Mark 8:27-33

1. Let us observe the variety of opinions about Christ which prevailed among the Jews.
2. Let us observe the good confession of faith which the apostle Peter witnessed.
3. Let us observe the full declaration which our Lord makes of His own coming death and resurrection.
4. Finally, let us observe in this passage the strange mixture of grace and infirmity which may be found in the heart of a true Christian.

"He "must" suffer to make reconciliation for iniquity. He "must" die, because without His death as a propitiatory offering, sinners could never have life. He "must" suffer, because without His vicarious sufferings, our sins could never be taken away."

"And last, but not least, Simon Peter did it all with the best intentions! He meant well. His motives were pure. But zeal and earnestness are no excuse for error. A man may mean well and yet fall into tremendous mistakes."

Questions:

1. Do we know about Christ or do we know, love, and trust Christ? Can we say “My beloved is mine, and I am His?”

2. Are we ready to confess Christ even when it is not popular, when it might cost us?

3. Is penal substitution, that Jesus took our place on the cross, the center piece of our theology or is it something we are embarrassed to talk about? Do we lean on this truth as if our lives depended on it?

4. Does the fact that Peter received such a strong rebuke from our Lord humble us, exposing that if even he could err so greatly, that we very well may as well? Do we think ourselves above his error? Do we ask our Lord to hold, keep, teach us and help us not to err? Does this give us grace in dealing with the faults of others?