Christ Jesus realized his disciples' need of understanding his spiritual identity as the Son of God. In the sixteenth chapter of his Gospel, Matthew records that Jesus asked, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"
They replied, "Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Jesus persisted, "But whom say ye that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Then followed Jesus' commendation of Peter for so clearly perceiving his true identity as the likeness of his Father. Peter discerned the real substance of man, invisible to mortal sense, but clearly palpable to the spiritually illumined consciousness.
