had confessed it plainly.

"Simon," declared Jesus, "unless God had taught you this, you could
never have known it. From this time on your name will be Peter, the
Rock. On the solid rock of faith like yours, I will build my Church--and
nothing shall ever destroy it!

"Whoever puts his faith in God is a member of my Kingdom. To you"--he
looked around at all the disciples now--"I have entrusted the keys to
the door of my Kingdom. If you teach men to believe in me, they shall
enter!"

"We will tell every Jew that you are the Messiah!" burst out the Zealot
enthusiastically.

"No!" declared Jesus firmly. "This must remain a complete secret."

The disciples were dumfounded. "But, Master," protested Andrew, "a
Messiah whom nobody knows can never lead the people!"

"Now is the time for action!" exclaimed the Zealot.

"I have work to do which you do not understand," answered Jesus. "I have
come to save the people--but in order to do it, I must first endure much
suffering."

"We are ready to fight for you," answered Judas.

"It will cost more than that," replied Jesus. "I will be rejected by the
high priest, the Pharisees, the scribes--and every authority in our
nation."

"We can overcome them if we have to," said the Zealot impatiently.

The answer came like an exploding bomb. "They are going to kill me,"
declared Jesus plainly.

The men looked at him speechless. "They may try to kill you," blurted
Andrew, "but they can never do it!"

"I must die," repeated Jesus. "There is no other way for me to finish
the work that God sent me to do."

A great force rose within Simon Peter; words flooded his lips. "No! This
cannot be! God would never let it happen! He has sent you to lead us!
You cannot die!"

Jesus' stern voice cut him short, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not on
the side of God when you talk like that. You make it harder for me to do
what I was sent to do! If I were to do what you want, I could never do
my Father's work!"

"Master, how can you say such a thing!" protested Andrew, defending his
brother.

"You do not know God's purpose," answered Jesus, turning quickly. "You
have your own idea about what I should do--but you do not know the will
of God!" Then Jesus spoke with great force to all the disciples. "I am
not going to lead you to the victory you expect. If you are determined
to follow me, you will suffer. No one who seeks worldly gain is fit to
be my disciple. But if you are willing to lose you