Peter’s Confession about Jesus

Today's Reflections

 

Peter’s Confession about Jesus

Mk 8:27-33

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.”

Reflection:
 

You are the Messiah. Peter declares that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the anointed one of God. The apostle does not simply repeat what others have said. He does not say what Jesus wants to hear. Peter speaks from the heart, out of his personal conviction and experience of Jesus.

Jesus warns the disciples not to tell anyone about this. For the Jewish people, in fact, the Messiah is expected to be a powerful political liberator who will come from the lineage of King David and will eventually restore Israel to her political might and glory. But Jesus sees his being Messiah differently: to save fallen humanity, he will 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 speaking about his suffering and death. Jesus, in return, reprimands Peter for being a stumbling block in the fulfillment of God’s plan for the redemption of mankind.

“Who do you say that I am?”How will you answer Jesus’ question?Who is Jesus to you?