Mark 8:28 – “They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.'”

Extended Explanation

In this verse, the disciples respond to Jesus’ question in Mark 8:27, where He asked them, “Who do people say I am?” Their answer shows that people had many different opinions about Jesus, but none of them recognized Him for who He truly was.

Here are the three main ideas people had about Jesus at that time:

1. John the Baptist – Some people thought Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Even Herod Antipas, who had executed John, was afraid that Jesus might be John come back to life (Mark 6:14-16).
2. Elijah – Others believed that Jesus might be Elijah, the great Old Testament prophet. This was based on the prophecy in Malachi 4:5, which said that Elijah would come before the Messiah arrived.
3. One of the Prophets – Some people thought Jesus was a great prophet like Moses, Jeremiah, or Isaiah—someone sent by God, but not necessarily the Messiah.

While all of these showed respect for Jesus, they fell short of recognizing the truth—that He was the Son of God and the promised Messiah.

This verse shows that just because people have opinions about Jesus doesn’t mean they truly understand who He is.

Historical Context

At this point in history, the Jewish people were eagerly waiting for the Messiah. They had been under Roman rule, and many believed the Messiah would come as a political and military leader to free them.

Many also believed in the return of Elijah, because the Old Testament prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6 said that Elijah would come before “the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

So when Jesus appeared performing miracles and teaching with great authority, people tried to fit Him into their existing ideas—but they failed to see that He was more than a prophet.

Theological Implications

1. People Can Recognize Jesus’ Greatness Without Truly Knowing Him – Even though people saw Jesus as someone important, they still missed His true identity.
2. The World Has Many Opinions About Jesus – Even today, people call Jesus a great teacher, a prophet, or a religious leader, but they reject the truth that He is the Son of God.
3. Recognizing Jesus Correctly is Essential for Salvation – Jesus wasn’t just one of many prophets—He was the fulfillment of all the prophets’ teachings.

Literary Analysis

Mark’s Gospel is fast-paced, and this section builds up to Peter’s great confession in Mark 8:29.

• “They replied” – This shows that the disciples were aware of public opinion. They had heard what people were saying.
• “Some say John the Baptist” – This connects back to Herod’s fear in Mark 6:14-16. Some people thought Jesus was a resurrected prophet.
• “Others say Elijah” – This connects to Jewish expectations about Elijah’s return before the Messiah.
• “And still others, one of the prophets” – This shows that people respected Jesus but didn’t fully understand Him.

This verse sets up the most important question Jesus will ask in the next verse: “But who do YOU say I am?” (Mark 8:29).

Biblical Cross-References

• Mark 6:14-16 – “Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has been raised from the dead… But when Herod heard this, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!’” (Even Herod thought Jesus might be John the Baptist.)
• Malachi 4:5 – “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” (People were expecting Elijah’s return.)
• Matthew 16:14 – Matthew’s version of this passage includes Jeremiah as one of the names people thought Jesus might be.
• John 7:40-41 – “Some of the people said, ‘Surely this man is the Prophet.’ Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.’” (People were confused about Jesus’ identity.)

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

This verse challenges us to think about who Jesus is to us.

• Many people respect Jesus but don’t worship Him as Lord.
• Some say He was a good moral teacher, but they reject His divinity.
• True faith requires recognizing Jesus for who He truly is—not just what others say about Him.

It’s not enough to just know about Jesus—we have to personally know Him as Lord and Savior.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

A loving God reveals the truth to those who seek Him.

• God does not leave us in confusion—He invites us to seek Him and discover who Jesus really is.
• Jesus did not rebuke people for misunderstanding Him—instead, He patiently taught and revealed the truth.
• God’s love is personal—He doesn’t want us to rely on what others say about Jesus, but to know Him for ourselves.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is more than a prophet—He is the fulfillment of all the prophets’ words.

• Hebrews 1:1-2 – “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets… but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”
• John 1:1, 14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
• John 8:58 – “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!” (Jesus clearly claimed to be more than a prophet—He claimed to be God.)

Jesus is not just another great leader—He is the Son of God, the Savior of the world.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Why do you think so many people misunderstood who Jesus was?
2. How does this passage show that knowing ABOUT Jesus is not the same as knowing Him personally?
3. What are some modern opinions about Jesus that miss the truth about His identity?
4. How would you answer Jesus if He asked you, “Who do YOU say I am?”
5. How can we help others move from seeing Jesus as just a prophet or teacher to knowing Him as Lord and Savior?

This verse challenges us to go beyond public opinion and have a personal conviction about Jesus’ identity. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what others say about Jesus—what matters is what YOU believe about Him.