SUMMARY
Jesus questions his disciples about who they think he is. Peter’s response, that Jesus is the MessiahThe Messiah was the one who, it was believed, would come to free the people of Israel from bondage and exile. In Jewish thought the Messiah is the anticipated one who will come, as prophesied by Isaiah. In Christian thought Jesus of Nazareth is identified... More, leads to Jesus announcing that he will be killed and raised from the dead.
ANALYSIS
The setting of these verses is Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” Their responses are threefold: John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. When Jesus intensifies the question by asking what the disciples think, Peter responds, “You are the Messiah,” and Jesus commands the disciples to silence. Jesus’ messiahship will not be a political display of power, but something hidden in the cross and in the identity of a servant or slave (8:27-30).
All three passionPassion is the theological term used to describe Jesus' suffering prior to and including his crucifixion. The Passion Narrative (the portions of the Gospels that tell of the Last Supper, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus) are often read in church during Holy Week. More and resurrection announcements in Mark’s Gospel sustain a pattern developed by the first passion and resurrection announcement (8:31), followed by the disciples’ misunderstanding (8:32-33), and concluding with Jesus’ teaching on discipleship, which here focuses on the paradox of saving one’s life by losing it for Jesus’ sake and the sake of the gospel (8:34-9:1).
The transfigurationThe Transfiguration was a mountaintop event in which Jesus was transformed and became dazzling white, in a manner that suggested his future glory. Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus' transfiguration; Moses and Elijah appeared on the mountain and talked with Jesus. The event, which is... More is at the midpoint of Mark’s Gospel. Like the voice from heaven at Jesus’ baptismJesus was baptized (literally, "dipped") in the Jordan River by John the Baptizer, at which time he was acclaimed from heaven as God's Son, the Beloved. Much later baptism became one of the sacraments of the Church, the action by which a person is incorporated... More (1:9-11), readers again hear the voice that ushers them into the second half of the Gospel: “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (9:7). The disciples are warned to remain silent, and Jesus teaches that the forerunner role of Elijah has come in the person of John the Baptist (9:9-13). This collection of events concludes with Jesus casting out an uncleanIn Hebrew law many regulations warned against impurity. Unclean things were numerous and included leprosy, menstruating women, dead bodies, shell fish, and pigs. More spirit that the disciples were unable to cast out (9:14-29).
