After the top of Christ’s ministry in Galilee, represented by filling the five thousand men with two fish and five loaves, the Son of Man withdrew with his disciples to pray. Did you realize that Jesus was a prayer, and that he did nothing and said nothing without continuous prayers? In this leading spirit, the Lord examined his disciples and drew them into confessing his essence. During this conversation, it appeared that the multitudes of his hearers did not realize his truth, for they supposed he was one of the great prophets of the Old Testament, or Elijah who was to precede the "day of the Lord", or even John the Baptist who was beheaded by Herod but the other day. The people’s knowledge was still superficial, and related with fearful expectation of death and spirits.
However, Christ wished to guide his disciples to take a decisive decision. He pierced their hearts and asked them directly, "Who do you say that I am?" If the Lord Christ asked you this question, what would you answer him? What would you say to your friend? Who is Christ? A schoolgirl wrote on her copybook in answer to this question: "He is my Savior." This is the most correct answer. There is no better answer than that, for this word bears the experience of salvation and the power of Christ. Did you experience personally your Savior’s salvation?
This answer was not possible before the death of Christ, for salvation was not done yet. Peter dared, contrary to the people’s opinion, and in opposition to the Pharisees’ spies, and said in the name of all the disciples, "You are the promised Christ, Son of the living God." In the origination of this knowledge, the Holy Spirit wiped off all the doubts and questions in Peter, and created in him the faith, which was not originated by men, but by their Lord. No one can say that Jesus is Lord and Christ except by the Holy Spirit. Grace becomes realized whenever a sinner knows Jesus’ essence and holds fast to his divinity.
What did Peter understand when his lips uttered this unique name, "Christ"? The Old Testament says that he is the Anointed with the Holy Spirit, who bears all the powers of God in him, and unifies all the offices of the Old Testament in himself; and that he is promised by God to set up an everlasting kingdom on earth whose center is Jerusalem. The Jews looked forward to the coming of this Promise One that he might establish the kingdom of peace, raise the dead, overcome injustice, and spread freedom all around the country that was burdened with the bondage of colonization. These expectations became earthly political and not spiritual. The majority of the people rejected the preaching of John the Baptist, for he preached a coming solemn Christ who judges severely, and requires conversion and radical repentance.
The Pharisees alleged that the Messiah would only come if all the Jews kept the commandment of the Sabbath without a fault. The Zealots, on their part, expected a fighting Messiah who would drive out the Romans with sword, and make truth prevails by force and violence.
For these reasons, Christ prevented his disciples from speaking about his Messianism, lest false victories should break out about his person. He did not reject Peter’s testimony, but confirmed it with his silent consent; asking him to continue in faith, without giving him a proof and an express consent. He did not say to him, "Yes, Peter, you are right, I am the expected Christ." But he prevented him from confessing this faith openly before his death on the cross.
And yet, Jesus began to spread the knowledge of the true Christ in the hearts of the disciples: the Son of the Highest has come to set up the kingdom of God. But he cannot establish this holy kingdom out of sinners in faults and offences, for the kingdom of the Holy One is formed of saints, as he said, "You shall be holy, for I am Holy". Christ made clear this word to us by his saying, "Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful." This divine kingdom is a Fatherly kingdom formed of the children of his Holy Spirit.
No man in the world is filled with this Spirit, for sin has separated us from out Lord. Christ came to purify, justify, and sanctify the people of his kingdom. The kingdom could not come before the crucifixion. Jesus began to tell his messengers that the true Christ came to suffer, die, and atone for the sin of the world as the Lamb of God. He could not build his kingdom with sinners on earth unless they are sanctified.
This essential knowledge did not enter into the minds of the disciples. They expected an eloquent-speaking prominent champion who would rouse the feelings and emotions of the multitudes and reign over the spirits and elements. Their thoughts were filled with the authority of Jesus. They did not observe his way down to death, nor did it occur to them that the religious leaders of the nation would bring the Christ of God to death or even partake of his death. After filling the five thousand, and after Peter’s testimony, Christ’s recurrent phrase to his disciples was that the Son of Man must die, in order to prove to his followers that he was certain of his triumph and that he was in harmony with the will of God.