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words. He did not tell them immediately what He wanted to share

with them, but He gave them opportunity to confess their faith in

Him. He asked, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

Sadly the disciples acknowledged that Israel had failed to recog-

nize their Messiah. The crowds at Bethsaida had wanted to proclaim

Him King of Israel. Many were ready to accept Him as a prophet,

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but they did not believe that He was the Messiah.

Jesus now asked a second question, relating to the disciples

themselves: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You

are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

From the first, Peter had believed that Jesus was the Messiah.

Many others who had accepted Christ began to harbor doubts about

John’s mission when he was imprisoned and put to death, and they

now doubted that Jesus was the Messiah. Many who had expected

Jesus to take His place on David’s throne left Him when they saw

that He had no such intention. But the shifting behavior of those who

praised yesterday and condemned today did not destroy the faith of

the Savior’s true follower. Peter declared, “You are the Christ, the

Son of the living God.” He did not wait for kingly honors to crown

his Lord, but accepted Him in His humiliation.

Peter had expressed the faith of the Twelve. Yet the opposition

of the priests and rulers still troubled them greatly. They did not see

their way clearly. Their early training, the teaching of the rabbis, the

power of tradition still blocked their view of truth. Precious rays of

light were shining on them, yet often they were like people groping

among shadows. But on this day, the Holy Spirit rested on them

in power. Beneath the appearance of humanity, they discerned the

glory of the Son of God.

Jesus answered Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for

flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is

in heaven.”

The truth that Peter had spoken is the foundation of the believer’s

faith. But God had not revealed it to Peter because of any wisdom

or goodness of his own. The fact that Peter recognized the glory of

Christ was an evidence that he had been “taught by God.”

John 6:45

;