Well I'll add to what Pilgrim said since he got his lick in first.

I don't know. He might as well have been saying "I name you Peter--because your head is as hard as a rock!" About three or four verses later he's calling him Satan because Peter tries to divert him from the cross. Not to mention the fishing trip after Jesus' crucifixion. He was actually rebuked by Paul too because of his playing favorites with the Jews. He was a good guy well used by the Lord at Pentecost, but I can't see any special blessing. The "you" Jesus is using where he says "I'll give you the keys, etc..." sounds more like you all.

And yeah, if anyone had a special blessing it was John, but Jesus rather pointedly told Peter that it wasn't his concern. I'll give that a yessir and move on...

When I read it looks to me that Jesus is merely renaming him because of his confession--the first, if I'm not mistaken--and that the confession will be the foundation of the church not Peter. Plus, if there was any special blessing by the Lord you'd have thought that ALL the other apostles would have been "blessed" by him.

Paul didn't seem to see any special need to go to Jerusalem for Peter's approval. I can't remember how long it took him to get over there but it was a good while and not until he was heading that way on other business. So nope, it looks like the baby's safe and perhaps we were really tossing out the chamber pot.

There you go, two bits and change.

Josh
"...the word of God is not bound."--2 Timothy 2:9