Peter Discovers the Truth About Christ Mark 8:27-38
Contents
LESSON NOTES AND QUESTIONS
Summary: In Mark 8:27-38, Jesus reveals to His disciples that He must suffer, be rejected, and killed, but that He will rise again. He emphasizes the cost of discipleship and the necessity of taking up one's cross to follow Him.
Application: This passage challenges Christians to reflect on their commitment to following Christ (to count the cost and be willing to follow Christ wholeheartedly). It calls believers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and prioritize Christ above all else, even when faced with persecution or rejection. True discipleship involves sacrifice and a willingness to prioritize Christ above everything else, even when it is difficult. Two passages in particular help us to understand just what the suffering Son of God went through: Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. These prophetic passages are reminders that the call of the Christian is not a call to an easy life.
1. Identity and Confession: The First Step
Mark 8:27-30
Start by discussing Jesus' question (Who do people say I am?) to His disciples about His identity and Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ. The disciples' answers are not entirely surprising. John the Baptist was a prominent figure, and Malachi 4:5:
“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.”
...led the Jews to believe they would see Elijah come to minister. However, none of these answers is correct, and so Jesus wisely asks the disciples to take a step of faith and declare the truth.
Peter astutely identifies Jesus as the Messiah. That is, the anointed, promised deliverer of Israel. The term is used in the Old Testament primarily for the ruling king, often from the line of David. Messianic expectations in various prophets like Isaiah, Micah, Hosea, and Amos, as well as in Second Temple Judaism and rabbinic writings, often spoke of a king who would rule the land. But others hinted at a sort of religious leader who would lead the people into religious revival. In fact, so strong was this dichotomy that some Jews expected multiple Messiahs to come. It seems unlikely that anybody expected a suffering servant. But that is exactly what Jesus is preparing His disciples to understand.
This sets the stage for understanding the necessity of Christ's sacrifice. Emphasize that recognizing Jesus as the Messiah is only the first step in the journey of discipleship, which leads to a life of sacrifice, mirroring Christ's example.
QUESTION: If identifying Jesus as the Messiah is only the first step, then His reasons state that there is more to following Jesus than just acknowledging Jesus as Messiah. What has that looked like in your life? In other words, what was the next step you took in moving to recognizing Jesus as the Messiah?
2. Suffering Predicted: The Path Defined
Mark 8:31-33
Jesus' prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection highlights the confusion and rebuke Peter expressed. This section underscores the challenge of accepting the suffering aspect of Christ's mission and, by extension, the call for believers to embrace suffering in their discipleship.
QUESTION: Following Christ involves giving up personal preferences for the unity of the body of believers and volunteering for tasks that others may not want to do, serving humbly and joyfully. How is Christ calling you to follow today? What sorts of “outside my comfort zone” tasks might you be called to do?
3. Discipleship Defined: The Ultimate Sacrifice
Mark 8:34-38
Conclude with Jesus' call to discipleship, emphasizing the requirements of self-denial, taking up one's cross, and following Him. This can be tied to the big idea that true discipleship mirrors Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Highlight how this passage challenges believers to consider what they value most and the eternal perspective required to prioritize Christ above everything else.
QUESTION: In what areas of your life do you find it most challenging to prioritize Christ above everything else, and how can you work on shifting your focus to align more with Jesus' example of sacrifice and self-denial?
