The disciples understood Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God, but they did not yet understand that His death and resurrection would be part of the gospel.
At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked the Twelve who they believed Him to be, and Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Les Feldick points out that the confession ended there—Peter did not mention the cross or the resurrection because he did not know about them yet. This was the confession that had to be made at that particular time.
Matthew 16:13-17 — This passage records Jesus asking the disciples who He is and Peter's confession that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
In Matthew 16, Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi and asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" The disciples answered that some said John the Baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus then asked, "But whom say ye that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." The Gospel record thus presents the disciples' understanding of Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God, revealed by the Father.
Les Feldick repeatedly draws attention to the same scene at Caesarea Philippi. He stresses that Peter's confession—"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"—ends with a period. Peter did not add anything about the cross or the resurrection because, as Les says, he did not know about the cross or the resurrection yet. Les connects this confession to the gospel of the kingdom: it confessed Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and it was all the disciples were expected to believe and confess at that time because it was what Christ had revealed. He also links this with the early Acts emphasis on believing in the Name of Jesus Christ, noting that the Name implied who Jesus was.
No, according to Les Feldick's teaching. He repeatedly notes that Peter's confession—"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"—does not include the cross or the resurrection. Les says Peter did not know about the cross or the resurrection as yet. The confession stopped there, and that was the question that had to be answered at that particular time.
Les teaches that this kind of confession was precipitated by the gospel of the kingdom. It meant Jesus is the Messiah coming to fulfill the third part of the covenant—the King Redeemer, the prophet and priest. That is why Peter's confession was sufficient at that point in God's program.
The Gospel of Matthew places it at Caesarea Philippi. Les identifies this as the headwaters of the Jordan River in northern Israel, near the end of Jesus' three years of earthly ministry. Jesus asked His disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" and then, "But whom say ye that I am?" before Peter answered.
Introducing Paul: Why God Stopped the Prophetic Clock
him, unto this word. What word? Gentile. And when he as much as breathed the word Gentile, they lifted up their voices, and they said, Away with such a fellow from the earth, it's not fit that he should live. Now that was the mentality of the Jews of that day. And see, they weren't all that far wrong. We'll look at a verse in Ephesians.
Peter's Confession Without Cross or Resurrection
Les uses the Caesarea Philippi setting to show that Peter's confession was limited to Christ's identity; he added nothing about dying for sins or rising from the dead because he didn't know those things yet.
Confession Repeated in the Gospels
Les notes that this confession is recorded in multiple Gospel accounts and stresses that Peter did not say 'who died for me, was buried, and rose from the dead'; the confession is simply 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.'
The Question That Had to Be Answered
Les places the event shortly before the crucifixion and points out that Peter's answer, with a period after 'Son of the living God,' was the question that had to be answered at that particular time.
Believing in the Name Means Knowing Who He Is
Les connects the disciples' confession with the early Acts emphasis on believing in the Name of Jesus Christ; the Name implied who He was, not yet His death and resurrection.
Only What Had Been Revealed Was Expected
Les compares Martha's confession to Peter's and says this was all they were expected to believe and confess because that is what Christ had revealed.
Confession Belongs to the Gospel of the Kingdom
Les teaches that this kind of confession was precipitated by the gospel of the kingdom and meant Jesus is the Messiah coming to fulfill the covenant as King Redeemer, prophet, and priest.
Why Most People Miss Who Jesus Really Is — Colossians 1:15 Explained
And so we have to constantly force ourselves almost, because the tendency is to just study Christ's earthly ministry. But that was to Israel, and that was under the law. But oh look, for the God of this world has blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. Now there is another point.
Matthew 16:13: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
This sets the scene for Jesus' direct question about His identity.
Matthew 16:16: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Peter's confession is the direct biblical answer to the question of the disciples' understanding of Jesus' identity.
Matthew 16:17: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus confirms that this understanding of His identity was revealed by the Father.
Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Les Feldick points out that Peter did not add anything about Jesus dying for him or rising from the dead; he simply stopped after identifying who Jesus was.
No, according to the Gospel account and Les Feldick's teaching. Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi included no mention of the cross or the resurrection, and Les says Peter did not know about the cross or the resurrection as yet.
Watch the Teaching: Introducing Paul: Why God Stopped the Prophetic Clock