Who Do You Say I Am?
The printed guide is laid out to teach from: a run sheet, a page per section with room for notes, and a one-sheet handout with a kids’ page on the back.
The Shepherd walked through the valley of death first, and rose.
Open with it, bring it back after every section, close with it. By the end they should be able to finish the sentence for you.
Mark 6:45-52, Take Courage! It Is I — No fear, because he is with me: “It is I.”
Psalm 23:5, A Table Before My Enemies — The Shepherd is also the host who welcomes, protects and fills his guests.
Open
Recall last time (Mark 6:45-52): “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Today: the first half of Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Ask: Is it easier to face something hard when someone has been through it before you? Read Mark 8:31. Big idea: The Shepherd walked through the valley of death first, and rose. Ask one person what stuck from last time.
The run sheet
Through the Valley
Psalm 23:4
Psalm 23:4 does not promise a way around the valley; it promises company in it, and Jesus shows the valley has a far side.
- The psalm names the darkest place honestly.
- “Walk” means you keep moving, and the Shepherd who walked the valley rose on the far side (Mark 8:31).
- The same verb is in Isaiah 43:2: “When you walk through the fire.”
“On the way, He questioned His disciples.” (Mark 8:27) Psalm 23:4 is a walk too: “Even though I walk through the valley.”
“After three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31)
Discuss: The psalm does not promise a way around the valley. What does Jesus’ “after three days rise again” add to it?
- Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”
- Isaiah 43:2: “When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,” with the same Hebrew verb.
- Psalm 138:7: “If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me.”
Illustration idea: A guide who has crossed a mountain pass before and goes first through the dark tunnel.
Listen for:
- You don't get stuck there.
- Someone goes with you.
If it drifts: If the talk turns to why valleys happen, admit the psalm does not say. It says who walks with you.
There is a far side to the valley, and the Shepherd has been there.
Short on time? Drop Psalm 138:7. Keep Mark 8:31.
Bridge → On the road north of Galilee, the Shepherd says he will walk the valley himself.
Who Do You Say I Am?
Mark 8:27-30
Respectful opinions about Jesus fall short; Peter names him as God’s anointed King.
- Jesus takes his disciples north to the villages around Caesarea Philippi.
- People say he is John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets.
- Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter says, “You are the Christ.”
“But what about you?” Jesus asked.
Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”
Discuss: Why do you think Jesus asked what other people were saying before he asked the disciples?
- v27-28: the crowd’s answers all give Jesus honor as a prophet.
- v29: “Christ” means “Anointed One,” the promised King from David’s line.
- Caesarea Philippi had a shrine to Pan and a temple to the emperor Augustus.
- Malachi promised Elijah would come before the Day of the LORD (Malachi 4:5).
Illustration idea: A survey of what your neighbors think about Jesus, followed by a single blank line headed “You.”
Listen for:
- Each of us has to answer for ourselves.
- Being right about Jesus matters more than being polite about him.
If it drifts: If it turns into a debate about other religions, return to v29: Jesus’ question is to the people in front of him.
Peter named him the Christ, God's anointed King.
Short on time? Drop the Caesarea Philippi background. Keep v29.
Bridge → Then Jesus tells them what kind of Christ he is.
The Son of Man Must Suffer
Mark 8:31
The Christ must walk the valley of death himself, and come out after three days.
- Jesus warns them not to tell anyone yet.
- He teaches that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected and be killed.
- He says that after three days he will rise again.
“The Son of Man must suffer many things.”
“And after three days rise again.”
Discuss: Why does it matter that Jesus told them about his death, and his rising, before it happened?
- v31: “must” points to God’s plan.
- v31: the elders, chief priests and scribes were Israel’s ruling council; he names who will reject him.
- “Rejected” is the verb in the Greek of Psalm 118:22, “The stone the builders rejected.”
- Jesus foretells his death and rising three times in Mark (8:31, 9:31, 10:33-34).
Illustration idea: A guide who tells a hiking group plainly about the hardest stretch of the trail before they reach it, and promises to lead them through.
Listen for:
- He knew where he was going and went anyway.
- The death and the rising belong together.
If it drifts: If the discussion jumps to the details of the crucifixion, keep it on v31: he told them in advance, and he named the rising.
The Shepherd walked through the valley of death first, and rose.
Short on time? Drop the Psalm 118 note. Keep v31.
Bridge → So hear the psalm line again next to v31.
Close — never cut it
Read Mark 8:31, then Psalm 23:4. The Shepherd named the valley and its far side. Say together: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”
If the last section starts late, read v29-31 and go to the close.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” Psalm 23:4
With one friend, over coffee
About 30 minutes · for a friend who is curious, or not sure
- Start with opinions. Ask: What do people you know say about Jesus?
- Read it. Read Mark 8:27-31 together.
- The question. Jesus asks, “But what about you?” and “Who do you say I am?”
- The answer. Peter says, “You are the Christ,” and Jesus says the Christ must suffer, die and rise.
- Leave the question. Ask: Who do you say he is? Leave it with them.
“What does “Christ” mean?”
“Anointed One,” the Greek form of “Messiah.” It was the title for the King God promised from David’s line.
“Why did Jesus tell them to keep quiet?”
“Christ” could easily be heard as a call to fight Rome. Jesus first had to teach them what kind of Christ he is.
“Why must he suffer?”
Jesus later said he came “to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
“What does this mean for me?”
He asks each person the same question, and he went through death so that his people could have life.
Evergreen principles
Four standards every week. The rest rotate: each lesson brings the few that fit its passage best.
Make it concrete
Mark names a real place and real people.
If you’re new: Show Caesarea Philippi on a map, north of the Sea of Galilee.
If you’ve taught for years: Mention the shrine to Pan and the temple to Augustus.
Let the Bible do the talking
Jesus’ own words carry the passage.
If you’re new: Read v29 and v31 slowly, twice.
If you’ve taught for years: Let the class hear “must” and “rise again.”
Let the passage land the way it lands
Jesus ends with a question to his followers.
If you’re new: End on his question, not on a task.
If you’ve taught for years: Leave a moment of silence after v29.
Pray before you prepare
Teaching the Bible is spiritual work first (John 15:5).
If you’re new: Pray for your class by name during the week.
If you’ve taught for years: Pray for the one person you find hardest to reach.
Study the text first
Understand the passage yourself before any help.
If you’re new: Read it in two translations; write your own questions first.
If you’ve taught for years: Don’t lean on old notes. What did you miss last time?
Teach one big idea
People remember one sentence, not four points.
If you’re new: Write it in 12 words or fewer before anything else.
If you’ve taught for years: Test every story against it. If it doesn’t serve it, cut it.
Point to Christ
All of Scripture points to him (Luke 24:27).
If you’re new: Ask: what does this show about Jesus?
If you’ve taught for years: Show grace as the reason for obedience, not just the rule.
Openings & closings
Pick one opening and one close; rotate so class doesn’t get predictable.
ask a real-life question
What are some of the things people say about Jesus today?
use an object
Hold up a crown and a nail and ask which one belongs to the Christ.
raise a problem
If the promised King had finally come, what would you expect him to do first?
restate the big idea
The Shepherd walked through the valley of death first, and rose.
call back to the opening
Return to the list of opinions about Jesus and read Peter’s answer beside it.
pray the text
Let people say Peter’s words back to Jesus in prayer: “You are the Christ.”
When class gets hard
Someone is not sure who Jesus is.
Welcome the honesty. Jesus asked the question because it needs a real answer; invite them to keep reading Mark with that question in mind.
Someone is facing suffering of their own and finds the passage heavy.
Point to the end of v31: after three days he rises. The Shepherd who went through death is with them in their valley.
Silence after a question
Wait. Then rephrase simpler, or ask them to talk to a neighbor first.
One person dominates
“Thanks. Let’s hear from someone who hasn’t spoken yet.” Talk privately if it continues.
A question you can’t answer
Say so, write it down, bring an answer next week.
A tangent takes over
“Great question. Let’s catch it after class so we can finish the passage.”
Read this week
- Mark 10:32-34
- John 10:11-18
- Hebrews 2:9-10
For kids
The printable guide puts this on the back of the handout, with a word search and a secret code.
Jesus went through the darkest valley first, and came back.
- Jesus walks with his friends.
- He asks who people say he is.
- Then he asks, “Who do you say?”
- Peter says, “You are the Christ.”
- Jesus says he will die and rise.
- Peter giving his answer: happy
- The disciples hearing Jesus will be killed: sad
- The disciples wondering what will happen: worried
- The disciples hearing he will rise again: happy
Memory verse: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” Psalm 23:4
Act it out: The children walk around the room as Jesus and his disciples. Jesus asks, “Who do people say I am?” and the children call out “A prophet!” “Elijah!” Then Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” and one child, Peter, says, “You are the Christ.”
Draw it: Draw Jesus and his friends walking on a road, with a speech bubble from Peter: “You are the Christ.”
Finish the sentence: Jesus is ______.