1. Peter’s Confession (Mark 8:27-30) 

2. Jesus Predicts His Death (Mark 8:31—9:1) 

3. The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13) 

Central Truth: Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man. 

Focus: Affirm and accept Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. 

Evangelism Emphasis: Forgiveness is offered to all who trust in Christ as the Son of God. 

Text: “[Jesus] saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ” (Mark 8:29). 

INTRODUCTION 

The time had come for Jesus to elicit a response from His disciples concerning Himself. He wanted to hear from their lips what they, in their innermost hearts, thought concerning His person and work. 

This is a question everyone must face for himself or herself. If Jesus was only a man, then the Gospel is a fraud and a disappointment. If He is indeed the Son of God, and presently alive, as the Scriptures declare, then the Gospel is the most heartening and the most challenging news the centuries of human history have known. 

1.  PETER’S CONFESSION 

A.  Jesus’ First Question (Mark 8:27-28)  

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

Jesus and His disciples began to visit the towns of Caesarea Philippi, a province under the rulership of Herod Philip. Jesus was thus free for a time from possible interference by the religious leaders. In the solitude of this mountainous area, Jesus was able to talk more personally with His disciples. He therefore challenged them with the question: “Who do people say I am?” (v. 27 NIV). 

The answer of the disciples showed they were aware of public opinion. They answered that the public was not agreed as to Christ’s identity: John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the ancient prophets. In this case, however, every opinion was wrong! Sadly, if the same question were posed to the general public today, answers would be as far removed, if not farther, from the truth. 

B.  Jesus’ Second Question (Mark 8:29-30) 

29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. 

Jesus next challenged the convictions of His own disciples. Matthew, Mark, and Luke record this personal and pointed question, although in every case the answer is somewhat different. Peter’s great confession follows, here in a form that differs from that given by Luke (9:20), and in a more abridged form than that given by Matthew (16:16). 

The disciples had, in some measure, already confessed the messiahship of Jesus (see John 1:41; 4:29; 6:68-69; Matt. 14:33). It appears that Jesus did not use the title “Messiah” after John 6:14, for He did not want to precipitate a political crisis that would defeat His redemptive mission. Also, not a few fair-weather disciples had deserted His ranks. It was thus a solemn and personal test to which Jesus now subjected the disciples. 

In Mark 8:30, Jesus “charged” His disciples to hold these newly confessed facts concerning Himself in strict confidence for the time being. Premature publicity would only spread crude and false ideas of His messiahship and thus hinder His remaining ministry. Besides, great ideas require time for maturity. Our Lord was determined that Peter’s oral confession would become the deep and settled heart convictions of all His disciples. 

—Why did Jesus ask His disciples what people were saying about Him? 

Jesus Christ, Our Lord  

The idea of Christ as both man and God is ancient in the Church. Early in the second century, Ignatius of Antioch wrote in terms that would be quite familiar to later believers right up to the present day. As he wrote, “Jesus Christ our Lord was of the flesh and of the spirit, born and unborn, God come in the flesh . . . from both Mary and God.”—Philip Jenkins 

2.  JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH  

A.  The Mission of Jesus (Mark 8:31-33) 

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

The great confession of Jesus’ messiahship marks a turning point in the ministry of our Lord. The theme of His teaching among His disciples hereafter centered in His approaching passion and death at Jerusalem. Obviously, the promise of His resurrection did not register in the Twelve’s consciousness. 

Jesus began to speak “openly” (v. 32); He held back nothing from His disciples that would help them to understand His mission. The imperfect tense suggests He spoke of His approaching death repeatedly. The disciples were manifestly stunned by this announcement, and presently Peter, apparently taking Jesus aside, “began to rebuke him.” Mark does not record what Peter said, but we may assume that Peter spoke for his associates as well as for himself. And the burden of what he said was this: “Lord, it is unthinkable that You should go to the cross!” (see Matt. 16:22). 

Jesus “turned about” directly and, with the other disciples in plain view and near at hand, He soundly rebuked Peter in the presence of all (Mark 8:33). A. T. Robertson said, “The temptation of the devil on the mountain was here offered by Peter. It was Satan all over again!” 

Peter here exhibited neither spiritual insight (“[he was] not mindful of the things of God,” NKJV) nor humility (who was he to rebuke Jesus?). The rest of the disciples probably felt all that Peter said, so Christ’s rebuke may have been given for their present or future benefit as well as for Peter’s. 

—Why did Peter “rebuke” Jesus (vv. 31-32)? 

—Why did Jesus rebuke Peter (v. 33)? 

B.  The Believer’s Cross (Mark 8:34-35)  

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. 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. 

Jesus laid down the conditions of discipleship in rugged terms: a cross—the instrument on which criminals died! This was precisely our Lord’s view of His own mission—a cross was the goal toward which He was moving. 

This was in sharp contrast to the view just advanced by Peter. Not only was Jesus about to die, but all of His disciples must interpret life in terms of self-denial. Let all who would “follow” Him realize the conditions that must be met! 

Paradoxically, surrender, submission, and self-denial for the sake of Christ and the Gospel are the steps to self-realization in the commonwealth of the redeemed. The surest way to self-frustration and disappointment is to “save” yourself by living according to your own desires. The point Jesus emphasizes here is that the advice just given by Peter would lead to self-defeat. Only as we “lose” by investing our lives for Christ can we hope to live on in terms of blessing and usefulness. 

Our Ultimate Destiny 

Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like Himself before He takes us to heaven. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility, and our ultimate destiny.—Rick Warren 

C.  The Invaluable Soul (Mark 8:36-38) 

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

Our Lord puts this momentous issue in simple terms of gain and loss. Even though one should gain his desired end—even “the whole world”—and, in so doing, “lose his own soul,” what is gained? And once one’s soul is lost, what of equivalent value can one hope to gain “in exchange” (v. 37)? Was our Lord here indirectly warning Judas Iscariot? Was Judas beginning to hold himself somewhat aloof from the Master’s confidence? Here, at least, was a solemn warning for Judas and all who heard Jesus speak; and these words are no less applicable to us. 

In verse 38, our Lord’s solemn warning was intended, first of all, for those wavering souls then present among His listeners. Yet the principle still stands. He who is ashamed of Jesus and His Word (“my words”) in any generation (for every generation is “adulterous and sinful”) shall also be disowned by the Lord himself when He returns in glory and in judgment. 

—List things some people “give in exchange for [their] soul” (v. 37). 

D.  Powerful Demonstration (Mark 9:1) 

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. 

This verse is clearly the conclusion of the discussion at the end of chapter 8. The “some” in this verse might refer to Peter, James, and John, who were about to witness the powerful transfiguration of Jesus. 

Another possible reference is to the powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and to the signs and wonders that followed in the early days of the Church. “Some” of Christ’s disciples (all but Judas) would be witnesses and participants thereof. 

—What evidences of the power of Christ’s kingdom have you witnessed? 

3.  THE TRANSFIGURATION

A.  Awesome Appearance (Mark 9:2-3) 

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

Peter, James, and John accompanied Jesus to the slopes of Mount Hermon. Why these three? Peter was bold, openhearted, enthusiastic. Maybe this experience would strengthen him in the days ahead. After all, he was to give direction to the infant church after the ascension of Christ. Of John, it is said the Master loved him very much, and John would affectionately care for Jesus’ mother after the Crucifixion. Also, John was to behold the Savior on the island of Patmos. James seems to have special excellence of character. His early martyrdom and the fact he was the brother of John were significant. 

These three apostles, chosen to behold Christ in His glory, afterward would behold Him in His greatest agony. Can you imagine what their feelings might have been when they first saw Him brighter than the sun, and then when they beheld Him red as the rose with bloody sweat? 

The Lord probably chose three apostles because of the number of witnesses the Law required for proving anything: “At the mouth of two or three witnesses, shall the matter be established” (see Deut. 19:15; Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1). The witness of Peter at Caesarea Philippi was the witness of speech; the witness on the Mount of Transfiguration was the witness of sight. Peter first declared the glory of Christ and later beheld it with his own eyes. 

The glory of Christ was revealed to His disciples while He was praying (see Luke 9:29). In the presence of Peter, James, and John, the appearance of Christ changed. His face was the same as it was before, but it was now illuminated with a supernatural radiance. Not only was the face of Jesus brilliant with glory; His inner glory even shone through His garments. 

—Compare Jesus’ appearance here with the vision of Him that John saw years later (Rev. 1:14-16). 

B.  Glorious Experience (Mark 9:4-6) 

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

While Christ was in this transfigured state, two of the most remarkable and prominent figures in the Old Testament appeared with Him—Moses and Elijah. God had given the Law to Israel through Moses, and God spoke to the people through Elijah. Moses initiated a new order of things in the world, while Elijah repeated the principles upon which that order was based. Elijah lived in a time when the chosen nation had become disobedient. 

Moses died in the land of Moab, receiving the holy and unique honor of burial by God (Deut. 34:5-6). Elijah did not die; instead, chariots and horses of fire separated him from Elisha, and a whirlwind caught him up to the saints’ abode (2 Kings 2:11). These two men—Moses and Elijah—whose departure from the world had been veiled in mystery, were chosen for this mysterious return. 

Christ’s death was the topic of conversation between Jesus and the heavenly visitors (Luke 9:31). The representative of the Law (with its ordinances and its demands) and the representative of the prophets (with their predictions about the future) bore witness that their lines of thought converged in Jesus. 

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter lost his perspective. In the presence of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, he did not want to leave. Beholding the splendor of the glory of the Lord, he wanted to make provisions to stay there permanently by building three tabernacles. He lost sight of a needy world at the foot of the mountains. But the moment of glory does not exist for its own sake; it is designed to give strength for the daily ministry and to enable believers to walk the way of the Cross. Its real benefit is seen in what we do after the moment of glory. 

C.  Voice From Heaven (Mark 9:7-8) 

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

While Peter was expressing his wish for three tabernacles to be built, a bright cloud overshadowed him and the other disciples. For a cloud to appear on Mount Hermon was not unusual. Alfred Edersheim writes: “A strange peculiarity has been noticed about Hermon in the extreme rapidity of the formation of clouds upon the summit. In a few minutes a thick cap forms over the top of the mountain, and as quickly disperses, and entirely disappears.” 

However, this cloud immediately took on a brightness and a mystery. A voice was heard speaking as God set His seal of approval on Jesus, His Son. Perhaps at this point they realized they were beholding the Shekinah, the glory of Almighty God. 

This luminous cloud was not strange to the history of Israel. God aided the people of Israel in their deliverance from Egypt by a pillar of cloud (Ex. 13:21). When the Tabernacle was completed, the glory of the Lord appeared in the form of a cloud (40:34). When God gave the tablets of the Law to Moses, He appeared in a cloud (34:5). The cloud appeared again at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). 

When God draws near to people, it is absolutely necessary that His glory should be veiled. No man or woman can see His face and live (see Ex. 33:20). That is the reason for the cloud. 

When the disciples heard the voice of God speaking out of the cloud, they were overcome with fear. “They fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. ‘Get up,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus” (Matt. 17:6-8 NIV). 

God Speaks 

“God is not silent. It is the nature of God to speak. The second person of the Holy Trinity is called ‘The Word.’”—A. W. Tozer 

D.  Powerful Demonstration (Mark 9:9-13) 

9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. 

Peter, James, and John were commanded not to tell anyone about the heavenly sight they had just witnessed. Such talk would have stirred up needless controversy and accusations from Jesus’ opponents, who were already wanting to have Him killed. 

The three obeyed Jesus’ command, but kept talking with one another about what Jesus meant by “rising from the dead” (v. 10). They still could not grasp that Jesus was going to be crucified, and perhaps it was even more difficult to understand after seeing Him in His unspeakable transfigured appearance. 

Prompted by their seeing Elijah on the mount, the three apostles asked Jesus, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" (v. 11 NIV; see Mal. 4:5-6). Jesus explained, “Elijah does first come [before the suffering of the Messiah] and . . . has indeed come” (Mark 9:12-13 NASB). He was speaking of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah . . . to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17 NASB).

—Compare Jesus’ command here with another command He would later give to all His disciples from a different mountaintop (Acts 1:8). 

THE CRUCIAL QUESTION 

Weeks after Peter declared to Jesus, “You are the Christ,” Pilate asked a mob, “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matt. 27:22 NIV). 

“This is the most important question that has ever been asked,” Billy Graham said. “It is also the question you must ask yourself.” 

Daily Devotions:  

M.  The First Sin (Genesis 3:6-13) 

T.   Sin Atoned For (Leviticus 1:1-9; 17:11) 

W.  Sin’s Final Sacrifice Prophesied ( Psalm 22:14-18) 

T.  Divine Birth (Luke 1:26-38) 

F.  Divinity Affirmed by His Miracles (John 9:13-15, 24-33) 

S.  Called to Belong to Christ (Romans 1:1-6)

 *Adopted from the Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2020-2021