Yeshua / Jesus Vs Saul / Paul Points
If you see a link in the text, it often means I've explained the data required to understand what is being said.
No offense, but I don't believe you understand Paul or Jesus and that is clear from your examples.
Simon was called a Stumbling Stone (petros) once by Yeshua (
Matthew 16:18), and straight after he called him satan (
Matthew 16:22-23), saying he follows the ways of man more than God, where he would establish a Church down near Hell.
I don't see where Jesus calls Simon a "stumbling" anything. Just Peter. Rock. But a rock can be a very good thing in the scriptures.
As you see God Himself is called a Rock.
- 2 Samuel 22:32
- Psalm 18:2
- Psalm 18:31
The Messiah Himself is pictured as a Rock.
- Daniel 2:34
- Matthew 21:42
- Isaiah 28:16
Finally, the ministers of the gospel are predicted to be as a shadow of a rock in a weary land. That is they would provide shelter, shade and rest for the spiritually weary. They would be a hiding place for people who are suffering spiritually. Jesus is the King and His ministers are the princes. They rule in heaven by serving others on earth. They're servants of all. That includes Peter the "rock" and Paul and John.
Isaiah 32:1-2 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
Lo, for righteousness doth a king reign, As to princes, for judgment they rule. And each hath been as a hiding-place [from] wind, And as a secret hiding-place [from] inundation, As rivulets of waters in a dry place, As a shadow of a heavy rock in a weary land.
When Yeshua Cursed the Fig Tree, Simon started to praise him, and Yeshua tells him to have faith in the Source of reality (
Mark 11:21-22); thus Yeshua warned him satan would use him (
Luke 22:31-32).
Yes, Peter was tested at the crucifixion and denied Jesus 3 times but don't ignore how in verse 32 Jesus makes it clear that Peter will turn out alright thanks to Jesus' prayer.
Isaiah 8:11-13, where Yeshua the Rock of Salvation called Simon the Stumbling Stone, this is prophesied in
Zechariah 3:1-2 where satan rebukes Yeshua, and in
Zechariah 3:9 Yeshua called Simon the Stone to fulfil the prophecy.
Let's read Isaiah 8:13-15 then and understand what it literally says. It literally says that Jehovah will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of falling to the two houses of Israel. So, it's not about Peter at all. It's about Jesus because people don't believe in Him. But for some people He is a "sanctuary" so not all will fall because of Jesus.
13 Jehovah of Hosts -- Him ye do sanctify, And He [is] your Fear, and He your Dread,
14 And He hath been for a sanctuary, And for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of falling, To the two houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them have stumbled and fallen, And been broken, and snared, and captured.
It is like in the Parable of the Seed Sower (
Matthew 13:1-23,
Mark 4:1-20, and
Luke 8:4-15), the Seed that falls on Stony Ground is plural of petros.
Simon the Stumbling Stone
Jesus Himself is the Stone of stumbling because they(the builders) rejected Him. If they had not then they would not stumble.
Matthew 21:42-43 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
And those who hear the message but misunderstand; have the seed stolen from their hearts before it can grow fruit.
There are 3 things:
1. knowledge is unfruitful without understanding it.
2. Understanding is also unfruitful if not put into practice.
3. So wisdom(skill) is the ability to put into action what knowledge we have understood. So wisdom can be understood as fruitfulness.
I say all that to show how you can hear the Word of God and it still won't bear fruit; because you don't understand or you don't do it or both.
This is the topic of the thread, like some of these basics, such as the Gospel of John being a deliberate morality IQ exam, shows humanity isn't wise enough.
Matthew, Mark, Luke Vs the Gospel of John
The gospel of John is the most spiritual of the 4 gospels. Set apart from the other 3 as God's pattern shows up in scriptures having time and time again. A group of 4 with 1 set apart. Not to put the other gospels down because they're excellent and spiritual. However, there is something different/special about John. You really can't understand it without the guidance of the holy Spirit.
Indeed the book of John does seem to be a test but not what you think. That's why so many of His disciples left him because they didn't understand. So they said "This is a hard saying, who can hear it?" So don't be easily offended or turn away easily from the Word of God because sometimes it's hard to hear but it's worth it. The ones who stayed with Jesus did not understand either but they stayed because they knew Jesus well enough to trust Him regardless.
Luke 8:18
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
So, if we don't understand the scriptures than put them on the back burner and pray for understanding and then wait patiently for the truth to come to us. Because God is not mean or hard of heart towards us. He will hear and He will answer but to get to God you must go through wisdom. And wisdom is friends with patience so patience is necessary to hear from God. Many people make the mistake of misunderstanding scriptures and not seeking God for the answer because they want an answer right now. So they won't wait to hear from God. He who hurries with his feet sins.
John 6:60-66
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.