The Conversation at Caesarea Philippi (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” (Mark 8:27–33)
The conversation between Jesus and his disciples
This is pivotal conversation between Jesus and his disciples at the midpoint of Mark’s Gospel
Jesus’s question to his disciples is a simple one: “Who do people say that I am?”
They answer:
John the Baptist, who had been beheaded by King Herod, so this would be a miracle in itself, as it would mean that John had come back from the dead
Elijah, meaning the Old Testament prophet Elijah had returned as a forerunner to the Messiah, as prophesied
One of the prophets because Jesus had by now gained a reputation as a wise teacher
Peter answered: “You are the Messiah”
This marks the moment when Jesus was recognised as the promised Messiah by other humans
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone
This is more evidence of the Messianic Secret: Jesus did not want any unwanted attention as he continued to fulfil his mission
Jesus then began to teach them more about his future ministry: He predicted the events of his death and told them it would involve suffering, rejection and being killed
This is sometimes called a “Passion prediction”
Jesus uses the term “Son of Man” about himself when describing these events
Peter disagreed with Jesus
To Peter, this prediction went against his understanding of the Messiah: He would have thought it impossible for the Messiah to die
Jesus disagreed and responded with some harsh words: “Get behind me, Satan”
This is because he realised Peter was tempting him away from fulfilling his mission, just as Satan had tempted him during the time in the wilderness (Mark 1:9–13)
Jesus knew that he must fulfil God’s true plan for his ministry, which involved being crucified and suffering
The significance of the conversation
This conversation is a turning point in the ministry of Jesus and marks the midpoint of Mark’s Gospel
It is the moment when the disciples recognise Jesus as the Messiah for the first time
It is important for the disciples, as they now know Jesus is the Messiah and start to see his ministry in a new light
It is important for believers today, as it shows that Jesus was fully accepting of his fate: to die on the cross for everyone’s salvation
It marks a change in Jesus’s ministry:
He had less to do with large crowds, concentrating more on teaching his disciples
He starts to travel towards Jerusalem, the capital and seat of power, where he would be crucified
He starts to encounter more opposition and challenge to his ministry
Worked Example
Which one of the following did Peter call Jesus during the conversation at Caesarea Philippi?
[1 mark]
A. Elijah
B. The Messiah
C. John the Baptist
D. One of the prophets
Answer:
B. The Messiah
The other answers were titles the disciples reported that people were suggesting about Jesus, but only Peter called Jesus the Messiah.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
There are three occasions on which Jesus predicted his future:
The conversation at Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27–33)
After the healing of the epileptic (demon-possessed) boy (Mark 9:31)
In the passion prediction (Mark 10:32–34)
As you come to each of these passages in your revision, compare what Jesus predicts about his fate to the actual events described in Mark 14–15, in The Final Days in Jerusalem. It will help you to build the picture of Jesus as a man who was fully aware of and determined to fulfil his mission.
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