The passage referred to is Mark 8:27-29:
Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.”
Some scholars consider this as the MOST IMPORTANT passage in the Gospel of Mark. It is the passage the introduces Jesus as the Son of God. After Jesus started healing and preaching to the people, everyone wanted to know more about his identity, and where he got his power and authority. This passage is the FIRST public revelation of who Jesus is.
Most people mistakenly think that Jesus was asking for opinions on who people thought he is. Jesus did not ask Peter “Who do you think I am?” or “Who am I for you?” but he asked, “Who do you SAY that I AM?”
Note that “I am” is the phrase used by God in identifying himself to Moses during the “burning bush” event. Moses asked God his name so that he can tell the Israelites who he is , and God answered “I AM who am” (Exodus 3:14).
So when Peter declared “you are the Messiah!” it was a confirmation that Jesus and the “I AM” (or Yahweh) are one and the same.
What about Elijah? Why was he mentioned as one of the possible identities of Jesus? Doesn't that imply that the Jews believed in reincarnation?
In the book of Kings, Elijah is the first of the great prophets. It was believed that he did not die but was taken up into heaven by a chariot. It was also believed that Elijah would come back at the end of days. His coming back would be a definitive sign that God is about to complete his work and that the end of the world was near. So during Jesus’ time people believed Elijah would come back, but that he would return as who he was and not as a reincarnated person. So to answer your question, no, Jesus and the Jews did not believe in reincarnation.
Why don’t Christians believe in reincarnation?
Reincarnation denies the value of our present life. Belief of reincarnation could only serve to justify a person’s errant behavior because he can always, “well, I’ll be a better person in my next life.”
More importantly, reincarnation denies that God’s Kingdom is offered as a gift by Jesus Christ. It implies that we can work to earn our place in God’s Kingdom, rather than receiving it as God’s gift. In short, we Christians do not believe in reincarnation because we believe that we do not work for our salvation but rely on God’s love. God’s love is sufficient, and all we need is to accept and say “yes” to this love. (Of course, once we say “yes,” then it implies that we live God-centered lives).
Now that I know this, what does it imply?
Christ asks us the same question now, “Who do you say that I am?” Asked another way, “are our lives living testimonies that Jesus is the Messiah?”
- Written by Chris Mallion, M.A. and edited by Manny Blas II, M. A.
Sources: From One Jesus to Four Gospels by Herman Hendrickx, and relevant pages of Catechism for Filipino Catholics, and New American Bible.
