Mark 8:27-38

Peter’s Confession

8:27 Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. ¹  On the way he asked his disciples, ²  “Who do people say that I am?” 8:28 They said, ³  “John the Baptist, others say Elijah, ⁴  and still others, one of the prophets.” 8:29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, ⁵  “You are the Christ.” ⁶  8:30 Then ⁷  he warned them not to tell anyone about him. ⁸ 

First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection

8:31 Then ⁹  Jesus ¹⁰  began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer ¹¹  many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, ¹²  and be killed, and after three days rise again. 8:32 He spoke openly about this. So ¹³  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 8:33 But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” ¹⁴ 

Following Jesus

8:34 Then ¹⁵  Jesus ¹⁶  called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ¹⁷  he must deny ¹⁸  himself, take up his cross, ¹⁹  and follow me. 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life ²⁰  will lose it, ²¹  but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. 8:36 For what benefit is it for a person ²²  to gain the whole world, yet ²³  forfeit his life? 8:37 What can a person give in exchange for his life? 8:38 For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him ²⁴  when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

[8:27]  ¹ map Fpr location see Map1 C1; Map2 F4.

[8:27]  ² tn Grk “he asked his disciples, saying to them.” The phrase λέγων αὐτοῖς (legwn autois) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[8:28]  ³ tn Grk “And they said to him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[8:28]  ⁴ sn The appearance of Elijah would mean that the end time had come. According to 2 Kgs 2:11, Elijah was still alive. In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.

[8:29]  ⁵ tn Grk “Answering, Peter said to him.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “Peter answered him.”

[8:29]  ⁶ tn Or “the Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[8:30]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then” to indicate the conclusion of the episode.

[8:30]  ⁸ sn Mark 8:27-10:52. The entire section 8:27-10:52 is built around three passion predictions of Jesus (8:31; 9:31; 10:33). These predictions form the structure of the section, the content for the section (Jesus’ suffering, death, and the meaning of genuine discipleship) and the mood of the section (i.e., a somber mood). What is interesting is that after each passion prediction, Mark records both the misunderstanding of the disciples and then Jesus’ teaching on the nature of his death and what genuine discipleship is all about: (1) denying oneself (8:34-38); (2) humility and serving (9:33-37); (3) suffering, humble service, and not lording it over people (10:35-45). For further discussion of the structure of the passage, see W. L. Lane, Mark (NICNT), 292-94.

[8:31]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[8:31]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:31]  ¹¹ sn The necessity that the Son of Man suffer is the particular point that needed emphasis, since for many 1st century Jews the Messiah was a glorious and powerful figure, not a suffering one.

[8:31]  ¹² tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

[8:32]  ¹³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “So” to indicate Peter’s rebuke is in response to Jesus’ teaching about the suffering of the Son of Man.

[8:33]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “people’s.”

[8:34]  ¹⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[8:34]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:34]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “to follow after me.”

[8:34]  ¹⁸ tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.

[8:34]  ¹⁹ sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.

[8:35]  ²⁰ tn Or “soul” (throughout vv. 35-37).

[8:35]  ²¹ sn The point of the saying whoever wants to save his life will lose it is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.

[8:36]  ²² tn Grk “a man,” but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense here to refer to both men and women.

[8:36]  ²³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[8:38]  ²⁴ sn How one responds now to Jesus and his teaching is a reflection of how Jesus, as the Son of Man who judges, will respond then in the final judgment.