Mark 8:27-33 Peter Confesses Jesus as Christ

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Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Church

From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”

House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text

Mark 8:27–33 NASB95

Jesus 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?” They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” And He warned them to tell no one about Him. And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

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Jesus’ Ministry Travels

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NASB95

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Introduction

Mark is one of the Gospels - it tells us how we can be reconciled to God and gain eternal life

Preceded by John, Jesus came from Galilee

John got the people’s attention

Jesus began his ministry

Signs and wonders (miracles) demonstrated His lessons

Jesus was alienating Israel’s religious and political leadership - they were plotting to kill Him

Knew He was going to the cross to finish His work - prepared His disciples

In our last lesson, Jesus healed a blind man and gave us a lesson on sanctification. Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

This week: A most important event. A turning point in Jesus mission - Peter confesses Jesus as Christ

In this lesson we find the basic truth of Christianity, that Jesus is the Christ, and He must die for our sins

This took place “on the way”. Such meaningful discussions are a blessing - when time is not wasted, but redeemed

Mark 8:27–28 ESV

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

1. The many opinions about Christ

Lots of opinions, except the one that was true

Today there are lots of opinions as well

Little understanding in the world about Christ and His gospel now - same as 2000 years ago

Many know the name, accept that He came to save sinners, regularly worship Him

Few understand that He is truly God, the only high priest who can mediate between man and God, only source of life and peace, only shepherd and friend

Fuzzy ideas of Christ are still common, few have any close experience with Him

May we never rest until we can say Cant. 2:16 “My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.”

This is saving knowledge and eternal life

Mark 8:29 ESV

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

2. Peter’s good confession

Who do you think Jesus is?

Christ - the Messiah - Saviour of the World - King- Anointed One

An amazing confession - given the situation

Jesus was poor, poverty stricken

No riches, no majesty, no honor, no earthly power

The political and Jewish leadership refused to receive Jesus as Messiah - they despised Him

Nevertheless, Peters says “you are the Christ”

His confidence and faith were not in Christ’s poverty, the opinions of the scribes and Pharisees, or the contempt of the political leadership - none of this made a difference to Peter

Peter believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Saviour, the true prophet greater than Moses, the long-awaited Messiah

This was a work of the Holy Spirit

He declared it boldly, on behalf of the apostles: “you are the Christ

We can learn much from Peter’s conduct

As prone to mistakes as he was, this confession is worth imitating

This kind of confession has been evidence of living faith, throughout history, if we are to prove ourselves disciples of Christ

We, too, must be ready to confess Christ, just like Peter

Christ and His teachings have always been unpopular

We need to be ready to proclaim Christ and His message, even though there may be many against us

We need the courage to walk in Peter’s steps, and we will surely receive his reward

Jesus notes who confesses Him publicly, and will one day confess them as His servants, before God and the world

Mark 8:31 NASB95

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

3. Jesus declared His own coming death and resurrection

Son of Man - the prophet Daniel wrote!

Daniel 7:13–14 NASB95

“I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

Jesus begins Phase II of His ministry on Earth

This must have sounded very strange to the disciples

Jesus had done mighty works and done wonderful teaching - must have been hard to take in that He would be put to death

He must suffer, must be killed, must rise again

Why did He say “must”

Did He mean he could not escape the suffering? Impossible

Did He mean that He had to die to give a great example to the world of self-sacrifice and self-denial? That this alone was why he must die? Impossible

He meant that His suffering and death were necessary to make atonement for our sins - to save God’s people from His wrath

His suffering and death were necessary to satisfy God’s law, on our behalf

If He didn’t die, sinners could not have life

He must suffer for our sins. He must be delivered for our offenses and raised for our justification

This is the central truth of the Bible - never forget it

all other truths are secondary

If we get nothing else, we need to get this

This truth, often proclaimed by Jesus and His disciples to the world, is the foundational truth of Christianity

No matter how difficult our lives, no matter how sinful we are, though we deserve nothing, we need to remember that Christ died for sinners.

Christ suffered and died on a Roman cross, and purchased heaven for all that believe in Him

Mark 8:32–33 ESV

And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

4. The strange mixture of grace and error in the heart of a true Christian

Peter, who had such a great confession minutes before, presumed to rebuke Jesus because He spoke of suffering and dying - Peter thought He was predicting failure

Sharpest rebuke ever from Jesus: Get behind me Satan!

Peter was being arrogant - he thought He knew what was right and fitting better than the Master Himself

Thought He would tell the very Son of God the way it was

He did it with the best of intentions - meant well, motive pure

Enthusiasm is no excuse for error - someone may mean well, yet make huge mistakes

Lesson here: we need to learn humility

beware of pride in your spiritual achievements, or praise from others

Let’s never assume we know everything

Its a short step from making a great confession and being like Satan

Pray daily: hold me up, keep me, teach me, keep me from error

Bringing it home

We need to be understanding and compassionate toward others

Let’s not be hasty in rejecting someone as graceless, because of errors and mistakes

Their heart may be right, in the sight of God, like Peter

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Questions

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