Approaching the West — Page 65
A pproaching the West—65 Romans! The Jewish religious leaders hatched a plot to get him killed on the false charge of subversion against the ruling Roman authorities. But he survived the attempted crucifixion, and secretly migrated towards India in search of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Before his departure from Jerusalem, he nominated his closest disciple Peter to be his deputy in his absence, and instructed him to complete his mission among the Jewish people who lived in Palestine and its vicinities. According to the Gospels, Jesus announced Peter to be his successor, saying, You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matt. 16:18-19) Thus, Jesus prayed for Peter that forces of evil may not hinder his preaching of righteousness to the people, and that he may succeed in opening the gates of the Kingdom of God to other people. Peter was a humble fisherman from Galilee. His former name was Simon, son of Jonas. He and his brother Andrew were originally disciples of John the Baptist (Yahya). When John the Baptist announced Jesus to be the Messiah, and said, “He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is from the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth… For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure,” Andrew and Peter both recognized Jesus