The center of Mark is Jesus’ question “Who do you say I am” and Peter’s response “you are the Messiah” What is JEsus’ identity. But also, what does this mean? The disciples are caught up to what Mark has already told the reader: Jesus is the Messiah. But then Jesus continues relaying that the Messiah must suffer, die, and rise–which further highlights the disciples’ ignorance around the way of the Messiah. Jesus stands with the outcast and the marginalized and will die as one.