The eighth chaper of St. Mark’s gospel is the hinge around which the mission of Jesus swings. Up until this point Jesus has been teaching, preaching, working miracles all in the hope that his disciples would get what he was about. Finally, taking a day apart with those closest to him he asks: “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Good answer! Jesus then immediately,(and for the rest of the Gospel) talks about his upcoming passion: suffering, death, and resurrection. Now that you know who I am, let me explain the implications. Peter does not like to hear that. He imagined that being the Christ meant that everything from now on would be smooth sailing. Jesus disabuses him of that notion in harsh terms. Being the Christ, being close to God, being intimate with God means following the will of God wherever it leads — even to the cross.
