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Mark 8:27-30 - Homilies By E. Johnson

Jesus the Messiah.

I. SOME MISTAKEN IDENTIFICATIONS OF JESUS . John Baptist; Elijah; a prophet; Jeremiah, according to Matthew. There was some truth here. They recognized the prophetic inspiration and power of Jesus. Truth in feeling, error in thought; Jesus was the greatest of the prophets, not reproducing his predecessors, but going beyond them. God hath spoken by his Son ( Hebrews 1:1-14 .).

II. A TRUE IDENTIFICATION . Peter's, "Thou art the Messiah," i.e. the Anointed of God (cf. Matthew 16:13-20 ). The Messiah includes Prophet, Priest, and King within his person and functions.

III. THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE IDENTIFICATION BY JESUS .

1 . It is implicitly accepted here, as explicitly in Matthew 16:1-28 :Jesus claims to be Prince and Saviour of his people and mankind.

2 . Yet it must not be made known. Probably the statement, "The Prophet Jesus is the Messiah," noised abroad, would have produced a false impression. When by his death all hopes of an earthly kingdom had been destroyed, it would not be so. "Only with a knowledge of his character would the statement at any time be beneficial; and from this it would receive the best and surest confirmation" (J. H. Godwin).—J.

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