Peter’s Confession about Jesus

Today's Reflections

Peter’s Confession about Jesus 

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Mk 8:27-35

²⁷Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” ²⁸They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” ²⁹And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.” ³⁰Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

³¹He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. ³²He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

³⁴He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁵For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

Reflection:

Jesus rebuked Peter. Jesus asks the disciples who people say he is. Getting their reply, he then inquires into their opinion. Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah of God. The answer is correct, but Jesus warns the disciples not to tell anyone about him.

The Messiah is the anointed one of God or the promised Savior. The Jews expect this anointed one to be a powerful leader who will come from the lineage of King David and will eventually restore Israel to her political might and glory.

But this is not the kind of Messiah that Jesus is, and he warns the disciples about this. In fact, he tells them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. Peter rebukes Jesus for saying this and is in turn rebuked by Jesus for being a stumbling block to the fulfillment of God’s plan for the redemption of humankind.

As with the disciples, Jesus demands our personal verdict about him. We may know catechism and theology, the tenets of Christian faith and the teachings of the Church. But such knowledge cannot replace a personal encounter with Jesus and an intimate relationship with him.

Who is Jesus for you?