how symbols work, using Jesus conversation with Peter has an example:

Upon the rock of the truth about Jesus’ identity, the church is built. This is one of the meanings of Jesus statement when talking to Peter. Who Jesus really is, is the foundation of The True Church. He is the Messiah, sent from God.

Who do you say the son of MAN is? Peter, “The son of God.”

Blessed are you. Why? Because God The Father revealed it to Peter, not men.

The church  being a people who get things revealed from The Father, and who know the true Identity of Jesus.

In this passage, Jesus is revealing both His Own identity, and the church’s.

And the church’s identity is based on His Own.

 

There is a danger of worshiping “authority” itself rather than Jesus. Jesus is, it seems saying, all authority rest on who I am-the Son of God and the son of man together. So you see later in her history, the church ends up sort of worshiping the relic of even the physical seat of Peter, or his chair of authority. Seems like Jesus was sort of warning against this in this dialogue.

 

“and the Rock was Christ.”

 

This of course, is the Rock upon which people will stumble (ie, your view or vision of who Jesus is the unavoidable factor in life, because of the nature of Reality).  Paul also engages in symbolic interpretation.

 

This Jesus identity dialogue requires some symbolic interpretation. There are several layers of meaning going on. Was Jesus actually conferring His authority to Peter? He was clearly blessing him in specific ways, but was He saying that Peter was the foundation of the Church. I think not.