Mark Chapter 8

This chapter is packed with powerful moments—Jesus feeding the four thousand, healing a blind man, rebuking the Pharisees, and teaching His disciples about true discipleship. But one of the most striking moments comes when Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29).

Imagine being there. You’ve walked with Jesus, seen His miracles, heard His teachings, and experienced His power firsthand. Then He turns to you with a question that demands more than just knowledge—it requires personal conviction. Peter responds, “You are the Messiah.”

It’s easy to admire Peter’s boldness, but Jesus quickly shifts the conversation. He begins to talk about His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. This doesn’t sit well with Peter, who pulls Jesus aside to rebuke Him. Peter had the right answer, but the wrong understanding. He wanted a Messiah who would conquer Rome, not one who would die on a cross.

How often do we do the same? We confess Jesus as Lord, but we expect Him to fit into our plans, our expectations, our version of what He should be. We want the power of His miracles but hesitate when He calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Mark 8:34).

Jesus’ response to Peter is sharp: “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mark 8:33). That’s a heavy rebuke. But Jesus wasn’t calling Peter the devil—He was exposing the subtle way human thinking can oppose God’s will.

This chapter challenges us to consider: Who do we say Jesus is? Not just in words, but in the way we live. Do we follow Him only when it’s convenient, or are we willing to surrender, even when His path leads through suffering and sacrifice?

Jesus calls us beyond comfort and into true discipleship—a life where we trust His ways even when they don’t make sense, where we let go of our own agendas and embrace His. He promises that losing our life for His sake leads to finding true life (Mark 8:35).

So today, take a moment and ask yourself: Who is Jesus to me? And am I willing to follow Him, not just when it’s easy, but in every moment, trusting that His way is always better than mine?