“Rock” (Aramaic kēpã and transliterated into Greek as Kephas) is a symbol of strength and permanence and a place where people in danger would often take refuge.

God is thus depicted as the Rock of Israel, being the strength, security, and deliverance of his people. The psalmist sings, “Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.

My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold!” (Ps 18:3). Jesus says that when his disciples listen to his words and act on them, they are like a wise man who builds his house on rock, solid on their faith.

While Jesus did not refer to himself as “rock,” Paul points to him as “type” of the rock that followed the Israelites in the desert from which they drank spiritual drink (1 Cor 10:4).

The Apostles, in turn, points to Jesus as the stone rejected by the builders (the Jewish leaders) which has become the cornerstone (Acts 4:11).

Indeed, Peter can function as “rock foundation” only if he relies on Jesus whom he confesses as the Messiah— not one who will drive out the Romans, but one who will suffer greatly in Jerusalem.

As the community had no water, they held a council against Moses and Aaron. The people contended with Moses, exclaiming, “Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the Lord’s presence!

Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this desert where we and our livestock are dying?

Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates? Here there is not even water to drink!”

But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate.

Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord said to Moses, “Take your staff and assemble the community, you and your brother Aaron, and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters.

From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation and their livestock to drink.”

So Moses took his staff from its place before the Lord, as he was ordered. He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock, where he said to them, “Listen to me, you rebels! Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?”

Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, and water gushed out in abundance for the people and their livestock to drink.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you were not faithful to me in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel, you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them.”

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”