Mark 8:27-9:1 - Blind faith
1/1/23
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Scripture
Questions
8:27-30 Peter’s Confession at Caesarea Philippi
Caesarea Philippi was located in the northern part of the Old Testament region of Bashan, the “place of the serpent,” at the foot of Mount Hermon.1
The site was famous in the ancient world as a center of the worship of Pan and for a temple to the high god Zeus, considered in Jesus’ day to be incarnate in Augustus Caesar.2
More than twenty temples have been surveyed on Mt. Hermon and its environs. This is an unprecedented number in comparison with other regions of the Phoenician coast. They appear to be the ancient cult sites of the Mt. Hermon population and represent the Canaanite/Phoenician concept of open-air cult centers dedicated, evidently, to the celestial gods.3
The reference…to “celestial gods” takes our minds back to the “host of heaven,” the sons of God who were put in authority over the nations at Babel (Deut 32:8–9) who were not to be worshiped by Israelites (Deut 4:19–20; 17:3; 29:25).4
27a And Jesus and his disciples went out to the villages of Caesarea Philippi
What is the significance of the location? What on earth [literally] is Jesus saying?
27b and on the way he asked his disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, saying, “John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others that you are one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to him, “You are the Christ!” 30 And he warned them that they should tell no one about him.
Why do you think Jesus reveals his identity in this location? Why the secrecy?
8:31-33 Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection
31 And he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be killed, and after three days to rise.
Who is the “Son of Man”[Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 1:13]? Why is the death of the son of man being revealed now and not earlier [1 Corinthians 2:8]?
32 And he was speaking openly about the subject, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning around and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan, because you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but the things of people!”
Jesus rebukes Peter seemingly very harshly. Why? Is there an application for you?
8:34-9:1 Taking Up One’s Cross to Follow Jesus
34 And summoning the crowd together with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
What!? Jesus is talking about crosses to the crowd? What is the imagery hear in first century Palestine under Roman occupation?
35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me and of the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 For what can a person give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Discuss what Jesus is saying and the challenges for us as individuals and as a church.
1 And he said to them, “Truly I say to you, that there are some of those standing here who will never experience death until they see the kingdom of God having come with power.”
What is the latest approximate date allowed? What event could the kingdom of God coming with power refer to? There is more than one possibility?
More
"The Meaning of "Son of Man"" from Redemption Seminary.
Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible, First Edition (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015), 283.
Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible, First Edition (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015), 284.
Arav, “Hermon, Mount (Place),” 159.
Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible, First Edition (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015), 284.