oticing that Peter acted
differently. He had been as downcast and silent yesterday as the
rest--but now he was talking eagerly with James and John as they walked
ahead of the other men.

"If John the Baptizer really was Elijah," exclaimed Peter, "then the
Kingdom ought to be very near!"

"Will John be raised from the dead?" asked James.

"Jesus said that the Messiah would rise," remarked Peter.

James said, "I don't see what he could mean by that."

"Do you remember the voice from the cloud?" interrupted John. "Those
were the same words that he heard when he was baptized: 'You are my
beloved Son!' Only this time we heard the voice too."

"It said, 'Listen to him!'" Peter's voice showed the awe he felt. "I
don't know what this vision means, but I am sure he is the Messiah
himself!"

James and John did not reply. They needed their breath because they were
climbing a steep hill.

When they reached the crest, all the Twelve stopped to rest. The road
had gradually turned east, and now the green lowlands of the upper
Jordan Valley lay behind them. But the men did not look back; they had
eyes only for the gleaming city that lay in the shallow valley ahead of
them, Caesarea Philippi. Beyond the domes and colonnades of the city
rose more mountains, ridge after ridge, climbing finally to the snowy
crest of the range, over nine thousand feet above. The level valley
before them, however, was green and fertile. Groves of trees and neatly
planted fields reached to the very edge of the foothills on all sides of
the city. Caesarea Philippi seemed like a diamond set among green
jewels.

The columns of several pagan temples reminded the travelers that this
lovely city was the home of Philip, the son of Herod the Great. He had
spent much money to make it beautiful. But the disciples found little
pleasure in the sight.

"Heathen people building temples to worship idols!" murmured James. As
the men descended the hill they walked along the foot of a high cliff,
rising to their left.

"We will not enter this city," said Jesus. The men knew that a road
branched to the south toward Lake Huleh, which was not far from the Lake
of Galilee. John happened to look up at the cliff. "Where does the water
come from that runs down here?" he asked curiously. Shrubs of all kinds
clung to crannies in the damp rock wall.

"Perhaps there is an underground stream," replied James, hopefully. They
were all thirsty. A moment later he saw a deep po