FROM BETHSAIDA by the Sea of Galilee Jesus led his twelve disciples
northward, to the very end of the land of Israel, at the foot of Mount
Hermon. Here, at one of the great springs from which the river Jordan
flows, was the city of Cæsarea-Philippi, or "Philip's Cæsarea," so
called because it was in the land ruled by Herod Philip, the brother of
Herod Antipas, who was ruling in Galilee. Jesus did not go into the city
of Cæsarea-Philippi, but into one of the villages near the city, for he
wished not to have a crowd around him, but to be alone with his
disciples.
The time had now come for the disciples to know more about Jesus, who he
was, the work that he was to do and what he was soon to suffer. His plan
of teaching them was not to tell them, but to lead them on by questions
so that they might learn the truth by finding it out themselves. One
day, after he had been alone praying to his Father, he asked his
disciples:
"Tell me, who do the people say that I am?"
"Some say that you are John the Baptist, raised up from the dead,"
answered the disciples; "others say that you are Elijah the prophet come
to earth again; and still others say that you are the prophet Jeremiah
or some other one of the old prophets."
"But you, who do you say that I am?" asked Jesus.
At once Simon Peter answered, for he was the one among the Twelve always
ready to speak:
[Illustration: "But you, who do you say that I am?" asked Jesus of Simon
Peter.]
"You are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God!"
You know that the Jews everywhere were looking for a king to rule over
them, set them free from the Roman power and make of them a great
conquering nation. This king, in their own language, they called "the
Messiah," which means, "the Anointed One," for in Israel a new king was
chosen by having oil poured upon his head. The word "Messiah," in the
Greek language, which was spoken everywhere, was "Christ," also meaning
"The Anointed One." Peter, in speaking those words, "Thou art the
Messiah, the Christ," meant to say that Jesus was the King of Israel,
for whom all the people were looking.
"You are a blessed man, Simon, son of Jonah," answered Jesus, "for no
human being has made this known to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Yes, and I say to you, 'Your name is Peter--a Rock--and on this rock I
will build my church; and all the powers of the underworld shall not
succeed against it.' Also, Simon Peter, I will give to you the keys of
the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth shall be forbidden
in heaven, and whatever you allow on earth shall be allowed in heaven."
Because Simon Peter was the first to make this confession of Jesus as
the Messiah-Christ, the King, he was given special honor among the
followers of the Lord. You remember that more than a year before, when
Jesus met Simon for the first time, beside the river Jordan, he gave him
the new name Peter, which means "a rock."
Then Jesus told the disciples that they were not to speak to any of the
people of what Peter had said, that Jesus was the Christ, the King, for
the time had not yet come to make it public. But now, since they knew
that he was to be a king and rule over Israel, he began for the first
time to speak of certain other things, which they found very hard to
understand.
"Very soon," said Jesus, "we are going up to Jerusalem; and there I must
endure great suffering from the rulers of the people, the chief priests
and teachers of the law. I must be slain and buried; and on the third
day I shall rise again."
The disciples could not understand how if he was to reign as King of
Israel, it could be possible for him to suffer these things and to die.
Peter took Jesus aside, where he could speak with him alone.
"Master," said Peter, "you must not speak of such things. God will not
allow these things to come to you. You are not going to be put to death
in Jerusalem; you are going to Jerusalem to sit on the throne of David,
and reign over the land!"
But Jesus turned his back upon Peter, and looking upon his disciples,
said:
"Get away from me, Satan! You would turn me away from doing God's will!
For you look at things, not as God looks at them, but as man does!"
Jesus saw that in Peter's mind was the view of the kingdom that Satan
had shown him in his great temptation on the mountain, not as a kingdom
of God, but as a kingdom such as men were expecting, a kingdom like
those of the world.
Then Jesus called to his disciples, and to the people that were around
them, and said:
"If any man has the will to come after me and be my disciple, let him
give up his own will, and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever
wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever for my sake loses his
life shall find it. What good will it do to a man to gain the whole
world if in gaining he loses his own life? What will a man give that is
worth as much as his life? For the Son of Man is coming in the glory of
his Father with his angels; and then he will give to every man what his
acts deserve. And I tell you truly, there are some standing here who
will not die until they have seen the Son of Man coming to reign in his
kingdom."
[Illustration: Nazareth]
[Illustration: The three disciples beheld with wonder the change which
had come over their Lord. His face shone with a glory so great they
could not bear to look upon him, and beside him they saw standing the
prophets, Moses and Elijah.]
The Vision on the Mountain