Mark 8:27-38    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 Christ.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and 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 things of God, but the things of men.” 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his 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 him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

I. The Context

a. Caesaria Philippi—border of holy land and gentile territory; Herod built marble temple in honor of Caesar there

b. Disciples had witnessed numerous miracles by Jesus and heard his teaching; now they’re alone with him, and asked a most important question

II. The Claims of Others

a. John the Baptist (returned from the dead), Elijah, one of the prophets

b. All indicate favorable views of Jesus: there is clearly something special about Jesus

c. All safe claims: none indicate Jesus as divine messiah figure; none require a response from the people

III. Peter’s Confession—You are the Christ

a. Significance—he gets it; Jesus’ works and teaching finally connect with who he is

b. Christ- Greek for “Messiah”—means ‘anointed one’; title for the prophesied One will come as the savior of Israel

c. Parallel passage in Matthew 16:16 adds, “…the Son of the living God”

d. Mark also omits Jesus’ response, “Blessed are you Simon…” (Matthew 16:17-19)

e. Mark 8:29 is halfway point of the gospel

f. Why warning to tell no one? People misunderstand the purpose of the Messiah- they will draw wrong conclusions

IV. Accepting Jesus Means Accepting His Mission

a. Being the Messiah meant suffering, death, and resurrection- too much for Peter’s mind

b. Preconceived notion about Messiah- all glorious- missed prophesy in Isaiah 53

V. Accepting the Messiah and His Mission Means Accepting Our Call

a. Not about our own glorious gain

b. Taking up our cross and following him means we die to our old selves and find new life in Christ

VI. What do you do with Jesus?

a. John 14:6—I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father except through me

b. Issue is not how good you are or how often you make it to church, it’s whether or not you have placed your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior – When we do this we become connected with our Creator (John 15:5-6)

c. The great paradox: when you die to yourself, you find life to the fullest