Names of Jesus: The Rock

In 1 Corinthians 10, we read about many examples we have in the Old Testament. The Apostle Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthian church to encourage them to continue in faith and in the teachings they have received, and also to rebuke their sinful hearts, actions and reputations. In this letter, Paul teaches the Corinthians and future generations of believers about the importance of Jesus Christ as the rock of our lives. Jesus is our Chief Cornerstone, and He is also our Spiritual Rock.

1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 
2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 
3 all ate the same spiritual food, 
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 NKJV

Paul uses the Israelites as an example, pointing out that they were all divinely freed from Egypt, provided for and led through the wilderness, and that the source of this divine provision and guidance was Jesus. He was the spiritual Rock that followed them through the wilderness, in all the long years they spent wandering in disobedience.

• Spiritual – G4152 – pneumatikos
  • belonging to the Divine Spirit;
    • produced by the sole power of God himself without natural instrumeutality, supernatural
      • thoughts, opinions, precepts, maxims, ascribable to the Holy Spirit working in the soul

• Rock – G4073 – petra
  • a rock, cliff or ledge
    • a projecting rock, crag, rocky ground
    • a rock, a large stone
    • metaph. a man like a rock, by reason of his firmness and strength of soul

• That followed them – G190 – akoloutheō
  •  to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him

Even with the disobedience of the Israelites Jesus, the Rock, was with them and accompanied them on their journey. He did not just provide physical provisions such as the mana, quail, and the water from the rock God told Moses to slam his staff into. The Israelite’s were given guidance and protection against enemies.

They were guided in both their physical and spiritual journey. As they continued in spiritual resistance and physical disobedience, the Rock continued to draw them to Himself and lead them to repentance and the land that was promised to them. He disciplined them, taught them, fed them, and protected them during their many years of wandering. They were eventually led to the land that was promised where only two of the adult Israelites were permitted to enter, leaving the rest to reap the consequences of their disobedience and never inherit the promised land.

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How is Jesus the Spiritual Rock?

This picture of the Israelites is drawn to describe Jesus as The Rock, and uses the Israelites as a warning to all. Jesus is our Spiritual Rock. He is firm, immovable, resilient, and strong. He guides and changes our thoughts, opinions, actions, and lives. When we live in obedience, we, like Caleb and Joshua who were permitted to enter the promised land, will reap the promised blessings of a life aligned with our Rock. If we fail to obey, we will be like the Israelites who continued in their disobedience, wandered for many years, grew in bitterness and complaining, and eventually were shut out of the promised land.

A life tethered to the Rock of Jesus is a life tethered to hope and joy in all circumstances. When we are tethered to Him, we can live in true freedom. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus we will grow in faith, strength, courage, peace and perseverance. Where we are weak He is strong and we can rest and rely solely on Him for all that we need, allowing Him to strengthen us spiritually and prepare us for eternity with Him.

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The Rock of Faith

Jesus is the founder and perfector of our faith, and as such He is the Rock of our faith. He is the reason and source for our faith, and He sustains our faith, grows it, tests it, develops and shapes it. Without Christ, we have no reason for faith and hope.

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect,

    for all his ways are justice.

A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,

    just and upright is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV

He gave His life so that those who believe in Him would spend eternity with God. We can have faith in the faithfulness of God and sacrifice of Jesus. He is perfect and just, and His sacrifice covers over the sins and pays the penalty for those who would have faith in Him as their Rock and redeemer.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 
25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 
27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV

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6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

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The Rock of Strength

Christ teaches us that we can trust and rest in His strength. His strength resisted all temptation and sin, endured immeasurable agony on our behalf, and bore the full weight of sin and darkness on the cross so that we could be free in Him, because of His strength. We could never have the strength to make it through this life on our own.

2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

My God, my [a]strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the [b]horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2 NKJV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

We also could never be strong enough to earn our salvation. It is only by completely trusting in the strength of Jesus that we can receive the grace of God and be saved. It is also by His strength that, once salvation has been received, we can endure all the trials, spiritual battles, and many pains and struggles of life.

31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

    they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 ESV

Where we are weak, He is strong and when we are in alignment with Him and have a sincere relationship with Him, we will live in obedience to Him and experience His strength to carry us through all of life’s circumstances.

2 The Lord is my strength and my song,

    and he has become my salvation;

this is my God, and I will praise him,

    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Exodus 15:2 ESV

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The Rock of Courage

Fear is growing in today’s culture and can completely consume us if we let it. Between the politics, the pandemic, war, and all the brokenness in our personal lives and around the world Satan can plant seeds of doubt and fear in us that take us further and further from the Rock and His Truth if we let it. The more we align our lives to the Rock, though, the more we can resist the fear the enemy wants to plant within our hearts.

2 He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my [a]defense;

I shall not be greatly moved.[b]

Psalm 62:2 NKJV

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6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

Christ, our Rock of courage, can give us not only faith and strength, but being in alignment with Him also gives us access to His courage to help us defeat the fearful attacks of the enemy who seeks to devour us. Fear is not from God, and allowing ourselves to become victims to fear and remain in it will push us away from our Rock.

10 fear not, for I am with you;

    be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

Hold firm to the Rock of Courage and let Him provide you with His own courage to fight against fear in your life and stand firm in the Truth that He has already won, that He loves us and wants to carry our burdens and fears. We have nothing to fear when we have God.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 NKJV

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The Rock of Peace

As we learn to lean into Christ as the Rock of our lives, we also begin to experience His peace. This peace that comes from the Rock can be experienced no matter the circumstances we are in or the situations we are going through. The peace of Christ surpasses our understanding yet can consume us and give us the strength and courage we need, and will help us have clarity to focus our eyes and hearts and minds on Him.

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you [a]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 NKJV

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23 The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not [a]want.

2 He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures;

He leads me beside the [c]still waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV

Peace can be felt when we truly rely on the Lord alone and recognize we cannot do anything without Him. We surrender to Him and His power, and trust His will and direction for our lives no matter what. Even Paul who was in prison for his faith wrote to the Philippian church not to be anxious about anything, but to pray, give thanks to the Lord, make your requests known to God, and He will give you peace that will guard you. This peace guards you by the power of Jesus Himself as our minds and hearts stay set on Him and dependent on Him.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

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The Rock of Perseverance

As we allow Christ to be our Rock, giving us His strength, courage, faith, and peace, He fills us up more and more with Himself so that we can persevere through all of life’s circumstances, enduring to the end in faith. We are all running the race of faith and called to persevere to the end, being made stronger along the journey, until eventually the race will be over and He wants us to be ready, having completed the race successfully with our focus on Him.

4 Trust in the Lord forever,

    for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Isaiah 26:4 ESV

14 Wait[a] on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Psalm 27:14 NKJV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

The prize of perseverance in this race of faith throughout our lives is to spend eternity with the Rock that got us through it all. To obtain this prize, we must do it His way, allowing Him to guide and provide all that we need, casting off our impatience, our short-cuts, our pride and self-reliance and leaning into the Lord and His ways and timings. The only way to persevere is to continue to grow in our personal relationship with Him, grow in our faith, and grow in our dependance on Him.

26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NKJV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12 ESV

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The Rock of Wisdom

Continuing to grow in our faith and dependance on the Lord will help us to receive and grow in true wisdom that only comes from the Lord our Rock. As we learn to rely on Him, heed His guidance, rest in His strength, courage and peace, we also learn and grow in the Lord’s wisdom and begin to apply it more and more to our lives. True wisdom comes from Him.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5 NKJV

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17 ESV

In Proverbs we learn that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. This fear is not the kind of fear like being afraid of something, but is an awe, a respect, genuine wonder and respect. When we look to the Lord in awe and wonder, with love and respect, growing in faith and trust, we can begin to learn the wisdom and understanding He has in store for us.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

    all those who practice it have a good understanding.

    His praise endures forever!

Psalm 111:10 ESV

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

This wisdom is meant to be applied and used in our lives and to serve the Lord and participate in the great commission. When we neglect wisdom or choose not to use it for His purposes, we begin to close ourselves off from His wisdom. We must earnestly seek His wisdom through a personal relationship with our Rock, Jesus Christ, and through prayer, worship, and reading His Word.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16 ESV

7 Be not wise in your own eyes;

    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:7 ESV

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30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 
31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 NKJV

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How can Jesus being my Rock change my life?

By inviting Jesus Christ into your life to be your Lord and Savior gives you access to Him as the Rock of your life, giving you His strength, courage, peace, faith, perseverance, wisdom, and so much more. By growing in our personal relationships with Him, we begin to display His character more and our old selves shed from us more and more. We are able to cast off our old nature and take on His nature to prepare us for eternity with Him.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 
7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 
8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 
9 nor let us [a]tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 
10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 
11 Now [b]all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our [c]admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

1 Corinthians 10:6-11 NKJV

When we trust in Jesus as our Rock, we change for the better and are able to endure anything we go through in life when we lean into Him and trust Him to see us through, rather than relying on ourselves or even on other people. Christ is how we get through this life and make it to the promise of eternity with Him.

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