Now Jesus 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?” 28 They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He 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. 32 He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 At 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.”
When Jesus calmed the storm at sea (Mk. 4:35-40), the disciples asked the question, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey (Mk. 4:41)?” Jesus now asks the disciples, “Who do people say that I am (v. 27)?” and their response was similar to the crowd’s response to Jesus and his works after John the Baptist was killed; John the Baptist, Elijah or a prophet (Mk. 6:14-16). Jesus wanted to find out what his disciples thought and directly asked them, “Who do you say that I am (v. 29)?” Peter replied without hesitation “You are the Messiah.” Jesus was the anointed one who would fulfill God’s promises to Israel. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone, in keeping with Luke’s Messianic Secret (v. 30). Jesus’ true identity can only be known after his resurrection.
Jesus began to explain that he would have to suffer, die and then rise after three days (Hos. 6:2; Jonah 2:1) but the disciples did not understand. Jesus said that he “must suffer greatly (v. 31),” indicating that even though he could choose not to, he must be obedient to his Father. Peter immediately rejected what Jesus said and Jesus told Peter that anyone who denied or rejected the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus was on the side of Satan. Christians must not deny the suffering death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul said, “For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all (1 Cor. 15:16-19).”
Almighty God, through your suffering, death and resurrection the doors of Heaven were opened and we can pass from death to eternal life. Grant us the wisdom to understand what we must do for Your Kingdom and the fortitude to do it. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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