Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man.

GOLDEN TEXT: Mark 8:29  And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

PETER’S CONFESSION

A. Opinions About Jesus’ Identity

Mar 8:27  And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

…….Caesarea Philippi is about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and primarily inhabited by Gentiles. This was a place Jesus traveled to for personal renewal, prayer, and a time to get away from the crowds to rest and minister to His disciples. Jesus knew the importance of rest and renewal, and also knew what individual discipleship time meant. If Christ took advantage of these opportunities, we should also take advantage of them. It was at this time Jesus could get on a more personal level with His disciples and know what they truly thought about Him. His first question was, “Who do men say that I am”?

Mar 8:28  And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

…….these answers revealed that few had recognized Him as the Messiah, Son of God. This answer tells us, just as in Christ’s time, people can become so focused on the work and the effects of the work they they never find focus on the main details. Jesus’ ministry at this time had not come to the point of proclaiming His deity. But many in the Church today either lose focus, or neglect to fully realize who it is that is being worshipped. May we never become so focused on the work that we lose track of who it is we are working for.

B. The Great Confession

Mar 8:29  And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

…….Peter didn’t answer this question for himself, but as the spokesman for all the disciples. But they all knew who He truly was because they had spent the most valuable time with Him. If we want to know Him, we must put in the time with Him.

Mar 8:30  And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

…….To avoid the increasing hostility from the Jews, Jesus chose to remain silent about His personal identity. Though He could have sent an army of angels to fight His battles, His fulfillment must be accomplished the way God ordained it. Just as Christ, we must remain humble to all those who oppose us.

JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH

A. Jesus Reveals Future Events

Mar 8:31  And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

…….Just as Peter, we at times fail to see the big picture or end results. Being so focused on the negativity of Christ’s final purpose, it’s almost as if Peter never heard the last phrase “after three days rise again”. Though it must have been the hardest thing ever to accept the execution of their savior, the end result would only be the beginning of this new life!

Mar 8:32  And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

Mar 8:33  But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

…….While Peter stepped out with much boldness and authority, he quickly learned that His position would never be great enough to rebuke the one who appointed Him. Jesus must have sensed a type of worldly ambition and power from Peter remark since His rebuking was identified with the thoughts of Satan. Though it is not certain, it is thought to be that Peter was focused on having a worldly power by being accompanied with Son of God. Nothing we do in ministry can be allowed to cause us to think that worldly and carnal power will be gained. This only leads to self ambition and empowering accomplishment, which is the opposite of what Christ desires for His followers. It is only about our heavenly reward and building the Kingdom of Heaven!

B. Jesus Teaches About Discipleship

Mar 8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

…….This is the most important decision a person in the transition of salvation will ever make. While some people are on the verge of death when the invitation is made, others are at the peak of life. But no matter the walk of life, the follow through must be the same; willing to lose it all to gain it all.

Mar 8:35  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

…….For those who experience the miracle of salvation, prior to the saving there is a desperation to die to everything that is holding you back! We must be ready to die to this carnal life to ever experience living in the Spiritual!

Mar 8:36  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Mar 8:37  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

…….Folks, the people around you truly believe this is the best it gets! Oh how they have mistaken, and that is the importance of living a life that causes other to question!

Mar 8:38  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

…….When true salvation occurs, there will never be a catch or hang up in letting people know who provides the strength you walk with. Be ready at all times to let the questions be answered by your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Mar 9:1  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

…….Some present that day witnessed the kingdom of God with power on the Day of Pentecost and following. This is the importance of being hungry for a move of the Spirit. When Jesus spoke of the arrival of the Spirit being “the Kingdom of God with power”, it shows the importance He places on these occurrences. We should never take lightly what Christ makes important.

THE TRANSFIGURATION

Mar 9:2  And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

Mar 9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

Mar 9:4  And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

…….Luke 9:31 says that the Moses and Elijah were talking with Him about “His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.” They were conversing about the very thing Peter had objected to earlier, and they described it as an accomplishment.

Mar 9:5  And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Mar 9:6  For he wist (knew) not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

Mar 9:7  And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Mar 9:8  And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

…….Not only did this event happen to show Jesus’ divinity and deity, but to also show that He did not come to do away with the Law and the Prophets represented by Moses and Elijah. God spoke through the prophets but now He has spoken by His Son, and we must, for our salvation, hear and heed His Son above all others (Hebrews 2:3).

It is important to remember that Christ’s desire for His disciples was that they would come to know the truth regarding His Divine identity, and yet the means by which that was to be accomplished was a process. So also, within our own lives, we must understand that seeking greater intellectual and experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ is a process we will continue in for our lifetime. After more than 20 years as a believer in Christ, the Apostle Paul’s ambition regarding Christ was, “that I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10). And the Apostle Peter’s last known exhortation to his fellow Christians was, “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).