The Gospel According to Mark: Jesus the Suffering Servantنموونە

Two very important conversations happen in this chapter. As so often happens with Jesus, both of them flip the expected storyline upside down.

First, after several years of being with Jesus, watching him, listening to him, and learning from him, the disciples finally figured out who he really was: the Messiah, the long-awaited anointed one from God. This was very big news. So why did Jesus immediately instruct them not to tell anyone? Probably because people's concept of “Messiah” didn’t line up with Jesus, the actual Messiah, and they might have disrupted his perfect plan for showing God to people and sharing truth with them.

Second, after affirming that he was in fact the Messiah, Jesus announced that he was heading to death — not what people expected from the Messiah. Then he described what it really means to follow him and be his disciple. Most people would have expected the Messiah’s followers and disciples to be important, famous, powerful, prestigious, and closely connected to all the right people.

Wrong, said Jesus. His followers and disciples must live selfless lives, just like he did. They must turn away from fame and prestige, just like he did. And they must embody humility, just like he did.

Focused Reflection

verses 27-29 (Jesus asks a question)

• If Jesus were to ask you, “Who am I to you?” how would you answer?

verses 34-38 (Jesus explains discipleship)

• List all the things Jesus says about following him and being his disciple.
• How do you try to “hang on to your life”?
• How can you “give up your life for the sake of Jesus and the Good News” in your day-to-day life?

General Reflection

• What do you learn about Jesus from this passage?
• What do you learn about following Jesus from this passage?

Extra Info

• Messiah​ is the Hebrew word for “Anointed One.” Christ​ is the Greek translation of that word. The New Testament often uses Messiah and Christ interchangeably.
• Mark 8​ is the middle of the book and includes the important moment when Peter declared Jesus is the Messiah.