Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 8:28

"And they told him, saying, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but others, One of the prophets." — Mark 8:28 (ASV)

The answers that the disciples gave all reflect an inadequate view of Christ. John the Baptist, for example, had a preparatory role. He looked for another messenger far greater than himself (cf. 1:7–8; cf. also 6:14–15). “One of the prophets” reflects a lower view of Jesus, that he was merely one of many prophets who had come on the scene of Israel’s history. It seems surprising that the disciples did not report that anyone called Jesus the Messiah, especially since the demons recognized who he was and said so publicly (1:24; 3:11; 5:7). But his messiahship was veiled from the crowd.