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teaching and demonstrating the truth of being. His students
saw this power of Truth heal the sick, cast out evil,
raise the dead; but the ultimate of this wonderful work
was not spiritually discerned, even by them, until after the
crucifixion, when their immaculate Teacher stood before
them, the victor over sickness, sin, disease, death, and
the grave.
Yearning to be understood, the Master repeated,
"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
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
about him.
(A divine response)
With his usual impetuosity, Simon replied for his
brethren, and his reply set forth a great fact: "Thou
art the Christ, the Son of the living God!"
That is: The Messiah is what thou hast declared, - Christ, -
the spirit of God, of Truth, Life, and
Love, which heals mentally. This assertion elicited from
Jesus the benediction, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona:
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,
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
only by his common names, Simon Bar-jona, or son of
Jona; but now the Master gave him a spiritual
name in these words: "And I say also
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-world,
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