PETER’S CONFESSION OF CHRIST

Mark 8:27-38 / Keywords 8:29

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Predicts His Death

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The Way of the Cross

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Footnotes

b. Mark 8:35 The Greek word means either life or soul; also in verses 36 and 37.

1. Peter’s confession of Christ (27-30)

Outsiders strangely thought that Jesus was John the Baptist or one of the prophets. On the other hand, Peter confessed, “You are the Christ” (29). Jesus was the one whom he accepted personally as his Savior and Lord, who was everything to him, and the one who saved him from his sins and death. Jesus was the one truly worthy of his worship. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone, possibly to protect their young faith from the unbelief of others.

 

2. Jesus predicts his death (31-38)

Afterwards, Jesus taught them for the first time that he would suffer, be rejected, and killed, and then rise after 3 days. Peter rebuked him, and Jesus clearly responded, “Get behind me, Satan!” (33). He also taught them that those who would come after him must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow his example. Those who did so would have a heavenly welcome, but those who rejected Christ would lose their souls, face shame, and receive eternal condemnation.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, you are the Christ. Help me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow you.

One Word Confess Jesus as the Christ; follow him