Faith

Jesus was alone with the disciples praying, and he asked them, “Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist, some say Elias, others say one of the old prophets is risen. “But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. And he straightly charged them and commanded them to tell no man that thing.” (Luke 9: 18 – 21)

It was necessary that they would remain on the earth to carry on the work. All would have been lost if they were killed trying to defend him. It was his work, his mission to take upon him the sins of the world and to die for us. They had to be in the world to carry on the work. We know that in time the church, or the organization he established on the earth did fall. But Christ knew this would happen. It was part of the plan, to see who would recognize the truth and follow him in the end times. But now they needed to have faith and understand that He, “ must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priest and scribes, and be slain, and be raised again the third day.” (Luke 9:22)

Think of how hard that would be to see your friend, that you loved and admired so much walk willing to his death. It was a test of faith for them and so very difficult.