Mark 8:27-33

Today we come to the heart of the Gospel of Mark, where the messianic secret is revealed, that is, Jesus admits to the disciples that He is the Messiah.

The Gospel of Mark has sixteen chapters. We are exactly halfway through his Gospel. It is as if the previous chapters were a preparation for this moment, and that the later chapters will be a consequence of this moment.

Jesus and the disciples were in Caesarea Philippi. After several months of preaching, healing and exorcising, Jesus wanted to know if people had already discovered His identity. According to the disciples, people still did not know who Jesus was.

He then wanted to know if at least the disciples had already discovered His identity. On their behalf, Peter responded that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus did not deny His identity and, knowing that the disciples did not understand the true meaning of His messiahship, He forbade them to tell about Him and explained to them that being the Messiah meant suffering greatly, being rejected and killed, and being risen.

For the Jews in general, and for the disciples in particular, being the Messiah meant being a second David, with a humble origin, becoming a religious, political and military leader, to expel foreigners and bring freedom and prosperity to Israel.

Peter did not like Jesus' explanation of messiahship and rebuked Him. Then Jesus also rebuked him strongly, saying that Peter thought like men, and not like God.

To be truly Christian, one must affirm from one's own experience, with conviction, following Peter's example, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God who became Man, suffered, was rejected, died on the Cross and was risen, reconciling us with God. This is what Catechesis for children and adults is for. 

The Holy Spirit wants to open our minds so that we understand that Jesus is much more than a preacher, a healer, or an exorcist. He is the Son of the living God, our Redeemer and Savior.

Local: Springfield, MA, EUA

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