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Mark 8:27-35

Gospel according to Mark 8:27-35

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the Prophets." Jesus asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are thinking not as God does, but as humans do." Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake, and the sake of the Gospel, will save it."
The Tribute Money - Fresco by Masaccio in the Brancacci Chapel, Florence, Italy - Public Domain

Reflections

In today’s Gospel, Jesus initiates a profound conversation with His disciples. He begins by asking them to reflect on His public perception. Many believe Jesus to be a prophet, like Elijah or John the Baptist. The perceptions of the identity of Jesus among the public are varied, reflecting a recognition of Jesus’ extraordinary nature but not fully grasping His true identity. Through this question, Jesus sets the stage for a deeper revelation that is to come. Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ is a key moment in this passage – His response underscores the importance of divine revelation in understanding Jesus’ true nature. Peter’s declaration, made with such conviction, cannot merely be a result of human insight and observation; it could only have been revealed to him through the Divine Power of the Holy Spirit. This serves as a demonstration of how Jesus is willing to fill us with His Spirit and guide us in our lives. He desires a personal relationship with each of us, revealing and helping us to embrace His Divine Mercy. Jesus then begins to prophesize about His upcoming suffering and death. He explains that He must be rejected by the highest religious leaders, endure immense suffering, and ultimately be killed such that He may serve as a Divine sacrifice. This foretelling of Jesus’ passion and the revelation of God’s plan of salvation is a stark reminder of the sacrificial love that Jesus embodies. Through Jesus’ atonement for our sins through His death, which is the ultimate act of love, and through His resurrection, He offers us a path to eternal life. Peter’s reaction to the revelation of Jesus’ passion lays open a common human tendency to avoid sacrifice and prevent suffering, especially for one’s closest friends. Peter rebukes Jesus, as he is unable to comprehend the necessity of such a path. Jesus’ strong and poignant response to Peter, who aligns his thoughts with those of humans rather than the Divine Plan of God, highlights the conflict between worldly thinking and one’s true calling. We are reminded that God’s ways often transcend simple human understanding. As such, Jesus highlights the necessity of faith in order for God’s Plan to be fulfilled. Finally, Jesus reiterates the essence of discipleship. He explains that the pathway to holiness and eternal life is found through self-sacrifice: Following Him means taking up one’s cross, losing one’s life for His sake, and thereby finding the True Life that He gives. Every time we perform an act of charity and selflessness, we are brought closer to God. As His Children, we are called to center our lives around Him, to respond to His beckoning, and to embrace the sacrificial love that Jesus embodies in our everyday works.

Key Points