Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” Peter, as was often the case, spoke for the group: “You are the Messiah.” You and I can hear those words with little or no emotion; but to those first disciples, they were dramatic beyond measure. From the beginning they had taught, hoped, even dared to believe that Jesus might be the long-awaited redeemer, spoken of by the prophets. Now they were sure of it. Then, at that very point, Jesus began to teach them that He had to suffer, be rejected by His own people, and die. […]