Mark 8:27-30
²⁷Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?”
²⁸They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.”
²⁹And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”
³⁰And He warned them to tell no one about Him.
Some further information:
Caesarea Philippi
Caesarea Philippi is a city about twenty-five miles north of Bethsaida (Julias) near Mt. Hermon, not to be confused with the Caesarea located on the Mediterranean coast about sixty miles northwest of Jerusalem.
Now let us reflect on this
Who is Jesus?
This is the question that it keeps coming back.
Theology has always given different answers to this.
And it seems that people who saw Jesus, during His life on earth, are also unable to solve this question.
He is a special person. Everyone agrees on that.
▪︎ Some say that He is John the Baptist who rose from the dead.
▪︎ Some say that He is Elijah who should come before the Messiah would come.
▪︎ Some say that He is an ordinary prophet.
These are the opinions of the people who follow Jesus from a distance (Mark 8:27,28).
But now Jesus wants to know what His own disciples say about Him.
The people who are close to Him, live and travel with Him. Who have experienced all the miracles up to now, seen all His works and received special explanations from Him.
Peter is the first who answers. “You are the Christ!” (Mark 8:29; See also Matthew 16:16, 17). That’s a big confession, but it’s not enough.
For what does that mean that Jesus is the Christ? Jesus explains.
▪︎ It means rejection,
▪︎ It means suffering and dying,
▪︎ It means shame and pain (Mark 8:31; Compare Luke 24:24-27, 44-46; Isaiah 52:13-53: 12).
▪︎ It means the cross …
But Peter does not want that (Mark 8:32).
Imagine the promised king who gets no honor!
Peter has human ideas about the Messiah, and Jesus cannot and may not accept that.
It is about God’s work, not about human imaginations (Mark 8:33).
Anyone who does not accept the suffering of Jesus, does not accept God’s plans. And whoever does not accept God’s plans does not belong to Jesus, but to the other side.
The devil, who at first tried to keep Jesus from the necessary way of the Cross (Matthew 4:8-10), now finds an accomplice in one of Jesus’ own followers.
That is why Jesus rebukes Peter so sharply.
Human ideas are not fitting in God’s plans.
Jesus is not a king as we humans would expect, but Jesus is the King we need (Compare John 20:24-29)!
Our ideas must yield to Him – only then, we can see God’s works!
Prayer suggestion
▪︎ Ask God to open you up to His plans
▪︎ Ask God to help you give up your own ideas.
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website 1: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Website 2: http://bijbelplaatjes.nl
About Author
