Discussion of whether Peter was the first Pope and are his bones buried at the Vatican now?

Open Line on May 3, 2025 Hour 2 @2:45

Listener:

With the Pope being in passing, being placed over what they say, he was lying in State, above the St.Peters, who was supposedly the first Catholic Pope, his bones were buried and I found out that Peter never went to Rome at all and he was married. I don't think he started the Catholic Church. I was reading James, the half brother of Jesus, was actually the head of the Church in Jerusalem. Straighten this out for me, where were the bones and I don't think Peter became a Catholic.

Answer from Dr Michael Rydelnik:

https://www.moodyradio.org/radioplayer.aspx?episode=643730&hour=2

Summary of the answer:

Acts 12 is where the transfer of leadership from Peter to James occurred. That's when Peter was released from Prison. Acts 12 tells of how the angels rescued Peter from prison and Acts 12:17 says report these things to James and the brothers. At the point in Acts 12 when Peter is ready to go travelling, James takes over from Peter.

1Peter 5:13 mentions that a lady from Babylon greets Peter. Some people think that Babylon is code for Rome and according to early church history, Peter did go to Rome.

According to MBI church historian Brian Litfin, in his book "After Acts", he makes the case that the bones of Apostle Peter is likely to have been buried in the Vatican.

Acts 12

17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place. -nkjv

17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. -kjv

17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place. -nasb

17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. -niv

1 Peter 5

13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

-nkjv

13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. -kjv

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. -nasb

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. -niv

Correction:

There was a correction to the title and addition of an observation at the end of the summary.

2nd Mark of Salvation: Forgiven Souls Love Christ by J.C.Ryle

Forgiven souls LOVE CHRIST. This is that one thing they can say, if they dare say nothing else—they do love Christ. His person, His offices, His work, His name, His cross, His blood, His words, His example, His ordinances—all, all are precious to forgiven souls.

The ministry which exalts Him most, is that which they enjoy most. The books which are most full of Him, are most pleasant to their minds. The people on earth they feel most drawn to, are those in whom they see something of Christ. He is their Redeemer, their Shepherd, their Physician, their King, their strong Deliverer, their gracious Guide, their hope, their joy, their All. Were it not for Him they would be of all people most miserable.

Source: www.jcryle.info

Significance of the shank bone on the Passover Seder

Open Line program on 19 April 2025 Hour 1 @12:45

Reflection on the significance of the shank bone on the Passover Seder by Larry Feldman and Dr Michael Rydelnik:

https://www.moodyradio.org/radioplayer.aspx?episode=641094&hour=1

Summary of reflection:

There are many different elements on the Seder. Dr Michael Rydelnik personally finds that the most significant element on the Seder is the shank bone on the Lamb. Dr Michael Redelnik comes from a tradition in his family where they never ate lamb. Since the destruction of the Jewish temple, many Jewish people don't eat lamb at Passover. The Passover lamb is recorded in the commands in Exodus 12 and Deuteronomy 16 where Moses tell the Jewish people on certain days of the month, they should take the lamb and they should sacrifice it and they should eat the whole lamb. For Mr Larry Feldman, his family will go to the butcher and buy a shank bone and his father will have that on their plate and his father will hold that on their plate and he will say that they don't have the lamb today. "We don't have the sacrifice anymore". All we have of the ancient sacrifice is the shank bone. Symbolically, the shank bone symbolically represents the Lamb that was slain at Passover. So the shank bone represents the Messiah that is yet to come. John the baptist when baptizing Jesus says: "Behold the lamb of God takes away the sins of the world". Dr Michael Rydelnik says just as the angel of death pass over the firstborn of those households who has the blood of the lamb on their doorpost, so when we apply the blood of our Messiah on the doorpost of our heart, Jesus passes over judgement over us.