Mark 8:27–38

Peter Declares His Belief about Jesus—Matthew 16:13–20; Luke 9:18–21

²⁷Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” 

²⁸They answered him, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” 

²⁹He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 

Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah!” 

³⁰He ordered them not to tell anyone about him. 

Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life—Matthew 16:21–23; Luke 9:22

³¹Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He taught them that he would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but after three days he would come back to life. ³²He told them very clearly what he meant. 

Peter took him aside and objected to this. ³³Jesus turned, looked at his disciples, and objected to what Peter said. Jesus said, “Get out of my way, Satan! You aren’t thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think.” 

What It Means to Follow Jesus—Matthew 16:24–28; Luke 9:23–27

³⁴Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples. He said to them, “Those who want to follow me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. ³⁵Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me and for the Good News will save them. ³⁶What good does it do for people to win the whole world yet lose their lives? ³⁷Or what should a person give in exchange for life? ³⁸If people are ashamed of me and what I say in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of those people when he comes with the holy angels in his Father’s glory.”