Peter's Confession of Christ - Jesus Predicts His Death

Exodus 1:6-22
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
March 18, 2010


Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets. "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ" Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life[c] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. - Mark 8:27-38

At Caesarea Philippi Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ. We have come to a crucial point in Jesus’ ministry. Before Jesus goes on to Jerusalem to die, He must be certain that His disciples grasp who He is. He asks the disciples what people are saying about Him. Now He asks them who they think He is> Peter responds, ‘You are the Christ.” Then Jesus explains that He must suffer, die and rise again. This does not fit into Peter’s understanding of the Messiah. He rebukes Jesus for saying it but Jesus in turn rebukes Peter as the mouthpiece of Satan. God wills for Jesus to suffer and die, not to go to the cross would be Satan’s wish. What He Himself must do, His followers also must do: self-denial, cross-bearing, and following Christ. In this self-giving, His followers will find themselves.

How does one come to Christ? Preachers say, “Come to Christ, accept Christ.” The laity ask; “How do you do this? Give us some handles.” Jesus answers the question: To come is to deny self, embrace a cross, and follow Jesus into a life of service and sacrifice. Who said discipleship was easy?

Almighty and everlasting God, grant us grace so to pass through this holy time of our Lord’s Passion that we may obtain the pardon of our sins; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
Collect for Tuesday of Holy Week The Lutheran Hymnal © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis