Matthew next moves to his second character in what will be his last episode before he relates Jesus to the festival of Dedication-Hanukkah, the next great feast of the Jews. This character’s name is Peter. He is a person of history, but he is so much more. In the narrative of Peter’s confession of faith, which Matthew locates in a place called Caesarea Philippi, Peter uses all the correct words. Of Jesus he says: “You are the Christ, the son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). For this confession, he is said to have received the affirmation of Jesus. “Flesh and blood alone could not have
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