Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Mark 8:29b-30

Peter acknowledges here that Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen one for whom they have been waiting. But then Jesus warns them not to tell anyone. Why? The apostles still associated messiah with a political and military meaning: that Jesus would instigate an overthrow of the Romans. But Jesus’ mission had nothing to do with using political or military power to overthrow the enemies of Israel. Instead, it had everything to do with overthrowing the power of sin through the cross. Jesus tells the apostles that, as the Messiah, he must suffer, be rejected by the elders and chief priests, and be killed. All of this must happen to fulfill his role as the Messiah.

Mark describes this revelation as a quiet declaration of Jesus’ true identity to his followers. His disciples did not need to wonder any longer. Jesus was the Messiah. However, this doesn’t mean they completely understood the implications.  Today, we have the advantage of knowing the full story. And we are called to share the Good News of God’s gift to us — Jesus.

Today, give thanks to God for sending his son to be our Messiah. Thank Jesus for overthrowing the power of sin through his sacrifice on the cross. Thank Jesus for being enough.