Yearning to be understood, the Master repeated,
137:9 "But whom say _ye_ that I am?" This renewed inquiry
meant: Who or what is it that is able to do the work, so
mysterious to the popular mind? In his rejection of the
137:12 answer already given and his renewal of the question,
it is plain that Jesus completely eschewed the narrow
opinion implied in their citation of the common report
137:15 about him.
A divine response
With his usual impetuosity, Simon replied for his
brethren, and his reply set forth a great fact: "Thou
137:18 art the Christ, the Son of the living God!"
That is: The Messiah is what thou hast de-
clared, - Christ, the spirit of God, of Truth, Life, and
137:21 Love, which heals mentally. This assertion elicited from
Jesus the benediction, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-
jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,
137:24 but my Father which is in heaven;" that is, Love hath
shown thee the way of Life!
The true and living rock
Before this the impetuous disciple had been called
137:27 only by his common names, Simon Bar-jona, or son of
Jona; but now the Master gave him a spir-
itual name in these words: "And I say also
137:30 unto thee, That thou art Peter; and upon this rock [the
meaning of the Greek word _petros_, or _stone_] I will build
my church; and the gates of hell [_hades_, the _under_-
138:1 _world_, or the _grave_] shall not prevail against it.
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