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In this lesson:
Peter calls Jesus "the Christ" (8:29). But does he understand Jesus' mission (8:32-33)? Jesus has six months to live. The seven-hundred-year-old prophecies in Isaiah 53 will soon be fulfilled. "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul" (8:37)? Study Tip: The Bible can be complicated, so it helps to study more than one translation. As you read each lesson, scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below. Also, check the margin notes in blue and click on the links. |
"Follow Me"
By the Columbian self-taught artist Clara Velasquez |
Who was -
Elias -
Elias (Greek for Elijah) is perhaps the most famous of Israel's prophets, for no other is mentioned as often in the New Testament. Elias came from Tishbeh in Gilead, was devoutly religious, and prepared Israel to accept God. After the breakup of King David's Israel in 931 BC, Elias preached against the growing paganism and idol worship under King Ahab and his gentile wife, Jezebel. As Jews turned away from God, Elias called on Israel to repent of its sins. He was given the power to perform miracles (1 Kings 17:1) and caused the rain to stop for three and a half years (James 5:17). Elias ascended into heaven without dying (2 Kings 2:11) and he stood with Moses at Jesus' side during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13). The Old Testament prophesied that Elias would return just before "the day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5-6). To learn more about Elias see 1 Kings 17:1-20, 1 Kings 18:1-46 and
2 Kings 1-2.
Elias -
Elias (Greek for Elijah) is perhaps the most famous of Israel's prophets, for no other is mentioned as often in the New Testament. Elias came from Tishbeh in Gilead, was devoutly religious, and prepared Israel to accept God. After the breakup of King David's Israel in 931 BC, Elias preached against the growing paganism and idol worship under King Ahab and his gentile wife, Jezebel. As Jews turned away from God, Elias called on Israel to repent of its sins. He was given the power to perform miracles (1 Kings 17:1) and caused the rain to stop for three and a half years (James 5:17). Elias ascended into heaven without dying (2 Kings 2:11) and he stood with Moses at Jesus' side during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13). The Old Testament prophesied that Elias would return just before "the day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5-6). To learn more about Elias see 1 Kings 17:1-20, 1 Kings 18:1-46 and
2 Kings 1-2.
The Gospel According to St. Mark
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Mark: 8:27-9:1
Jesus predicts His death and resurrection 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. 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. 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. 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. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Mark: Chapter 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. |
Margin notes:
"Caesarea Philippi." (8:27) - A Roman city located 120 miles north of Jerusalem, fifty miles from Damascus, thirty from Tyre and twenty miles north of the Sea of Galilee at the foot of Mount Hermon near the city of Dan. Named after the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar and Herod Philip, it was a center of Greek-Roman culture and awash in paganism. The town had a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles and is today a small village called Banias. It should not be confused with the city of Caesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean. Matthew 16:13 and this passage tell us that Jesus visited Caesarea Philippi. This was probably as far north as Jesus ever traveled. "By the way he asked his disciples." (8:27) - "On the road, He asked His disciples." "Thou art the Christ." (8:29) - Peter understood that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. But he still didn't fully grasp what that meant. He thought Jesus had come to free Israel from Rome. None of the disciples will comprehend that Jesus is the Son of God until they see Him resurrected. "He charged them that they should tell no man of him." (8:30) - Means, "He warned them not to tell anyone about Him." It wasn't yet time for Jesus to reveal His divine identity to the masses, that won't come until after the resurrection. Then, Jesus will want His disciples to tell everyone. "The Son of man must suffer." (8:31) - This is the first of three times in Mark that Jesus tells His disciples He will suffer, die, and be resurrected (Mark 9:31; 10:33-34). "Chief priests." (8:31) - Members of the Sanhedrin (council of seventy) and representatives of the twenty-four orders of ordinary priests. "Get thee behind me, Satan." (8:33) - Jesus called Peter Satan because he tried to talk Him out of fulfilling His mission, just as Satan tried in Matthew 4:1-11. "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (8:34) - Means, put aside your own pleasures and put God first. "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it." (8:35) - An important message that is reinforced in Matthew 10:39; 16:25; Luke 9:24; 17:33 and John 12:25. This is Jesus' second most quoted phrase in the Bible. His most quoted is "follow me." "Soul." (8:36) - "The real person who will live forever in heaven or hell." (From Mark: The Humanity of Christ by John MacArthur; published by Nelson Impact, Nashville, TN.; page 55). "When he cometh in the glory of his Father." (8:38) - Jesus is referring to His Second Coming. Jesus repeatedly promised to return (Matthew 16:27; 24:27; 24:29-30; 24:37; 25:31; Mark 8:38; Luke 17:28-30; 21:27; John 14:2-3). Daniel prophesized the Second Coming in Daniel 7:13-14, six hundred years before the first coming. |
For two additional accounts of Jesus predicting His death read Matthew 16:21-28 (lesson 33) and Luke 9:22-27.
New Living Translation
Mark: 8:27-9:1
Peter's Declaration about Jesus
27 Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
28 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets."
29 Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?"
Peter replied, "You are the Messiah."
30 But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Jesus Predicts His Death
31 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.
32 As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
33 Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. "Get away from me, Satan!" he said. "You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Mark: Chapter 9:1
1 Jesus went on to say, "I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!"
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Peter's Declaration about Jesus
27 Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
28 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets."
29 Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?"
Peter replied, "You are the Messiah."
30 But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Jesus Predicts His Death
31 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.
32 As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
33 Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. "Get away from me, Satan!" he said. "You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's."
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Mark: Chapter 9:1
1 Jesus went on to say, "I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!"
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"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? And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ." (8:27:29)
"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." (8:31)
"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." (8:31)
Today's Question:
1. What did Jesus mean when He said, "let him deny himself." (8:34)
Give thanks when you resist temptation and ask God for forgiveness when you don't.
1. What did Jesus mean when He said, "let him deny himself." (8:34)
Give thanks when you resist temptation and ask God for forgiveness when you don't.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. In verse 8:34, Jesus is teaching the assembled crowd and His disciples what it means to follow Him. To deny yourself means to give up the tempting but evil things you do and submit to Jesus. It means saying "no" to the human desire to sin. Jesus is not against us enjoying life, but He taught us to embrace the will of God by putting Him first. The meaning of Jesus' message was so important that He asked the crowd (including His disciples) to gather around Him so they could all hear (8:34).
Additional note: Jesus said, "he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:38).
Application thought for the day:
God has given us a simple choice, accept Christ or not. If we receive Jesus now, He will receive us later.
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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