A Matter of Identity

Devotional Reading: Luke 3:7-18

Background Scripture: Mark 8:27-9:1
Print Mark 8:27-38; 9:1

Key Verse
Mark And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith
8:29 unto him, Thou art the Christ.

Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, the students should understand that:
1. Christ wanted to know what people were saying concerning His identity.
2. Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ.
3. Christ wanted the disciples to know that He would be crucified and raised in three
days.
4. Christ taught the disciples what it meant to follow Him as Lord and Saviour.

The Printed Text

Mark And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way
8:27 he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
Mark 8:27 : Mt 16:13-20; Lk 9:18-20;

Rhetorical question or analytical question? This is the first exam

question. Jesus is all knowing, but it is time now to show the disciples
what the Father has revealed to them.
John Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed
2:23 in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
John But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
2:24
John And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
2:25
Mark And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
8:28
 Some say Elias;
Malachi Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and
4:5 dreadful day of the LORD:
Malachi And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
4:6 children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
They recognize the supernatural person of Jesus, but they did not
discern Him to be the Messiah.

There are many false religions that seem to hold Jesus to some regard,
calling Him such things as Holy prophet, and great teacher, but they
stop short of calling Jesus the Messiah.
Mark And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto
8:29 him, Thou art the Christ.
Christ: 5547
Χριστός Christos (khris-tos');
Word Origin: Greek, Adjective, Strong #: 5547

Christ = "anointed"

1. Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God

2. anointed
The second exam question:
Peter’s confession acknowledged Christ as the Son of God, the
long-awaited Messiah who would establish God’s kingdom of
righteousness. His confession essentially said that Jesus was the
fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy (see Isaiah chapters 9,
11, 61). Jesus was not just a teacher or prophet, He was God on
earth. This was revealed by God to the disciples.
Mark And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
8:30

Jesus fulfilled prophecy in every way. This incident was after the
official rejection of Jesus by the Nation of Israel in Matthew 12.
Mark And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected
8:31 of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise
again.
Mark 8:31 : Mt 16:21-28; Lk 9:21-27;
Mark 8:31 : Mk 2:10;
Mark 8:31 : Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10; Lk 9:22; 17:25; 20:17; Heb 12:17; 1Pt 2:4;, 7;
Mark 8:31 : 3Jn 1;
Mark 8:31 : Mt 2:4;
Mark 8:31 : Mt 16:21; Lk 18:33; Ac 2:24;
Mark 8:31 : Lk 9:22;
 Salvation comes through faith in Christ Jesus, and the holy
scriptures in the Old Testament testify to that. As a matter of fact,
every time the New Testament refers to the Law, or the prophets,
or any Old Testament scriptures, there is an emphasis put on the
fact that Jesus is the object of faith in all the scriptures.
Luke Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the
24:25 prophets have spoken:
Luke Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
24:26
Luke And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in
24:27 all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Bible prophecy authenticates the sovereignty of God.
John Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
5:39 they which testify of me.
Bible prophecy equips humanity for the days in which they live.
Acts To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever
10:43 believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Acts While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard
10:44 the word.
Worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Acts And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the
18:27 disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had
believed through grace:
Acts For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the
18:28 scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Bible prophecy saves souls.
I Corinthians For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that
15:3 Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
I Corinthians And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according
15:4 to the scriptures:
I Corinthians And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
15:5
I Corinthians After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom
15:6 the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

The Old Testament scriptures testify of Jesus, and that is the point
being made throughout the bible. Jesus is the Jewish Messiah.
Mark And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
8:32
Mark But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get
8:33 thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that
be of men.
Mark 8:33 : Mt 4:1;, 10; Ac 13:10;
It’s a scary thing to realize that devils have doctrine like we’re told
in I Timothy 4:1, and it’s even scarier to realize that demons use
men to teach their doctrine, but the doctrine that Jesus never died
on the cross, and was in the grave three days, and resurrected is
 a doctrine of Satan himself.

One of the beliefs of Islam is that Jesus never died on the cross.

Muslims believe Jesus was not crucified, but was raised bodily to
heaven by God. Depending on the interpretation of the following
verse, Muslim scholars have abstracted different opinions. Some
believe that in the Biblical account, Jesus' crucifixion did not last
long enough for him to die, while others opine that God gave
someone Jesus' appearance, causing everyone to believe that
Jesus was crucified. A third explanation could be that Jesus was
nailed to a cross, but as his body is immortal he did not "die" or
was not "crucified" [to death]; it only appeared so. In opposition to
the second and third foregoing proposals, yet others maintain that
God does not use deceit and therefore they contend that
crucifixion just did not occur. The basis of all of these beliefs is the
following verse in the Qur'an:
That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary,
the Messenger of Allah";- but they killed him not, nor crucified
him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ
therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only
conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-
Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in
Power, Wise;-
—Qur'an, sura 4 (An-Nisa) ayat 157-158[1]
Most Muslims believe Jesus was raised to heaven alive by God.
However, a small minority of Islamic scholars, mainly Ahmadi
Muslim scholars, argue that he was indeed rescued but died
before his ascension.[2]

This doctrine comes directly from Satan. Christ's death, burial and
resurrection are necessary for our salvation

Mark And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them,
8:34 Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mark 8:34 : Mk 10:45;
Mark 8:34 : Lk 9:23;
Mark 8:34 : Jn 8:12; 3Jn 9;

II Timothy I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall
4:1 judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
II Timothy Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
4:2 with all longsuffering and doctrine.
II Timothy For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
4:3 their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
II Timothy And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto
 4:4 fables.
Mark For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake
8:35 and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Mark 8:35 : Ac 16:30; Jms 5:20; Jude 23;
Mark 8:35 : 1Jn 3:16;
Mark 8:35 : Mt 16:26;
Mark 8:35 : Mt 10:39;
Mark 8:35 : Mk 10:29; Rm 8:36;
Mark 8:35 : Mk 1:1; Php 1:5;
Mark 8:35 : Mt 16:25; Lk 9:24;

Religious and government leaders look at Christians that love the

True and living God, and those who believe that Jesus is the ONLY
way to heaven, and the ONLY one who gives salvation as an
obstacle:
John And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some
7:12 said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
John Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
7:13

Even as obstacles worthy to be killed:

John These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
16:1
John They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever
16:2 killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
John And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father,
16:3 nor me.

The letter to the church in Smyrna:

Revelation And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the
2:8 first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Revelation I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I
2:9 know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are
the synagogue of Satan.
Revelation Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall
2:10 cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have
tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a
crown of life.
Revelation He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He
2:11 that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and
12:10 strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the
accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God
day and night.
Revelation And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their
12:11 testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Mark For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
8:36
Mark 8:36 : Mt 16:26;
Mark 8:36 : 1Co 3:15; Php 3:7;
Mark 8:36 : Rm 15:1;

Look at the entertainment industry, men are willing to sell their soul to
the devil for fame and fortune.
I John Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the
2:15 world, the love of the Father is not in him.
I John For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
2:16 pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Mark Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
8:37
Some were willing to exchange their soul for the praise of men:
John But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on
12:37 him:
John That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord,
12:38 who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been
revealed?
John Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
12:39
John He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see
12:40 with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should
heal them.
John These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
12:41
John Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of
12:42 the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue:
John For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
12:43
After the official rejection of Jesus by the Nation of Israel, anyone who
believed in Him would be ex-communicated out of the synagogue. There
were actually men who believed on Jesus, but too ashamed to profess
Him because they would be put out of the synagogue.
Mark Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful
8:38 generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of
his Father with the holy angels.
Mark 8:38 : Mt 20:28;
Mark 8:38 : Rm 1:16;
Mark 8:38 : Mk 4:14; Jn 18:32;
Mark 8:38 : 1Tm 1:15;
Mark 8:38 : Mt 12:39; Lk 11:29;
Mark 8:38 : Lk 9:32; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18; 2 Pt 3:18;
Mark 8:38 : Mt 5:16; 11:27; Jn 8:42;
Mark 8:38 : 1Co 7:14;
 Mark 8:38 : Mt 13:49; Ac 5:19; Jude 14; Rv 14:6;

I John Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that
2:22 denieth the Father and the Son.
I John Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that
2:23 acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
I John Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that
2:24 which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall
continue in the Son, and in the Father.

Fearful cowards are the first on the list of eight to be thrown in the
lake of fire:
Revelation He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he
21:7 shall be my son.
Revelation But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
21:8 whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.
Mark And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here,
9:1 which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Mark 9:1 : Ps 72:19; Rv 22:21;
Mark 9:1 : Mk 13:28-32; 14:25; Jn 21:22-23; 2Pt 3:4;
Mark 9:1 : Lk 6:19;

The church expected Christ to return before many of them died. In one
sense, the prediction was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit came upon the
church (see Acts 1:8; Romans 14:17)

Quotations and allusions in Mark from the Old Testament

Mark 1:2; Malachi 3:1
Mark 1:3; Isaiah 40:3
Mark 4:12; Isaiah 6:9-10
Mark 7:6,7; Isaiah 29:13
Mark 7:10; Exodus 20:12; 21:17
Mark 9:44; Isaiah 66:24
Mark 10:6; Genesis 1:27
Mark 10:7,8; Genesis 2:24
Mark 10:19; Exodus 20:12-17
Mark 11:9; Psalms 118:26
Mark 11:17; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11
Mark 12:10; Psalms 118:22-23
Mark 12:19; Deuteronomy 25:5
Mark 12:26; Exodus 3:6
Mark 12:29; Deuteronomy 6:4
Mark 12:30; Deuteronomy 6:5
Mark 12:31; Leviticus 19:18
Mark 12:36; Psalms 110:1
Mark 14:27; Zechariah 13:7
Mark 15:28; Isaiah 53:12
Mark 15:34; Psalms 22:1