Peter's Declaration

Confession

We will be looking primarily at the gospel of Mark as we study during Lent. Mark is considered to be the first of the Gospels written and it is based on Peter’s input. Mark was probably one of the followers toward the end of Jesus’ ministry. He includes the account of a young ma who ran away naked when the soldiers arrested Jesus in Mark 14:51 -52“A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him,” He fled naked leaving his garment behind.

The passages represent a change in Jesus’ ministry. His disciples have been with him for a little over three years. They have seen him preform many miracles and have heard him teach in a way that no one had ever preached before. Jesus knows that his time is getting short and he is preparing to turn toward Jerusalem on his way to the cross. Mark 8:27–30 “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.”

Matthew 16:13–16 “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Luke 9:18–20 “Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.””

We read that Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him. He asked them who do men say that I am. they replied Some say John the Baptist. We know that Herod who had John beheaded thought that. Those disciples who were there when he was baptised by John knew better. Others say Elijah.

Malachi 4:4–6 ““Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.””

Still others one of the prophets of old who has come back to life.

But Jesus asked “what about you? Who do you say that I am?

Peter answered you are the Messiah. Matthew 16:13–17

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered him blessed are you Simon for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you but my father who is in heaven.

Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah, but how would he have described the Messiah? The Jewish people had been under oppression from different countries for generations, The Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and now the Romans. they interpreted prophecy as the Messiah would be a military who would restore Jewish independence with a mighty warrior leading them, Economic wealth, a good life. They could not imagine Jesus as a messiah who was coming to die on a cross.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew that he would have to suffer and die. In verse 30 he warned his disciples not to tell anyone. the time was not yet. He knew that the people wanted a king not a servant. He still had things to teach them before he left them.

The question in verse 29. Jesus asks his disciples. who do you say that I am? That question is just as real, just as important today as it was then. Who is Jesus. Are we expecting a messiah in our design rather than God’s design?

We have been studying the Revelation of John in our worship services. Jesus is pictured in a different way in each of the letters to the churches. We will later see him as a king. How do you picture him today? How do people picture us as Christ’s representatives here on earth?

Lent is a time of reflection, a time to think about who Jesus is and what he has done for us. It is a time for repentance.

I have given you a lot of questions to think about. Jesse has told us about a man whose sight was restored. Lets ask Jesus to give us eyes to see and understand what he has done for us. What he is doing for us right now and what he will do by bringing us into his presence.