The question at Caesarea Philippi

8:27-30

v27 Jesus and his *disciples left and they went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he asked his *disciples, Who do people say that I am? v28 They answered him, John the *Baptist. And other people say that you are Elijah. Other people say that you are one of the *prophets. v29 And Jesus asked them, Who do you say that I am? Peter replied, You are the Christ. v30 Jesus gave them strict instructions not to say anything about him to other people. Verse 27 Caesarea Philippi was in the north, near the source of the River Jordan. Philip, who was the ruler of that area, had built the city. It had the name Caesarea Philippi. That showed that it was not the same place as Caesarea on the coast. That was in the area that his brother, Herod Antipas, ruled. Caesarea Philippi was a city that was full of *temples to the *Greek gods, and to the nature god, Pan. The *disciples were on the way to Jerusalem with Jesus. Jesus described himself as the Way to God (John 14:6). People described early Christians as those who belonged to the Way (Acts 9:2; 19:23). Verse 28 The opinions that Jesus was John the *Baptist or Elijah are the same as those in 6:14. The opinion that he was one of the *prophets rather than like one of the *prophets (6:14) is different. It referred to a *prophet who had come back to life. Verse 29 Jesus emphasised the word you. It was not enough for the *disciples to know what other people thought. They must decide for themselves. The *disciples had asked, Who is this? (4:41). Jesus had spoken about the fact that they did not understand (8:17-21). But now Peter spoke for all the *disciples. He made the bold statement, You are the Christ. This incident comes in the middle of Marks *Gospel. The first chapters record the works and words of Jesus as he invited people into Gods *kingdom. From the time at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus taught that he must suffer. He explained what it means to be a *disciple. And he began his journey to Jerusalem. Verse 30 Christ is the *Greek word for the *Hebrew word *Messiah. (See the note on 1:1.) The *Jews were expecting a *Messiah who would defeat their enemies. This person would lead an army against the *Romans and he would gain political freedom for them. Jesus did not want the *disciples to encourage that belief. So he did not want them to say that he was the *Messiah. The crowds might then stop Jesus from training his *disciples. The *disciples had to learn the true nature of the *Messiahs work.

Jesus speaks about his death

8:31-33

Jesus told his *disciples on three different occasions that he would suffer and die (8:31-33; 9:3132; 10:32-34). This was the first occasion, immediately after Peters declaration that Jesus was the *Messiah. v31 Then Jesus began to teach the *disciples that the Son of Man must suffer greatly. The chief priests and the *scribes and the other leaders would refuse to accept him. They would kill him. He would rise up three days later. v32 He said the word clearly. Peter took him aside and began to protest against such an idea. v33 But Jesus turned round. He saw his *disciples, and he spoke very firmly to Peter. He said, Get behind me, *Satan. You are thinking in mens ways, not Gods ways.

Verse 31 Jesus would suffer on behalf of other people. He would be like the servant of God whom Isaiah described (Isaiah chapter 53). Son of man can refer to a picture that Daniel saw in his mind. (See Daniel 7:13-14.) There, someone called a son of man would receive authority and power from God. He would receive an *eternal *kingdom. The name that Jesus used for himself may therefore mean the same as *Messiah. Jesus said that he must suffer. He knew that his pain and death were part of Gods plan. Gods plan was to rescue man from *sin. The chief priests, the *scribes and the other leaders were members of the chief *Jewish ruling authority. They called it the *Sanhedrin. Matthew (16:21) and Luke (9:22) say on the third day. Mark says three days later because he included the first and the last day in the count. Verse 32 Mark calls what Jesus said the word (*Greek logos). It was a clear message that was part of the *gospel. And the *gospel was good news. Peter and the other *disciples understood what Jesus said. But they did not want to believe that these things would happen to him. For them, talk about suffering was difficult to accept. It was only after Jesus death and *resurrection that they were able to see clearly. Then t hey understood why Jesus had to suffer. Verse 33 *Satan was *tempting Jesus by means of Peter. It was the same *temptation to avoid pain and trouble as in Luke 4:5-7. Then *Satan was *tempting Jesus. Get behind me was a command to *Satan. He must stop *tempting Jesus. It was also a command to Peter and the other *disciples. Jesus meant, I do not follow you. You should follow me and my ideas. Peter may have spoken because of love for Jesus. But it was not his job to teach Jesus. He must allow Jesus to teach him.

The *disciples of Jesus must suffer

8:34-38

v34 Then Jesus called the crowd and the *disciples to him. He said to them, If anyone wants to come with me, let him say no to his own wishes and comfort. Let him carry his *cross and follow me. v35 Because anyone who wants to save his life will lose it. And anyone who loses his life for me and for the *gospel will save it. v36 A person might gain the whole world but lose his *soul. Even then he would really have gained nothing. v37 There is nothing that he can exchange for his own *soul. v38 You might be ashamed of me and my words among these wicked people who have no *faith. Then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes. He will come then in the very bright light from his Father with his holy *angels. Verse 34 Jesus spoke not only to the 12 *disciples, but also to anyone in the crowd who might follow him. Jesus was honest. Jesus did not offer people an easy life. He did not try to persuade people to follow him like that. A *disciple must forget his own wishes if he wants to follow Jesus. The *Romans fixed criminals to a *cross. That is how they punished them. The criminal had to carry part of his own *cross to the place where the soldiers would kill him. Jesus said that those who followed him must be willing for the same shame and suffering as himself. Verse 35 anyone who wants to save his life will lose it has two possible meanings: 1 A selfish way to live will not give anyone a life on earth of true worth. 2 Life on earth is of no value if a person loses the life with God after death. Some Christians suffer and die for their *faith. Those Christians know that they will gain life with God for all time.

Verses 36-37 The whole world may refer to possessions, power, pleasures and popularity. But all these are only temporary. What the world offers is nothing compared with the value of the *soul. The *soul is for all time. It is foolish if a man forgets his *eternal *soul for pleasures in this world. It is foolish because those pleasures do not last. Verse 38 Proverbs 29:25 says, The fear of man will be a trap. Fear of the opinion or laughter of other people may make a Christian ashamed to declare his *faith. Jesus said that he would then be ashamed of them. He referred to the time when he will come again. Then, he will return in the very bright light from his Father.