One day Jesus and his disciples traveled to a place with a big name: Caesarea Philippi. It was a big name because it was named after some important people: the Roman Emperor (Caesar) and the Jewish ruler of that region (Herod Philip). But its importance didn’t stop there. It had not one but two temples. One was the Temple of Augustus built to honor a Roman Emperor. The other was a temple to the Greek god, Pan. Not Peter Pan, just Pan—the god of the goats. Yep, the god of the goats! Anyway, it was in this big place—a place filled with worship of the wrong rulers and dead idols—that Jesus asked his disciples a big question: Who is Jesus?

First, he asked, “Who do people think I am?” The disciples replied: “Some people say you are John the Baptist risen from the dead. Others think you are the prophet Elijah who has returned. We’ve also heard people say that you are another prophet like Jeremiah or Isaiah” (see Matt. 16:13–14). Then Jesus asked a second question, “But who do you—my close followers—say that I am?” (see 16:15). Peter, who was like that kid in class who always raises his hand first, answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16:16). A great answer; the right answer! But there was one important element Peter was missing.

He understood Jesus was the Christ, but he didn’t yet understand what Jesus came to do. He thought the Christ (the long-awaited King) would rule like most earthly kings ruled—with power and might. The farthest thing from his mind was that the Christ would be killed on a cross. But that’s precisely what Jesus told him was about to happen. “I must go to Jerusalem,” Jesus said, “to suffer and die” (see 16:21). Peter didn’t like this direction one bit. “No!” he rebuked Jesus. “This shall never happen to you” (16:22). Peter was upset. But Jesus was more upset. He was sad Peter’s mind was so far removed from the mind of God. Peter’s plan was that the Christ would rule in power now, without any suffering and death. God’s plan was that his Son would rule in power through his sufferings, death, and then resurrection. It’s good to know that Jesus is the Christ. It’s better to know how this Christ would rescue his people.