“Apostles’ Testimony of Christ,” Liahona, Dec. 2001, 12
Apostles’ Testimony of Christ
Jesus was with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi. He asked His disciples who people thought He was. Matt. 16:13; Mark 8:27; Luke 9:18
The disciples said some people thought He was John the Baptist. Others thought He was Elias or another Old Testament prophet and had come back from the dead. Matt. 16:14; Mark 8:28; Luke 9:19
Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matt. 16:15–16; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20
Jesus explained that a testimony does not come from the learning of men. A testimony comes by revelation from God. Revelation was how Peter knew who Jesus was. Matt. 16:17
Jesus also said the true Church would be founded upon Him and His teachings. He promised His disciples He would give them the priesthood so they would have the authority to lead His Church. Matt. 16:18–19
He told them not to tell anyone that He was the Christ. First He needed to suffer many things, to be rejected by the leaders of the Jews, to be slain, and to rise from the dead on the third day. Matt. 16:20–21; Mark 8:30–31; Luke 9:21–22
Illustrations by Robert T. Barrett