8:27–31 that Jesus is the Christ. Before this confession a miracle appears that pictures Jesus giving sight. After the confession comes the repeated instruction that the one confessed will suffer. Half of the Gospel treats the movement toward the final week of Jesus’ ministry, while a full quarter of it is on the last week alone. For Mark, the events of the final week are central to the story. The key themes are also evident in how the account proceeds. It begins with a note that what is being told