Part 20 (1/2)
[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.