I have had the opportunity to lead the Builders Sunday Morning Small Group for three weeks studying the gospel according to Mark. This question was from a breakout group studying Mark 8:31-9:1, 9:30-32 and 10:32.34.
I think that this is very likely. Peter makes a declaration that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah and then Jesus goes on to announce his upcoming death. Wow. What a shift for someone (Peter) who has left everything that he has to follow a man toward a destination about which he may not be exactly clear. Feelings of uncertainty, fear, regret and many others may have been at work in this response.
You can find previous responses to questions coming from this class here:
- Did Peter know what he meant by saying, “You are the Christ?”
- Why are the disciples so clueless?
- Why did Jesus not want to be identified?
- Had the disciples heard of Jesus before?
- How were books of the Bible chosen?
[...] Is Peter acting out of fear when he rebukes Jesus for announcing he is going to die? [...]