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Mark 8 English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
REFLECTION
- When Peter made this confession of faith “You are the Christ”, he has only taken the first step. The next step is a lifelong journey to live out this confession fully and authentically.
- That’s the same with us. After our confession of faith, Jesus calls us to live a life to “deny himself and take up his cross and follow” Jesus.
- In your journey of faith, which step have you taken? Are you still lingering at the first step? Or are you walking toward the goal of being sanctified and made holy? What is it that has kept you from moving ahead? What are you afraid of?
- Pray for courage and faith to walk on this journey. Ask for God’s guidance that you may willingly follow.
PRAYER
Lord, I am a man of little faith and cowardice! I lack the courage to deny myself, nor the strength to take up the heavy cross to follow You! My eyes are often drawn to the splendor of the world, and I am often indulged in the pleasures of sin and cannot extricate myself. As Paul described it, to will is present with me, but to do that which is good is not. In my journey of faith, I have wandered many times, encountered ups and downs many times, and even fell, but You never forsaken me! You have been pulling me, step by step forward. Thank you, dear Lord Jesus, even though I am not worthy, you still love me. Please continue to pull me with your loving cords, so that I have more courage and faith to follow You. Amen!
HYMN
Voice Of Truth – youtu.be/9cKm_mYVPQE
