27.   And Jesus went forth, and his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi: and on the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that I am?
      28   And they told him, saying, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but others, One of the prophets.
      29   And he asked them, But who say ye that I am? Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
      30   And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
      31   And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
      32   And he spake the saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
      33   But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.
      34   And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
      35   For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it.
      36   For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
      37   For what should a man give in exchange for his life?

Questions and Brief Comments.

Verse 27. Where was this? What did Jesus ask his disciples? Does what men say and think of Jesus make any difference for them? What? (John 8:24; Rom. 10:9, 10).

Verse 28. What were some of men's opinions about Jesus? Did they put Him very high? But had they touched the truth? It is sufficient to believe Jesus to be a very great man, or even to believe Him to be some supernatural person?

Verse 29. He now asks the disciples what they themselves say concerning Him. Who promptly answers? What did he say? See his answer more fully in Matt. 16:16.

Verse 30. Was the time ripe to tell this truth abroad? On Pentecost. Acts 2:36.

Verse 31. Jesus begins a new line of teaching here--what is it?

Verse 32. How did Peter take to it? What did he dare to do? See in Matt. 16:22.

Verse 33. How did the Lord in turn rebuke Peter? What does "Satan" mean? (Adversary). Was Satan using Peter for a tool? How? (Trying to discourage Jesus from going to the Cross). Was Peter considering God's interests or man's wishes in this? Is that the way Satan works on men?

Verse 34. If any man wants to come after Jesus, to what must he make up his mind? What is it to deny one's self? Can we follow after "self" and after Jesus also at the same time? What does the cross stand for? (Comp. Col. 3:5-10; Gal. 5:24).

Verse 35. Who will finally lose his life? Who will gain it at last? How can anyone lose his life for Jesus' sake and the gospel's? How do people "save" their lives in this time? (By shielding themselves, by avoiding sacrifice and suffering, refusing burden, shirking responsibility, seeking their own ease, comfort, advantage, and pleasure). [119]

NOTES AND TEACHING-POINTS.

"JESUS THE SUFFERING MESSIAH."

      This title is given to the lesson because at this point in His career the Lord Jesus began to reveal the sufferings that He must endure in order that He might accomplish His work of redemption. At verse 31 we have the beginning of that new line of teaching.

PETER'S CONFESSION.

      The fullest account of Peter's confession is given in Matt. 16:13-20 which may profitably be read in class. Note the following items:

      1. The Place. Caesarea Philippi, near the north-east corner of the Land. Apparently as far away as possible from Jerusalem, on the border of the Gentiles. The was significant.

      2. Jesus' Question. (V. 27.) "Who do men say that I am?" What a man thinks of Jesus, as to who and what He is, is of the very highest importance to that man. (John 8:24).

      3. The Answer. (V. 28). Which shows that men generally regarded Him as an extraordinary, even supernatural Person. They must have stood in awe of Him if that was what they thought Him to be! But was that the real truth? Or was that near enough to the truth to bring salvation? Why not? (John 8:24). Only by the revelation of God, and never by mere human reason, could any man know that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, and Lord of all. (Matt. 16:17; 1 Cor. 12:3). And no less a conviction than that can save.

      4. Jesus' Second Question. (V. 29). Here He confronts His disciples with the great question. "Who say ye that I am?" It was supremely needful both for their salvation and for all the world, which was to be reached through them (John 17:20), that they should be rooted and grounded upon this fundamental truth.

      5. Peter's Answer. Peter was ready with his answer. It had been uppermost in heart previous to this moment, for it came to his lips so instantly now. That was the full, all-comprehensive truth. See the full record of what Peter answered in Matt. 16:16. Also how the Lord spoke to Peter about it.

      6. The Caution. (V. 30). This truth must not be proclaimed as yet, for several reasons--first of all it was not time yet. Jesus must first suffer and rises from the dead (Comp. Matt. 17:9) and ascend to God's right hand, and the Holy Spirit must first come upon them (Acts 1:8) before they could be witnesses of Him in the world. On the day of Pentecost was this first publicly proclaimed. (Acts 2:36).

Source: First Lord's Day Lesson of April. Lesson 1. April 1, 1928. Jesus the Suffering Messiah (Mark 8:27-37).