WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

Passage: Mark 8:27-38

Key verse: 29

NIV

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah(A)

27 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;(B) others say Elijah;(C) 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 Messiah.”(D)

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.(E)

Jesus Predicts His Death(F)

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man(G) must suffer many things(H) and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,(I) and that he must be killed(J) and after three days(K) rise again.(L) 32 He spoke plainly(M) 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!”(N) he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

The Way of the Cross

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.(O) 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.(P) 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man(Q) will be ashamed of them(R) when he comes(S) in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Mark 8:35 The Greek word means either life or soul; also in verses 36 and 37.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

27 (A)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?” 28 And they told him, (B)“John the Baptist; and others say, (C)Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, (D)“You are (E)the Christ.” 30 (F)And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

31 (G)And he began to teach them that (H)the Son of Man must (I)suffer many things and (J)be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and (K)after three days rise again. 32 And he said this (L)plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, (M)“Get behind me, Satan! For you (N)are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him (O)deny himself and (P)take up his cross and follow me. 35 For (Q)whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake (R)and the gospel's will save it. 36 (S)For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For (T)what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For (U)whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this (V)adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed (W)when he comes in the glory of his Father with (X)the holy angels.”

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Mark 8:35 The same Greek word can mean either soul or life, depending on the context; twice in this verse and once in verse 36 and once in verse 37
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Who is Jesus? What did he come to do? What does it mean to be his disciple? These are very important questions for us to ponder. According to the disciples, the people thought Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the other prophets. But when Jesus asked the disciples about who they thought he was, Peter declared, “You are the Messiah”. It means that Jesus is God’s Anointed One, the long-awaited descendant of David whose throne and kingdom God would establish forever. That is indeed who Jesus is.

But what did he come to do? Jesus says that the Son of Man would suffer, be rejected, be killed, and then rise again. This was not what Peter or the other disciples expected or wanted to hear. Gaining glory without suffering was one of the ways Satan tempted Jesus in the desert and Jesus would have nothing to do with that. Jesus obeyed God’s will and endured the cross for the glory that he would receive and the glory that he would share.

The way of the cross is the way for Jesus’ disciples as well. We are to follow our Lord’s example by denying ourselves, shouldering our crosses, and following in his footsteps. This is the way to eternal life. Jesus says that whoever saves their life will lose it and whoever loses their life for his sake will save it. Are you ready to follow the Lord?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Messiah.

One Word: Take up your cross and follow him!