In the region of Caesarea Philippi, Christ was out of the reach of Herod and Caiaphas, the disciples reasoned. He had nothing to fear from the hatred of the Jews or from the power of the Romans. Why not work there, at a distance from the Pharisees? Why need He give Himself up to death? If He was to die, how was it that His kingdom was to be established so firmly that the gates of hell should not prevail against it? To the disciples this was indeed a mystery.

I Kæsarea Filippis omegn var Kristus uden for Herodes og Kajfas rækkevidde, sådan ræsonnerede disciplene. Her havde han intet at frygte på grund af jødernes had eller romernes magt. Hvorfor virkede han så ikke her, langt borte fra farisæerne? Hvorfor behøvede han selv at overgive sig til døden? Hvis han skulle dø, hvordan skulle så hans rige oprettes så fast, at Dødsrigets porte ikke skulle kunne få magt over det? Dette var i sandhed ubegribeligt for disciplene.