The Book of Mark
The Ultimate Good News/Bad News
Mark 8:27-33
We come tonight to the 8th chapter of Mark and we’ll be studying verses 27-33.
Last week we looked at a miracle that is recorded only by Mark and how it strategically fits in the earthly ministry of Jesus. This week we come to an event that is included in three of the gospel accounts. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us about this particular event.
While an event that is recorded by only one of the gospel writers may emphasize a certain truth in a certain way, I think it safe to say when an event is included three or four times, it’s significance and importance is being emphasized for us also. That is certainly the case we have here with this monumental event.
I would say this particular account is the ultimate good news/bad news experience. Have you ever had one of those where somebody says to you, “I have good news and bad news.” Sometimes it is trivial, and sometimes it is serious.
You probably heard about the two old friends who were talking about heaven one day and got to wondering if they played baseball in heaven. They decided whoever died first should report back to the other. Sure enough one of them died and in just a few days sent word to his friend. I have good news and bad news.
The good news is there is baseball in heaven. The bad news is you’re scheduled to pitch tomorrow.
I would say this experience is the ultimate good news/bad news experience. For Peter and the apostles, this news is so extreme, it is the highest high followed by the lowest low.
In Peter’s case, he receives the greatest commendation he ever received followed by the greatest condemnation he ever received. At first, the news couldn’t have been better and suddenly it couldn’t have been worse.
Here’s the moment. Let me read it to you.
Verses 27-33
In my estimation, this passage is the focus of the book of Mark. Everything we’ve studied so far leads up to it. Everything that comes after flows from it or is the result of it. This is the moment in time when the disciples settle the matter of the person of Jesus. This is the moment when they believe and are convinced and confess that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
As far as they are concerned, everything is settled regarding Who He is as a person. There is, however, great confusion regarding the plan. It’s as if they affirm the person, but they deny the plan. From the Jewish perspective of Peter and the disciples, the good news as it were is the Messiah has not come and they understand that and are in on the ground floor. To a hopeful Jew, that is the ultimate revelation. This is the greatest revelation that could ever come.
For centuries as a nation, for a lifetime as an individual, the Jews had anticipated the coming of their Messiah, and with the coming of Messiah, the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promise from the very beginning of the Old Testament, through to the end, just replete with promises that were attached to the arrival of the Messiah, promises of salvation, the expanded land, the Kingdom, blessing, prosperity, the earth changing, the land of Israel changing, glory coming, Israel being the most prominent powerful nation on the face of the earth, Messiah reigning, all joy, all peace, all blessing.
That’s what they waited for. They had followed Jesus for three years now and the time has finally arrived.
And yet just as soon as they acknowledge the most glorious revelation a Jew could ever know, Jesus announces His pending death, burial and resurrection. And it seems that news was so
Incomprehensible, I’m not sure they even heard the part about the resurrection. This news is so shocking that Peter goes from being a hero to being a villain. In the blink of an eye, he goes from being a spokesman for God, to being a spokesman for Satan.
What a strange ironic paradox this event records as Jesus, the Messiah, the one whose life will bring salvation and blessing to Israel and the world announces He will be killed by the people of Israel and the world. See why I say this is the ultimate good news/bad news event of all time?
So let’s just use that as our outline. First, let’s look at
1. The Good News
verses 27 to 30
The disciples have been with Jesus coming up on three years and they have been studying and observing and watching. They’ve seen His power over disease and demons and death and nature. He can walk on water and create food from nothing and make people hear and see and talk.
It has just been this amazing display of power and fulfillment of prophecy. They have now received the information and test time has come.
And today’s exam only has two questions. Question number one, “Who do the people say that I am?”
The response comes in verse 28.
The most common assumption was He was John the Baptist returned from the dead. Now that, in and of itself would have been quite a miracle because Herod saw to it that John the Baptist’s head was separated from his body. And for people to believe Jesus was really John the Baptist was quite a testimony to somebody’s power if he had been reassembled and reanimated and was up preaching and doing miracles. But that was the common belief.
By the way, that is quite a testimony to the ministry of John the Baptist as well. If people mistake Jesus for you, I would say you’ve lived a noteworthy life.
But the consensus wasn’t agreed on that. Others said He was Elijah.
Why would they pick Elijah? Elijah, according to Malachi chapters 3 and 4 was to come to the earth just prior to Messiah’s arrival. So if it’s not John the Baptist raised from the dead, maybe He’s Elijah. Elijah, after all, according to 2 Kings 2, Elijah had been taken to heaven and didn’t die. Well maybe he’s come back as Malachi said he would.
Others said he was one of the prophets and one of the prophets that mentioned was Jeremiah according to the book of 2 Maccabees, which is one of the apocryphal books.
They all had in common that Jesus had to be a prophet, He had to have come from God. But they were all wrong because they refused to admit that Jesus was the Messiah. He couldn’t possibly be the Messiah.
Why could He not be the Messiah? They had a very highly developed Messianic concept that Jesus didn’t fit. Messiah would be a political ruler who would develop a military presence that would overthrow Rome and destroy Israel’s enemies and bring in the kingdom. Israel would be the greatest nation on the face of the earth when Messiah came to reign.
And Jesus didn’t fit the profile. He wasn’t a military leader. He wasn’t the conqueror. He wasn’t a destroyer of armies. He didn’t look like a king or act like a king.
In John 3, Nicodemus said, “We know You are a teacher come from God because nobody can do what You do except God be with him.” They admitted that. You are a prophet from God like John the Baptist or Elijah. We admit that much.
But that’s as far as we’ll go. So that’s question number one on the test. “Who do men say that I am?”..
The second question is found in
verse 29
By the way, that is the most important question that you will ever answer. That is the most important question that any human being will ever answer. Who is Jesus Christ? Everybody on this planet is accountable to God eternally for the answer to that question. The wrong answer means hell and the right answer means heaven.
And Peter got it right.
“You are the Christ.” The full version is recorded by Matthew as, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
He didn’t have a Bible to read and study. He didn’t have a gospel to consider. He was there in living it and yet He confesses the very thing the Bible teaches us. He comes to the same conclusion that any good faithful gospel reader has to come to.
Now this is the first time a confession is made in Mark. “You are the Christ.” It’s only the second time the word “Christ” is used in the gospel of Mark. The first time is in 1:1, the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We haven’t heard that word in eight chapters.
It means “anointed”. Jesus is His name, but Christ is His title.
It is the word for anointed that defines His work. He is God’s promised King, prophet, priest. In fact, if you read Luke, the full statement of Peter, “You are the Christ of God.” If you read Matthew, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Why is it recorded so differently by three writers?
Maybe it’s because Peter didn’t just say it one time in one way. Maybe he repeated it several ways in the conversation. You are the Christ, the Christ of God, the Son of the Living God. After all, Peter was never one to say things quietly or with reserve. Perhaps his heart is so full, he just says it every way he can!
That is the ultimate Good News! It is the foundation of every Christian’s confession of faith. It all begins by acknowledging that Jesus is God’s Son and our Savior.
And yet the good news ends with a familiar warning.
verse 30
The words used here to say He strictly warned them are very strong. He sternly commands them to not spread this around. “Don’t tell anybody about Me.”
Why? That seems so out of kilter to us. Why would He not want them to tell anyone He was the Messiah?
I think it is because the message is still incomplete. I just said to you this confession is the foundation of every Christina’s confession and it all begins by acknowledging that Jesus is God’s Son and our Savior.
But there is more that must be acknowledged and confessed. Nobody is saved by confessing that Jesus is the Son of God. To say He’s the Messiah is not the full message. You can pronounce Jesus as the Messiah, but that’s not the full message because it’s missing the gospel.
Want proof? Look at the next verse.
Verse 31
Here is where they encounter
2. The Bad News
Peter had just confessed the best news ever pronounced and Jesus follows it with the worst news they could have ever heard.
The last thing they would have expected to hear on the heels of this great moment of revelation and clarity was a death announcement. How could the Messiah of God, the Redeemer of Israel, the conqueror of all God’s enemies suffer? And die?
And it got worse. Remember, verse 31 says, “He began to teach them. . .” He’s just introducing a theme.
Chapter 9:31
Chapter 10:33
How in the world could this happen? They were clear about the Person, but they didn’t understand the Plan at all.
He came to give His life a ransom for many. I guess they didn’t think of Isaiah 53, “He would be wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and the chastisement of our peace would fall on Him and by His stripes we would be healed.”
What they missed or forgot or ignored was the bad news is really good news. Yes, He’s going to suffer many things and be killed but it’s going to happen for you.
And as He’s announcing this plan, Peter interrupts.
Verse 32
Can’t you just hear Peter saying, “We need to take a little break. So Peter gets Him by the arm and says, “Lord, Son of God, Messiah, come with me.”
Maybe he was encouraged by a sense of importance from the Lord’s affirmation that you receive what you receive from God. I’m sure his intentions are honorable. But when he grabs the Lord and pulls Him away. boy, did he mess up.
He rebukes Him. It’s the same word used before when the Lord strictly warns them. Peter uses the same tone with the Son of God. Matthew says it this way, “God forbid, Lord, this shall never happen to You.” He’s not asking questions. He’s making statements. This isn’t going to happen and we’re not going to allow this.”
Notice the Lord’s response.
verse 33
He makes sure He has everyone’s attention, then addresses Peter.
And for the third time in this text, the same word appears. The same tone He used with them and Peter uses with them, He once again uses with Peter.
First of all, Matthew says, he said, “You’re a stumbling block You’re in the way. You’re a hindrance.”
Then the real blow comes when He tells Peter to get out of His sight. That’s what it literally says. “Get behind Me. Get out of My sight, Satan.”
Listen: It’s a bad idea for followers to play God. When you put yourself in the place of God, you end up putting yourself up in the place of Satan. He says, “You’re not setting your mind on God’s interests but man’s.” That’s an indictment of Peter. Peter didn’t want a cross. These guys were looking for glory. It’s the same thing that motivated the mother of James and John to ask for the thrones on the right and left hands of Jesus.
They couldn’t comprehend the cross when they had thrones on their mind. And Jesus says, “I find all of this offensive. If you’re trying to dissuade Me from the cross, you’re on Satan’s side. Get out of My sight.”
I don’t suppose a man had ever been so high and brought so low so fast? Peter must have been crushed. But he learned form it.
Listen to his testimony in
1 Peter 2:21-24
1 Peter 4:12-13, 19
1 Peter 5:10
Peter learned that following Jesus is a path that takes a lot of unexpected twist and turns. It is in fact, a mixture of good news and bad news.
Peter needed to be perfected and confirmed and strengthened and established. And it was a path of suffering that took him there.
I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that our pathway to spiritual maturity is the same. It begins with the confession that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, but it has to go by way of the cross and take you to an empty tomb. It will lead you through a lot of bad news to ultimately take you home to the good news of heaven.
But the good news is He’ll get you there! Amen!
Let’s pray.
