[Ill.u.s.tration]
11. A SECRET IS TOLD
"You are the Christ--the Son of the living G.o.d!" Against the high rock walls of the narrow ravine, the words echoed in the disciples" ears. For many months not one of them had dared to say that he believed this was true--but now Simon had confessed it plainly.
"Simon," declared Jesus, "unless G.o.d had taught you this, you could never have known it. From this time on your name will be Peter, the Rock. On the solid rock of faith like yours, I will build my Church--and nothing shall ever destroy it!
"Whoever puts his faith in G.o.d is a member of my Kingdom. To you"--he looked around at all the disciples now--"I have entrusted the keys to the door of my Kingdom. If you teach men to believe in me, they shall enter!"
"We will tell every Jew that you are the Messiah!" burst out the Zealot enthusiastically.
"No!" declared Jesus firmly. "This must remain a complete secret."
The disciples were dumfounded. "But, Master," protested Andrew, "a Messiah whom n.o.body knows can never lead the people!"
"Now is the time for action!" exclaimed the Zealot.
"I have work to do which you do not understand," answered Jesus. "I have come to save the people--but in order to do it, I must first endure much suffering."
"We are ready to fight for you," answered Judas.
"It will cost more than that," replied Jesus. "I will be rejected by the high priest, the Pharisees, the scribes--and every authority in our nation."
"We can overcome them if we have to," said the Zealot impatiently.
The answer came like an exploding bomb. "They are going to kill me,"
declared Jesus plainly.
The men looked at him speechless. "They may try to kill you," blurted Andrew, "but they can never do it!"
"I must die," repeated Jesus. "There is no other way for me to finish the work that G.o.d sent me to do."
A great force rose within Simon Peter; words flooded his lips. "No! This cannot be! G.o.d would never let it happen! He has sent you to lead us!
You cannot die!"
Jesus" stern voice cut him short, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not on the side of G.o.d when you talk like that. You make it harder for me to do what I was sent to do! If I were to do what you want, I could never do my Father"s work!"
"Master, how can you say such a thing!" protested Andrew, defending his brother.
"You do not know G.o.d"s purpose," answered Jesus, turning quickly. "You have your own idea about what I should do--but you do not know the will of G.o.d!" Then Jesus spoke with great force to all the disciples. "I am not going to lead you to the victory you expect. If you are determined to follow me, you will suffer. No one who seeks worldly gain is fit to be my disciple. But if you are willing to lose your life for my sake--then you will find eternal life!"
Peter was humiliated. To think that the Master could accuse him of serving the evil one!
"Peter," said Jesus, now gentle, "the people of Israel have many needs--but I am sent to bring them eternal life in his Kingdom." Peter sat with his eyes cast down. Jesus spoke to all the men.
"There was once a time when I was tempted to preach some other message,"
continued Jesus. "Soon after I was baptized by John in the Jordan River, I went alone into the wilderness to pray and to seek the will of the Heavenly Father. For forty days I fasted. The Tempter came to me in a vision and said to me, "If you are really the Son of G.o.d, turn this stone into bread!" I could have great power over men if I were willing to satisfy the desires of these hungry people!" The disciples remembered how Jesus had refused to listen to the five thousand people who tried to make him their king.
"But I could not do that," continued Jesus. "I remembered what the Scriptures say: "Man does not live only on bread--but on every word of truth which comes from G.o.d."" Peter was looking at Jesus attentively.
"Then in my vision Satan took me to the highest spire on the roof of the Temple in Jerusalem," continued Jesus. ""Leap down!" he said, "you will not be hurt: Aren"t you the Messiah? The angels will protect you! When these people see you do such a marvelous miracle they will all fall down and worship you!"" Jesus paused. "Do you see why this was wrong? The Father does not give me special protection. He did not send me into the world to astonish people with miracles so that they will accept me--he has sent me to tell them his message of life!" The disciples again remembered another thing Jesus had refused to do: he would not perform a miracle for the Pharisees! "No man submits to the rule of G.o.d just because you amaze him with miracles!"
Jesus spoke now to Peter. "Finally Satan took me to the top of a great mountain where we could see every nation in the world. In my vision I saw all the people who were oppressed by unjust kings. I saw all the wealth and power of the earth. Then Satan whispered in my ear, "I will give you power to do anything you wish--to help people all you want--if you will give up this plan to proclaim the rule of G.o.d and will worship me!"" Worship Satan! The idea sent a chill through the disciples.
"I did not come to set up a new empire on earth," declared Jesus, turning to the Zealot. "That is not what G.o.d sent me to do! We must not do our own will, but the will of the Father in heaven! I am here to proclaim an eternal Kingdom!" There was a long silence. "So I answered Satan, "You shall worship the Lord your G.o.d, and him only shall you serve.""
Peter now understood why Jesus had rebuked him. "But if you die?" he asked. "How can you give men eternal life if you die?"
"The Kingdom of G.o.d will come in great power when the Son of Man has risen from the dead," declared Jesus.
The disciples were not sure what the Master meant by his last remark.
They had more than enough to think about. After a few minutes they climbed out of the deep valley. Before them lay rolling woodland cut into sections by deep ravines which carried swift streams to the Jordan.
It was very different from the rocky hills the disciples had traveled since leaving the territory around Sidon.
"The Jordan River lies over there," said Simon, pointing east. The men paused and looked while they caught their breath. Heavy trees hanging over the edge of the deep river gorge concealed the stream itself.
"Do we have to go through there?" inquired John. He remembered stories that travelers told about this wild country: lions and wolves lurked in the heavy growth of trees that covered the cliffs and gullies.
"If we go to Caesarea Philippi, we will," answered the Zealot. He was familiar with this part of the country, having traveled through it before as far east as Damascus. John looked inquiringly at Jesus.
"We will travel back to Capernaum in a few days," said Jesus. "But first we will go over toward Caesarea Philippi." He led them down the slope.
"I do not blame him for not wanting to go back to Galilee right away,"
remarked Andrew as they walked.
"The people certainly do not follow him as they once did," agreed Simon.
"Things are not as bad as he thinks," said Andrew. "There are many people who would go anywhere with us. These scribes have turned some people against us, but we can win them back!"
Simon shook his head. "Perhaps. But the Master has usually known what to expect. He has not been wrong other times."
"Oh, I am sure it is just discouragement!" insisted Andrew. "He will get over it."
Peter, however, was not satisfied. All the way down through the deep ravines that descended to the Jordan he said nothing. The sun was behind the hills by the time the disciples entered the dense growth of trees.
The road was narrow, and they had to pick their way with care because of roots and overhanging branches. John looked fearfully from left to right as they went farther and farther into the forest.
"I don"t think it is very safe in here at night," he whispered to James.
Several of the men were keeping a sharp watch, peering into the trees and turning to look behind. They wondered if Jesus knew that the tangled undergrowth might conceal vicious animals.
"He must want to cross the river before nightfall," answered James.
Peter and Andrew took no notice of the blackness of the jungle. At last Peter said: "The Master does not get easily discouraged. He means more than we think when he says he is going to die. He will tell us plainly if we ask him."
"Oh, let"s not talk to him now!" replied Andrew quickly. "I think we understand."