Mark 8:29

And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

And {G2532} he {G846} saith {G3004} unto them {G846}, But {G1161} whom {G5101} say {G3004} ye {G5210} that I {G3165} am {G1511}? And {G1161} Peter {G4074} answereth {G611} and saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, Thou {G4771} art {G1488} the Christ {G5547}.

"But you," he asked, "who do you say I am?" Kefa answered, "You are the Mashiach."

“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

And he asked them, But who say ye that I am? Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

Commentary

Mark 8:29 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, where He directly challenges His disciples to articulate their personal understanding of His identity. Following a survey of popular opinion, Jesus turns the question inward, prompting Peter's profound and foundational confession.

Context

This verse occurs near the end of Jesus' Galilean ministry, specifically as He and His disciples are in the villages around Caesarea Philippi. Prior to this, Jesus asks His disciples whom people say He is (Mark 8:28), eliciting responses like John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. The shift in this verse is crucial: Jesus moves from general perception to personal conviction, asking, "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter's immediate and accurate response marks a significant turning point, not only for the disciples' understanding but also for the narrative of Mark's Gospel, immediately preceding Jesus' first explicit prediction of His suffering and death (Mark 8:31).

Key Themes

  • The Identity of Jesus: This is the central question of the entire Gospel narrative. Peter's declaration provides the definitive answer from the disciples' perspective, affirming Jesus' true nature.
  • Confession of Faith: Peter's statement, "Thou art the Christ," is a foundational confession of faith. It signifies a profound recognition of Jesus' unique role and status. In Matthew's parallel account (Matthew 16:16-17), Jesus affirms that this revelation did not come from human insight but from God the Father.
  • The Christ/Messiah: Peter identifies Jesus as the long-awaited Anointed One. While the Jewish expectation of the Messiah was often a conquering king, Jesus would soon begin to redefine this role, emphasizing His path of suffering and servanthood (Mark 10:45).

Linguistic Insights

The term "Christ" in this verse comes from the Greek word Christos (Χριστός), which means "Anointed One." It is the direct Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ), from which we get "Messiah." In ancient Israel, kings, priests, and sometimes prophets were anointed with oil as a sign of their divine appointment to a specific office. By calling Jesus "the Christ," Peter is declaring Him to be the divinely appointed, long-prophesied deliverer and King of Israel.

Practical Application

Mark 8:29 challenges every reader to answer the same question Jesus posed to His disciples: "Who do you say that I am?"

  • Personal Conviction: True faith is not based on what others believe or popular opinion, but on a personal, Spirit-revealed conviction about Jesus' identity.
  • Foundation of Faith: Peter's confession forms the bedrock of Christian belief. Understanding Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed Savior, is essential for comprehending His mission and our salvation.
  • Living Out the Confession: Acknowledging Jesus as the Christ means more than just intellectual assent; it involves surrendering to His Lordship and following His path, even when it involves suffering or sacrifice, as Jesus immediately began to explain to His disciples after this confession.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 John 4:15 (7 votes)

    Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

  • Matthew 16:15 (7 votes)

    He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

  • Matthew 16:16 (7 votes)

    And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

  • 1 John 5:1 (6 votes)

    ¶ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

  • Luke 9:20 (5 votes)

    He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

  • John 11:27 (5 votes)

    She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

  • Acts 9:20 (4 votes)

    And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.