REFLECTIONS TODAY Mark’s opening lines also serve as the title of his Gospel: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ ” (1:1). The contents of the Gospel show how Jesus shows himself as the Christ (Messiah) and how he is the Son of God. The Gospel pericope about Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah is the highest point of Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee. Higher than the public’s perception of Jesus as John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets, Peter, in the name of the Twelve, confesses Jesus as God’s anointed, the hoped-for savior. But Jesus does not present himself according to the popular expectation of the Messiah as a powerful and glorious figure. Rather, he predicts that he will suffer greatly, be killed, and rise again. It is in his passion, the narrative of which begins after this episode, that he will also be shown as the Son of God. At the end, the Roman centurion who witnesses the events at Calvary gives his testimony: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15:39). Here, Peter is looking for a political Messiah who will drive out the Roman occupiers and restore the Jewish state. But Jesus rebukes him and presents himself as the humble, patient, and peaceful “Suffering Servant of God” as we read in Isaiah 53. His suffering on the cross will be a sharing in human suffering. He is the Lamb of God offered for expiation for sins, and by his wounds we are healed (Is 53:5) Gospel • Mark 8:27-33 Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.