Mark 8:28
ESV
And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets."
NIV
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
NASB
They told Him, saying, 'John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.'
CSB
They answered him, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets."
NLT
Well,' they replied, 'some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.'
KJV
And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
NKJV
So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
What does Mark 8:28 mean?
Jews didn't believe in reincarnation, so when the people say that Jesus is John the Baptist—who was the same age as Jesus—or Elijah or Jeremiah (Matthew 16:14), or any of the other Old Testament prophets, they don't mean Jesus was literally one of the former prophets. They mean He came in the same style, power, and authority, and with a similar message.Herod Antipas had John the Baptist arrested because of John's condemnation of Antipas' marriage to his sister-in-law Herodias. Later, Herodias manipulated Antipas into having John killed (Mark 6:14–29). John's arrest triggered the beginning of Jesus' ministry, when He left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum (Matthew 4:12–13). Although Jesus' ministry started before John was killed (see Luke 7:18–23), their public ministries did not overlap, and Herod Antipas, apparently, did not hear about Jesus until after John was dead. So it was that Herod thought Jesus came in the spirit of John (Mark 6:16).
For several reasons, others thought Jesus was Elijah (Mark 6:15). First, Elijah didn't die but was taken to heaven by a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11). Also, Scripture states that Elijah must return before the Messiah (Malachi 4:5–6). The people didn't recognize that John the Baptist is "Elijah" (Matthew 17:10–13) and Jesus is the Messiah. Jews still teach that Elijah periodically comes down to help Jews in trouble, to train scholars, and to watch over circumcisions.
Although the people recognize Jesus' message and authority is reminiscent of the old prophets, none of them seem to continue the line of thought and suggest Jesus might suffer the same fate as the old prophets. Elijah was nearly murdered by Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1–2). Jeremiah was thrown into a muddy cistern and left to starve (Jeremiah 38:1–6). John the Baptist and many of the other prophets were assassinated (1 Kings 18:13). Even more, the disciples don't yet understand that "a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him" (John 13:16). The disciples know they follow the Christ (Mark 8:29), but they don't yet know what a hard road they will face.
Mark 8:27–30 begins the second half of Mark's Gospel, focusing on Jesus as ''the Christ.'' The encounters beginning here must have been a whirlwind of emotions for the disciples. Peter declares Jesus is the Christ and immediately after denies what the Christ is there to do (Mark 8:31–33). Jesus teaches a crowd that they must give up their lives for their belief in Him (Mark 8:34—9:1), and six days later, Peter, James, and John witness Jesus' true glory (Mark 9:2–8). Within a week, the disciples experience the highs and lows of following the Christ. Peter's confession is also in Matthew 16:13–20 and Luke 9:18–20.
This chapter describes another miraculous feeding of thousands by Jesus. He also counters the hard-hearted and selfish hypocrisy of the Pharisees in seeking even more miraculous signs. Speaking to the disciples, Jesus rebukes their short memories and reminds them about God's intent to provide for His followers. After healing a blind man, Jesus accepts Peter's proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah. Almost immediately, though, Jesus rebukes Peter for resisting the idea that the Messiah must suffer and die.
