Who do people say that you are? A meditative ramble on the Lectionary Gospel for 15 Sep 2024.
Mark 8:27-30 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. NT 101 for theol students. In just over a century, Wrede’s “Messianic Secret in Mark” has gone through classic understanding of how things are/were, to debunking, rehabilitation, more debunking, and back to a sort-of rehabilitation. I looked for my copy, couldn’t find it, assumed that like half of my library it’s gone to a good home. But this being a Ramble, not a learnèd paper for submission to The Journal of New Testament Studies, I can play a mind game. What happens if we reverse questioner and responder? So, Peter asks Jesus, “Who do people say that I am?” Good question, a brave one too in light of Psalm ...