These days, Jesus has been traveling abroad quite frequently. Last time, He stayed in Tyre, then passed through Sidon, traveled through the region of Decapolis on the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee, and then back to Galilee. This time, He moved all the way to Caesarea Philippi, the capital of the tetrarch Philip, located at the foot of Mount Hermon. Jesus’ intention is probably to preach the gospel to more people, but from my position as the keeper of the money bag, this situation is not very pleasant. Since the news about Jesus has spread so far, people would come to Galilee on their own even if He stayed put. Why does Jesus have to go through such troublesome journeys? Because of this, the travel expenses keep increasing. Just Jesus and the twelve disciples traveling together already means a large group, and on top of that, there are other disciples and women who follow Him. Why do they have to keep trailing along on this journey? No matter how much they like Jesus, it’s not necessary to do this. It would be enough if each lived their own lives well and joined only when Jesus comes. I don’t understand why they make things so hard for me by tagging along.
When we traveled around Judea and Galilee, there were some favorable and wealthy Jews who provided lodging and food, so the burden was less. But in these Gentile cities, the situation is different. Not all Jews like Jesus, so when no one welcomes us, we inevitably have to spend money. As the number of people grows, it becomes harder to manage. And that’s not all. Once lodging and meals are settled, other problems arise. When so many people walk long distances, shoes wear out quickly, so we have to buy those too, and there are many other necessary supplies. When crossing borders, we even have to pay gate tolls. If only Jesus and the twelve disciples traveled quietly, these problems would be easily solved, but unnecessary people following along make things worse.
When I somehow manage to solve these problems, Jesus suddenly tells us to give aid to the poor. Where does that money come from? Jesus should think about saving and using the money we have, but He only tells us not to be stingy. He says that if God clothes the grass of the field—here today and thrown into the oven tomorrow—so beautifully, then surely God will take care of us even more. Of course, that is true. Even without money, we will somehow eat and live. But can that kind of life really be called living properly?
Why do we endure all this hardship to follow Jesus? It is because we hope the kingdom He proclaims will come soon. Therefore, it would be right to save money in advance for the kingdom Jesus will build later. Jesus calls this a matter of faith and tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, but in my opinion, it is right to do what we can first and then pray and hope to God. He says not to worry about tomorrow, but how can I not worry when tomorrow’s troubles are so obvious?
I have personally experienced when Jesus fed more than five thousand men with just two fish and five barley loaves, and this time He fed more than four thousand with seven loaves and a few small fish. If Jesus continued to do that, there would be no financial problems, and I would have no worries. But He doesn’t. He only does it at those times and never again. Even when He heals people, it would be good if He took even a coin, but Jesus never does and heals for free. If I had to explain, maybe He receives people’s faith. But I don’t understand why Jesus emphasizes faith that is useless in solving real problems.
It was the same when Jesus sent the twelve disciples, including me, on a missionary journey. Jesus told us not to take anything, even a staff, bag, bread, or silver coins. At first, I worried a lot, but when I went, it happened just as Jesus said. The experience of people’s illnesses being healed and demons cast out because of me was truly amazing. But that was only for a while. If it was only good for a short time, why did He give such power? It would be nice if Jesus used that great power a little more for the disciples, but He never does. That’s why the disciples get confused, and many had to leave last time. I fully understand their feelings.
Another complaint I have about Jesus is His attitude toward the influential people. If it were me, I wouldn’t quarrel with the Pharisees or the scribes. If those trusted by the people recognized Jesus, how much help would that be in building the kingdom later? When the Hasmonean dynasty was established, they achieved independence with the help of the Hasidim, so if the Pharisees, descendants of the Hasidim, sided with Jesus, independence would be no problem this time as well. The same goes for the Sadducees. If those aristocrats with power helped, things could proceed much more smoothly. Moreover, if the two great factions, the Pharisees and Sadducees, who do not get along well, united under the name of Jesus, how tremendous would the publicity effect be? But Jesus keeps kicking away that opportunity Himself.
Not long ago, when the Pharisees and Sadducees demanded a sign from heaven, if Jesus had shown even one of the miracles He was capable of, the situation might have been different. But Jesus said the only sign He would give was the sign of Jonah, and He avoided them. What exactly is this sign of Jonah that Jesus speaks of?
“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south will rise up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.”
“When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”
Recalling Jesus’ words twice about the sign of Jonah gave me a headache. Even as time passes, I cannot understand His words. At first, I was annoyed because of the bookkeeping, but now I am trying to understand Jesus’ words, which make no sense to me. While the other disciples are enjoying the beautiful place called Caesarea Philippi, I am wasting my time on this useless confusion. As the keeper of the money bag, I think I have no choice, but it is so unfair that I suffer alone.
Am I despised because I am the only one from Judea among the twelve disciples? No, that can’t be. If that were the case, Jesus would not have entrusted me with the money bag. He must have given it to me because He trusted me the most among the disciples. If the others represent Galilee, then I alone represent Judea. Doesn’t that make me even more trustworthy? After all, the root of the Jews is the land of Judea. Anyway, I should get out there too, like the others. Just sitting here alone, keeping the accounts, only makes me look petty and resentful. If I’m going to be the only one making sacrifices like this, I might as well count it as a day’s wage and make sure I get something for my trouble.
Judas Iscariot put on his outer garment and stepped outside the lodging. The splendid streets of Caesarea Philippi tempted him to open his purse.
* * *
While traveling through various villages in the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus suddenly asked a question as He prayed alone in a quiet place:
"Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
Judas Iscariot found Jesus’s change surprising. Why would the one who had always taught them to be cautious about revealing who He was now ask such a question? Until recently, Jesus had avoided speaking openly about Himself. At the place where He fed over five thousand, He had avoided those who wanted to make Him king. When demons were cast out, He rebuked those who called Him the Son of God. Even when messengers from John the Baptist came asking, He gave no clear answer.
The disciples who had followed Jesus since His baptism told stories that He had called Himself the Son of God or revealed to the Samaritan woman that He was the prophesied Messiah, but Judas himself had never heard Jesus say such things directly. The closest Jesus had come to describing Himself was as the Son of Man. So Judas wondered why Jesus was suddenly interested in what people said about Him and what had prompted this question.
As Judas was lost in thought, one of the disciples spoke up in answer.
“Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets has risen again.”
Jesus then asked,
“But who do you say that I am?”
Without hesitation, Simon Peter answered,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Seeing Jesus’ joyful expression at Peter’s words confused Judas. That confession was something all the disciples had made before when Jesus walked on the stormy sea. Why was Jesus so pleased now? Was He satisfied that they could make such a confession even without witnessing a miracle?
Before Judas could resolve his doubts, Jesus said something even more shocking:
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
Judas realized that Jesus was placing Peter above the other disciples. Although Peter had been one of the earliest followers, Judas thought that if he himself had made that confession first, things might have been different. Seeing Peter, who was treated as the foremost disciple just because he spoke first, stirred jealousy in Judas. Other disciples also wondered who would be the greatest, but none felt as much envy as Judas. He resolved that if a similar opportunity arose again, he would be the first to act. His desire to be the highest and to be recognized led him into Satan’s temptation.
Jesus, knowing what was stirring in the disciples’ hearts, sternly warned them:
“You must never tell anyone that I am the Christ. I must go up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised up.”
The Messiah, contrary to the disciples’ hopes of a king who would establish an independent Jewish kingdom, was to walk the path of the cross—dying and rising again to save humanity. Jesus spoke of this salvation plan, but the disciples did not understand and judged only from their own perspectives. Peter was the most representative of this misunderstanding.
“Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.”
Peter protested vehemently, grabbing Jesus. Until then, Peter had trusted and followed Jesus in everything, but now, out of human love, he tried to stop Jesus’ path. This was Satan beginning to execute his plan—to thwart God’s plan through those around Jesus. Though it seemed good on the surface, it was a wicked attempt to block salvation. Jesus turned and rebuked Peter sharply:
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
Startled by Jesus’ fierce rebuke, Peter let go. Jesus looked at him briefly, then called all the disciples and said loudly:
“Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels; and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds. Most certainly, I tell you the truth: There are some standing here who will in no way taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom, or until they see the Kingdom of God come with power.”
The Son of the living God had finally begun to proclaim the mission He must fulfill.
The passages from Matthew 12:39-42, 16:2-4, 13-28, Mark 8:27-9:1, Luke 9:18-27 quoted in this narrative are taken directly from the World English Bible (WEB) translation.
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