Continuing to look in the 8th chapter of the Gospel of Mark, earlier in this chapter (see Mark 8:11-13) Jesus had been asked an apparently “leading question” by the Pharisees. From an earlier article’s study, it seemed like the Pharisees weren’t really trying to learn from Jesus. In the best-case scenario, they might have been evaluating His claims fairly; however, while there were Pharisees in the first century who held varying opinions of Jesus, that particular question (or request) doesn’t seem to have been very genuine.
Several verses later, Jesus asks a question of His disciples. This one is leading up to a second question, but in this case, we know that Jesus’ words and actions were guided by His love for others (which is probably quite different from when the Pharisees had asked Him earlier for a sign from heaven).
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
Mark 8:27-28 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.8.27-28.NIV
Now, you may have studied this passage before and know what’s coming next, but let’s pause here for a moment and ask some questions:
Who do people today say that Jesus was (or is)?
- Christians should agree that Jesus is God, and that He is our Lord and Savior. (I think that those truths are fairly foundational to considering oneself a Christian, regardless of our various viewpoints and traditions.)
- Others say that he’s a good teacher, or someone who lived a good life.
- A few deny that He existed in the first place, although the historical evidence for a man named Jesus having lived in the first century – someone who made a significant impact on those times and the next 20 centuries – seems fairly overwhelming.
What was the problem with people in the first century mistaking Jesus for John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets? I mean, those sound like pretty good people to be mistaken for. I don’t think that anyone’s ever accused me of being a famous prophet back from the dead, although I’ve been mistaken for much worse!
- Besides those answers being incorrect, I think that – as prominent as these other prophets were – their identities still fell short of who Jesus really was.
- In fact, it has been suggested [by commentator Matthew Henry] that the people thought so highly of Jesus that they might have recognized Him as the Messiah if they hadn’t been “conditioned” to believe that the Messiah would look different.
What is the problem with people today mistaking Jesus for just a good teacher or prophet?
- Again, these concepts are less than who Jesus actually is, and they miss some of the most important things about Him. God has enabled many other people to prophesy on His behalf, but none of them were the Savior of the world. None of them were the Son of God.
- Also, as C.S. Lewis pointed out, it doesn’t make sense that Jesus could be a good teacher if what He said about Himself (and what He allowed others to testify about Him) wasn’t correct.
In that light, let’s take some time today for a self-evaluation. Who do we think Jesus is? I don’t just mean what we say that we think Jesus is. Based on our thoughts, decisions, behavior, and habits – who do we really think that Jesus is? It is no small thing to get that wrong: in fact, it’s a matter of eternal life or death. The good news, though, is that – just like those around Jesus in the first century – it’s OK to not know all of the answers right away. So, if you’re not sure, or if you evaluated what your life says about who you believe Jesus is and you didn’t like the answer, today is a great day to learn more about Him. The book of Mark, along with the other three gospels (Matthew, Luke, and John), provides us accurate and insightful descriptions of Jesus, from His point of view and from others’. I encourage you to make a habit of reading from these four accounts of Jesus on a regular basis, to ensure that your understanding of Jesus is accurate. That one foundation supports many kinds of good things that can be built upon it (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Timothy 2:19).
From Sunday School lesson prepared for October 19, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Matthew Henry. 1706, via BibleGateway.com.
Those Who Sin Differently 