195
On the way to Caesarea Philippi what remarkable discovery was made by Peter?
Matthew: “He [Jesus] asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” ([xvi, 13–17]).
According to Matthew, Jesus is astonished at the discovery of Peter and attributes it to a revelation from Heaven. Yet previous to this, and in the presence of Peter, according to the same writer, the other disciples had declared him to be “the Son of God” ([Matthew xiv, 33]).
196
The Synoptics all declare that the Messiahship of Jesus was not revealed to his disciples until late in his ministry. Is this true?
John: It is not. It was known to them at the beginning of his ministry. Before Peter was called Andrew said, “We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ” ([i, 41]). On the following day Nathanael said to Jesus, “Thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel” ([49]).