Mark 8:27-38

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation …” (v38).  Peter acknowledged Jesus as Messiah (v29), but he was ashamed of the kind of Messiah Jesus was proclaiming to be.  Suffering, being rejected, and dying?  Where was the glorious triumph of a righteous God?  Jesus rebuked Peter for having his heart set on human interests (earthly power, success, comfort) rather than God’s. 

Jesus asks us to choose one Messiah, one hope, one salvation.  We “gain our souls” when we deny ourselves and trust completely in the crucified Savior (v35).