A Reflection on Mark 8:27-33
Today's gospel captures one of the most pivotal conversations in Jesus's ministry. Picture the scene: Jesus and his disciples are walking toward Caesarea Philippi, and He asks them that earthshaking question: "Who do people say that I am?" After hearing various answers – John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets – He turns to them directly: "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter's response, "You are the Christ," is a moment of divine inspiration. It's like a light suddenly switched on. Here's Peter, a simple fisherman, grasping a truth that many learned religious scholars of the time missed. This wasn't just book knowledge – it was a truth revealed to him by the Father.
But then comes the hard part. Jesus begins to teach them about His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter, still riding high from his moment of insight, takes Jesus aside and begins to rebuke Him. We can almost hear the concern in Peter's voice: "Lord, this can't be right. This isn't how it's supposed to go."
Jesus's response to Peter – "Get behind me, Satan!" – might seem harsh, but it reveals something profound. Even Peter, who had just proclaimed Jesus's true identity, was thinking in human terms, not divine ones. He wanted a triumphant Messiah, not a suffering servant. Peter's vision of God's plan was too small, too human, too focused on earthly glory rather than divine love.
This scripture teaches us that following Jesus means accepting His path, not trying to reshape it to our expectations. True discipleship requires us to embrace not just the glory of Christ, but also the way of the cross. Peter had to learn, as we all must, that God's ways often confound human wisdom.
It's also worth noting how this moment foreshadows Peter's own journey. The same Peter who tried to talk Jesus out of His sacrificial path would eventually follow that path himself, laying down his life for the faith. He learned that the true power of the Messiah lies not in worldly triumph, but in sacrificial love.
This passage invites us to examine our own response to Jesus's question: "Who do you say that I am?" And more importantly, are we ready to accept and follow Him on His terms, not ours?
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
