Mk 8:27-33
Pivot point: The passage marks a turning point in the Gospel. To the question about who Jesus is, the disciples relay people’s answers, which are all good but incorrect. Then Peter offers the correct reply: “You are the Messiah” (v 29). For the first time in the Gospel, one of the disciples has gotten it right! Up to this point the demons and everyone else know who Jesus is except, of course, his disciples.
Mark introduces a new title for Jesus; he refers to him as “Son of Man.” This title will be used throughout the second half of the Gospel. It indicates the suffering, rejected, put-to-death, and resurrected Jesus.
Although Peter has the right answer, he has trouble accepting Jesus’ teaching about suffering, rejection, death and resurrection. In fact, he rebukes Jesus for speaking this way. Messiahship, according to Peter—and according to Mark’s audience—involves power. Mark is showing that this is a false understanding. Authentic Messiahship, and consequently discipleship, involves powerlessness.
Mark thus cautions the reader to evaluate his or her answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” If Jesus’ own disciple, Peter, who was known to be the leader of the early Church, could get it all wrong, then what is to keep later followers from arriving at the wrong answer? The stage is now set for Jesus to teach the real meaning of discipleship and the real meaning of conversion to his ways.