And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. 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. (Mark 8:30-31)
The Order of Silence
All this is shocking. Peter made his confession, and Jesus gave this interesting charge to his men, followed by a brand new teaching. The whole book of Mark has built up to this moment. The first words of the book tell us Jesus is the Christ. But, as we read through Mark, we learn that no one knows. And now, finally, the disciples now. They realize Jesus is the Christ, and his first directive after this moment of revelation is silence. He strictly charged them to tell no one about him (30). At that point, he didn't want them telling anyone he was the Christ. Why?
He Started a New Teaching
The reason he exhorted them to silence is found in the new teaching he began to give 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 (31). This was not at all the way they thought of the Christ, the Messiah. They thought he came to conquer, not suffer. They saw him as a victor, not a victim. They thought he would be widely received, not widely rejected. They thought he would kill, not be killed.
If they had gone out from Caesarea Philippi broadcasting that the Christ had come, the whole region would've had the wrong idea about Jesus. He will fulfill all the prophecies of Davidic glory when he comes again, but his first coming would end with death and resurrection.
Must!
And notice how Jesus announced his suffering and death. He began to teach them that he must suffer many things, be rejected, and be killed (31). The religious leaders—elders, chief priests, and scribes—would conspire to end him. He would not grow old and die a natural death. He would be killed.
But Jesus didn't say this would happen, but that this must happen. It had to occur. There was no other way. This was his Father's will. He was compelled to do it. But why did Jesus have to die? Why did he have to suffer? Why did Jesus think he must be killed? Let me suggest three reasons.
First, Jesus had to suffer and be killed because the Old Testament had predicted it. Though Israelites like Peter had clung to the prophecies about the glorious coming of the Christ, there were also dark hints of the suffering servant. Places like Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 made it clear he would be rejected and suffer in death.
Second, Jesus had to suffer and be killed because God's nature demanded it. God is holy, meaning he is perfect and pure. He cannot interact with anything unclean or unholy. Friendship with God is impossible when in an unholy state. But God is also love. Jesus' death was the natural outworking of the holiness and love of God—the Son of God dying to satisfy God's holiness and make everyone who believes in Jesus holy like God. Now, because of the cross, the love of God has access to people.
Third, Jesus had to suffer and be killed because we needed it. Before he could produce the external and physical blessings attached to the coming Davidic king, he had to provide the cross so we could have spiritual cleanness and blessings. So he came to defeat principalities and powers. He came to set the prisoner free. He came to bring forgiveness and pardon before God. He came to deal with our greatest foe, sin within.
Yes, this is the great love of God. When we love others, even sacrificially, there is usually some benefit. But the Triune God was without need. He is perfect. Nothing can be added to him. He does not love us out of his need, but ours. This is why Jesus had to suffer and be killed.
But all this was new for the disciples, so Jesus began teaching them about his coming death and resurrection. At various points throughout the rest of Mark, he will talk about his suffering clearly and openly. But they never fully understand. Here, though, they were shocked, and Peter responded for the group. Let's close by noting his reply to Jesus.
And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." (Mark 8:32-33)
Why Peter Rebuked Jesus
Now, remember, Peter had many preconceived ideas about the Christ. Many of them had been shaped by the poets and authors of his era. Many of them had been shaped by the pages of the Old Testament Scriptures. Some of them were accurate but would come later. And some of them were inaccurate.
But, here, when he heard the plain teaching from Jesus that he would suffer and be killed, Peter could take it no more (32). He took Jesus aside and started to rebuke him (32).
A Rebuke for Everyone
Jesus saw Peter was not alone. He turned and saw all his disciples standing there approving of Peter's reproof (33). He had to rebuke Peter—and all of them—for Peter's rebuke. So with stern words, he said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man" (33).
It doesn't get much stronger than this. Peter's sentiments had come from the very pit of hell. To avoid the cross is Satanic in nature. It is not the way God thinks, but the way man thinks, and Jesus needed to rebuke the concept straight away.
A Mind Set on the Things of Man
All book long, Mark has wanted us to wonder, Who is this man? And, now, we have our answer. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. He is the great rescuer who will bring in everlasting righteousness. He is the branch of David. He is the Christ.
But the Christ must be killed. Jesus is the Christ, but because of sin, in order to do all the glorious things promised in the pages of the Old Testament, he would have to suffer and be killed. His murder on the cross was an absolute necessity for lost and broken mankind.
And humanity struggles with this message. When we set our minds on the things of man, we are repulsed at the idea we are so lost that God had to die in our place. We hate the idea that we are under wrath without the cross.
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)
Always remember this: the message of Satanic origin which appeals to the soul of man is that the cross is foolishness.
But the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central message of Christianity. It is anticipated all through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It is recorded in detail at the close of each. It is what the early believers preached throughout the world. And it is expounded upon and applied to our lives in the epistles. It is absolutely central. Without it, we have nothing.
It was not popular when they preached it. It is not popular today. And it has never been popular anywhere at any time. It is always the minority—usually the extreme minority—view.
Silence Until the Cross Comes Home for You
The importance of the cross is the reason Peter needed to be quiet. Until he recognized the centrality of Jesus' cross, he didn't have Christianity. All he could do was regurgitate the things of man with no benefit to his hearers. He would only lead them astray. He could talk all day long about Jesus' life, miracles, and teachings, but without the cross, it was all for nothing.
Thankfully, Peter and nearly all the disciples came around. When Jesus rose from the dead, they began figuring it out. The Spirit gave them light.
They would eventually say, with Paul, "Far be it from (us) to glory in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14). This is a test for true Christianity. Do you think highly of the cross? Do you glory in it? Or are you offended by it? Do you despise its message?
Only the one who celebrates the cross has true Christianity.
So, who is this man? The Christ. And the Christ must be killed. But mankind hates this message. Let's allow ourselves to love it.
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For the entire Mark series, go here. Thank you.