty people are saved from dying of thirst and dehydration. This water was not luxury, it was a necessity.

While Paul is teaching the Corinthians God’s Word, he holds up this picture. As he explains what happened, he reveals that this Rock was Christ.
For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4b

So, when the Psalmist writes “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I,” he says, “Lead me to Christ, who is higher that I.”

Christ, the Rock, is SALVATION – 1 Peter 2:4-7

In presenting Jesus as the Rock, Peter employs a synonym. He calls Jesus a Living Stone. This Living Stone was rejected by men. This rejection culminated at the cross. With that in mind, carefully read the following verses:

As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame." So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone…" 1 Peter 2:4-7

As we come to Him, the Rock, the Living Stone, Who has become the Cornerstone, we believe in Him and are saved.

In our sin and depravity, we are in the pit of destruction. We are lower than low. There is no escape that we can fashion for ourselves from this slimy, slippery pit.

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. Psalm 40:2

And that Rock was Christ. Lord, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Lord, lead me to Christ – the only place that salvation can be experienced.

Christ, the Rock, is STABILITY – Matthew 7:24-27

Coming to Christ does not make us immune to the storms and struggles of life. But it does provide us with stability in the midst of the storms and struggles. Since Christ is the Rock, His Words provide the solid foundation for stability that we desperately need.

Jesus said, "Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." Matthew 7:24-27

The exact same rains, floods and winds assaulted both houses. One fell with a great crash. The other stood strong against the storms since it was built on the Rock.

And this Rock is Christ. Lord, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I – the only place where stability can be found.

Christ, the Rock, is SECURITY – Matthew 16:15-18

With a declaration given to him by God Himself, Peter stated regarding Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” To which our Lord responded… “…and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (see Matthew 16:15-18)

This phrase - “The gates of hell” - represents Satan and all of his nefarious schemes and ploys to destroy you and your faith. He is far more powerful that we are. If we had to fight him on our own power we would lose. But we don’t fight with our own power. As Christ’s church (remember, the church is not the building) we take at face value that Satan will not prevail over the Rock. The victory of the Rock is our confidence in our spiritual battles.

And this Rock is Christ. Lord, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I - the only place where security, eternal security - can be found.

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

O Lord, lead me to the Rock, Who is higher than I! Lead me to Jesus.