notes

• Messiah


  The promised saviour of the Jewish people
• Jesus

  • His identity has been questioned
  • Some religious leaders have rejected him as the promised Messiah
  • Only evil spirits have recognised his identity
• Peter's declaration about Jesus


  Calls Jesus the Messiah (Christ)
• After Peter's declaration


  The question 'who is Jesus?' is now answered through his words and actions
• Jesus speaks directly about his suffering and death
• Jesus cannot be the Messiah fully without suffering and the resurrection
• Jesus declares he is a suffering Messiah, which is not what the Jewish people expected
• Peter does not understand that Jesus must suffer, he has not understood the full identity of Jesus
• Jesus says Peter's thoughts come from men not God - what he means is Peter has not grasped the full meaning of Jesus' Messiahship
• Jesus said he must suffer, which means that his death was part of God's plan
• For first-century Christians facing persecution, this event would have given them hope, as they may have believed that their sufferings also had a purpose
• Christians today who suffer may see their suffering in a similar way
• Messianic Secret


  In Mark's Gospel, Jesus wanted to keep his identity as Messiah a secret
• Reasons why Jesus wanted to keep his identity as Messiah a secret

  • He did not want people following him for the wrong reasons
  • Messiah was a dangerous title to use in a Roman-occupied world
  • Jesus was not the military warrior Messiah that many Jewish people were expecting
• Disciples


  Followers of Jesus
• Elijah


  An Old Testament prophet who many Jewish people believe will return to Earth before the coming of the Messiah
• Prophet


  A person chosen by God to give a message or warning
• Christ/Messiah


  The promised saviour of the Jewish people
• Resurrection


  The Christian belief that Jesus rose again three days after his death
• Persecution


  Treating people with hostility and hatred; can be sanctioned by a government