Page 467 - Bible History

440 CHRIST'S TEACHINGS, MIRA ES AND CHURCH
were overcome with wonder at this miracle and Peter, kneeling at the feet of Jesus, said, "Depart from me, 0 Lord, for I am a sinful man.'' But Jesus said, ''Fear not; follow Me and I w l make you shers of men.'' They brought their ships to land and, lea ing their nets and all things behind them, they followed Jes .
One day, toward the end of His public life, Jesus and the apostles were walking through the country to the east of the Jordan. They were near the town of Caesarea Philippi, when Jesus turned to them sud­ denly and said, ''Whom do men say that I am1''
They answered, "Some say Thou art John the Bap­ tist; others, that Thou art Elias; others, Jeremias or one of the prophets.'' Jesus said to them, ''But whom do you say that I am?''
Simon Peter answered in the name of all the rest, ''Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God.''
Then Jesus said to him, ''Blessed art thou, Simon, son of John, because esh and blood hath not revealed this to thee, but My Father Who is in Heaven. And I say to thee: thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven.''
By these words, our blessed Savior revealed to Simon Peter and to the rest of the apostles the great work that they were to do in the world. Peter would