Peter Says Who Jesus Is
A right answer, and a hard road
This story talks about Jesus's coming suffering and death, and about the cross.
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
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The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
On the road near Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was, and then who they said he was. Peter answered, "You are the Christ." But when Jesus said he would suffer, be killed, and rise again, Peter scolded him, and Jesus said, "Get behind Me, Satan!" Then Jesus told the crowd that anyone who follows him must take up his cross, because whoever loses his life for Jesus and the gospel will save it.
Where it is in the Bible: Mark 8:27 to 9:1
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. He has been teaching and healing in Galilee.
- Peter: One of Jesus's closest followers. He was a fisherman before Jesus called him. He often speaks first.
- The disciples: Jesus's twelve closest followers. They have traveled with him for a long time.
- The crowd: People who have come to hear Jesus.
Setting
- The villages around Caesarea Philippi, a city far in the north, near the source of the Jordan River.
When
- About 2,000 years ago, before Jesus's last trip to Jerusalem.
Before the Story
People had been asking who Jesus is. When Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples asked, "Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" (4:41). When he taught in his hometown, people asked, "Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary" (6:3)?
Even King Herod wondered. Some people said Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Others said he was Elijah, or a prophet (6:14-16). A prophet is someone who speaks for God.
Jesus had just healed a blind man. The man's eyes opened in two steps. First he saw people who looked like walking trees. Then he saw clearly (8:22-25).
Here's what you know that the disciples don't: Mark tells us the answer in his very first sentence. Jesus is "Christ, the Son of God" (1:1). The disciples are still finding out.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A question on the road | 8:27-28 | Jesus asks what people are saying about him |
| 2. "Who do you say I am?" | 8:29-30 | Peter gives his answer |
| 3. What the Christ must do | 8:31-32 | Jesus says he will suffer, die, and rise |
| 4. "Get behind Me" | 8:32-33 | Peter scolds Jesus. Jesus corrects Peter |
| 5. Take up your cross | 8:34-37 | Jesus tells everyone what following him means |
| 6. A promise | 8:38-9:1 | Jesus speaks about glory and the kingdom of God |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 6A Question on the Road
Jesus and his disciples walked north to the villages around Caesarea Philippi.
On the way, Jesus asked them a question. "Who do people say I am?" (8:27).
The disciples knew what people were saying. "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets" (8:28).
People had many ideas about Jesus. They all thought he was someone important.
Scene 2 of 6"Who Do You Say I Am?"
Then Jesus asked them a harder question.
"But what about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" (8:29).
This time the question was about the disciples themselves. What did they think?
Peter answered. "You are the Christ" (8:29).
"Christ" is a Greek word. It means "anointed one," the same as the Hebrew word "Messiah." To anoint means to pour oil on someone's head to set them apart for a special job. God had promised to send the Christ to rescue his people.
Peter was right.
Then Jesus told them not to tell anyone about him yet.
Scene 3 of 6What the Christ Must Do
Then Jesus began to teach them something new.
He said the Son of Man must suffer many things. "Son of Man" is a name Jesus used for himself.
He said the leaders would reject him. The elders, the chief priests, and the scribes would turn against him. Scribes were experts who taught God's law.
He said he would be killed. And after three days, he would rise again.
Jesus did not say this in a hidden way. He said it plainly, so they could understand (8:32).
Scene 4 of 6"Get Behind Me"
Peter took Jesus aside. Then Peter began to rebuke him. To rebuke means to scold someone or tell them they are wrong.
Mark does not tell us Peter's words. But we can see what Peter thought: the Christ should not suffer and die.
Jesus turned around and looked at all his disciples. Then he rebuked Peter.
"Get behind Me, Satan!" Jesus said. "For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (8:33).
Satan is God's enemy. He wants to turn people away from God's plan. Peter was trying to turn Jesus away from the cross. Jesus would not turn away.
A few minutes before, Peter had the right answer. Now he had the wrong idea about what that answer meant.
Scene 5 of 6Take Up Your Cross
Then Jesus called the crowd to come near, along with his disciples. Now he spoke to everyone.
"If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (8:34).
To deny yourself means you are not the one in charge of your life anymore. Jesus is. Back then, a person on the way to be crucified carried his own cross through the streets. Everyone listening knew what a cross meant.
Jesus went on. "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it" (8:35). The gospel is the good news about Jesus.
Then Jesus asked two questions. "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (8:36). To profit means to gain something. To forfeit means to lose it.
"Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (8:37). Nothing is worth as much as your life with God. Nobody can buy it back.
Scene 6 of 6A Promise
Jesus said that some people were ashamed of him and his words. When the Son of Man comes in his Father's glory with the angels, he will be ashamed of them.
Then Jesus made a promise. "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God arrive with power" (9:1). To taste death means to die.
Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain. What they saw there is the next story, the Transfiguration (9:2).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Who do people say I am?" (8:27) | People had many ideas about Jesus. Jesus wanted his disciples to think about it too. |
| "Who do you say I am?" (8:29) | Every person who meets Jesus has to answer this question for themselves. |
| "You are the Christ" (8:29) | Peter said Jesus is the one God promised to send. He was right. |
| "The Son of Man must suffer many things" (8:31) | Jesus did not get caught by surprise. He went to the cross on purpose, as God planned. |
| "Get behind Me, Satan!" (8:33) | Peter's idea was the same one Satan wanted: a Christ without a cross. Jesus said no to it. |
| "Take up his cross and follow Me" (8:34) | Following Jesus means going where he goes. Jesus goes first, to the cross and then to the empty tomb. |
| "Whoever loses his life for My sake... will save it" (8:35) | You cannot keep your life safe by holding on to it. Your life is safe with Jesus. |
Back Then
Caesarea Philippi was far from Jerusalem. It stood near the foot of Mount Hermon, where one of the springs of the Jordan River begins. A ruler named Philip, a son of King Herod, rebuilt the town and named it after Caesar, the Roman emperor (Easton's Bible Dictionary).
Many people were waiting for the Christ. Many hoped he would be a king like David who would drive out the Romans. Very few expected a Christ who would suffer and die.
Everyone knew what a cross meant. The Romans used crucifixion to kill people. It was slow, painful, and public. A condemned person often had to carry the cross. Jesus carried his own cross part of the way (John 19:17). Then the soldiers made a man named Simon carry it (15:21).
Literal Reader Alert
Did Jesus think Peter was the devil? No. Peter was still Jesus's friend and follower. Jesus meant that Peter's idea came from Satan, not from God. Jesus kept Peter close. After Jesus rose from the dead, an angel gave a message for "His disciples and Peter" by name (16:7).
Why did Jesus tell them not to tell anyone? Mark doesn't say exactly why. One likely reason: many people thought the Christ would be a soldier-king. Jesus wanted people to learn first that the Christ would suffer, die, and rise.
Do I have to carry a real cross? No. The cross is a comparison. It means following Jesus even when it is hard. It does not mean you should look for pain.
Does "deny himself" mean I should let people hurt me? No. Jesus does not ask you to stay in danger or let someone abuse you. Denying yourself means letting Jesus lead your life. It never means hiding harm. If someone is hurting you, it is not your fault. Please tell a trusted adult today, like a teacher, school counselor, pastor, or relative. If you are in danger, call 911 or your local emergency number. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 any time, day or night, or call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. Outside the U.S., findahelpline.com lists free helplines.
Why does it say "taste death"? That's a figure of speech. It means to die. Nobody is eating anything.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Peter | Sure | He knew who Jesus was (8:29) |
| Peter | Upset | Jesus said he would suffer and be killed (8:32) |
| Peter | Embarrassed | Jesus rebuked him in front of the others (8:33) |
| Jesus | Determined | He would not turn away from the cross (8:33) |
| The crowd | Unsure | Jesus asked them to follow him on a hard road (8:34) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Who do you say Jesus is? Tap one.
The Christ
That was Peter's answer. It is the answer Mark gives in his first sentence. Jesus is the one God promised.
A good teacher
Many people said Jesus was a great prophet. Jesus asked his friends for more than that. Keep reading. Let the story show you who he is.
I'm not sure yet
That's honest. The disciples took a long time to understand. Jesus kept walking with them.
I got it wrong
Peter got it wrong right after he got it right. Jesus did not send him away.
You Might Have Heard
"If you really follow Jesus, life will go well for you."
What's true: Jesus gives real life, life with God that never ends. That is the best gift there is (8:35).
What the story is mainly about: Jesus is the Christ who goes to the cross. He told his followers plainly that the road would be hard. Following him does not mean easy days. It means he is with you on every road, even the hard ones.
Where Jesus is: On the road ahead of his disciples, walking toward Jerusalem and the cross. He knew what would happen there. He went anyway, for us (10:45).
Good News
Peter wanted a Christ without a cross. Jesus said no, because the cross was how he would save us.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (10:45). A ransom is a price paid to set someone free.
Peter got it wrong. Jesus did not stop being his friend. After Jesus rose, the angel sent a message to "His disciples and Peter" (16:7).
Jesus is the Christ. He carried the cross first, and he does not let go of you.
Big Idea
Jesus is the Christ, and he chose the cross to save us. Following him means trusting him on every road.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In 1518, at a meeting in Heidelberg, Luther explained what he called the theology of the cross. He said that people want to find God in power, success, and glory. But God shows himself most clearly in Jesus's suffering and cross. Like Peter, people often want God to look strong in the way the world means strong.
In the Small Catechism, Luther explains the Second Article of the Creed. He says Jesus redeemed us, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It reads Mark 8:27-38 in September of Year B (Lectionary 24). It reads Mark 8:31-38 on the Second Sunday in Lent in Year B. Matthew tells the same story. It is read on Lectionary 21 and Lectionary 22 in Year A (Matthew 16:13-28).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.
How did that feel?
You finished Peter Says Who Jesus Is.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Lectionary 21 Year AGospel, Matthew 16:13–20
- Lectionary 22 Year AGospel, Matthew 16:21–28
- Second Sunday in Lent Year BGospel, Mark 8:31–38 or Mark 9:2–9
- Lectionary 24 Year BGospel, Mark 8:27–38
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Peter Says Who Jesus Is, explained in plain words. Jesus asks who people say he is. Peter gets it right, then gets it wrong. About 13 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/peter-says-who-jesus-is/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church