New Testament · Gospel

Mark 6:15

Rejected and Relentless

Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” Mark 6:15 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Mark 6:15, in plain English

Others said, 'He must be Elijah!' And still others, 'He's a prophet, like the great prophets from long ago.' Everyone knew Jesus was extraordinary — they just couldn't agree on who he was.

Why it's here

People were trying to fit Jesus into categories they already understood. Elijah, a prophet — these were the highest compliments they knew. But Jesus was something entirely new.

Who's speaking

Mark reports the various popular opinions about Jesus' identity.

Where it sits in the story

Everyone had a theory. Elijah? A prophet? The guessing game shows that people knew something big was happening — they just hadn't figured out the full picture yet.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Alternative identifications include Elijah — whose return was prophesied in Malachi 4:5 as precursor to the Day of the Lord — or 'a prophet like one of the prophets of old,' placing Jesus in the classical prophetic tradition.

Language and setting

These three theories (John, Elijah, prophet) reappear at Caesarea Philippi (8:28) when Jesus asks the disciples what people say about him. None adequately captures his true identity.

Voice

Mark reports the various popular opinions circulating about Jesus' identity.

Significance

The public offers various theories about Jesus: John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the ancient prophets. All recognize his prophetic power; none yet grasp his full identity.

In context

Mark 6:13–17

13They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

14Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

15Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

16But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!”

17For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

Read all of Mark 6 — His hometown dismisses him, a king beheads his cousin, and the crowds won't stop coming. Jesus feeds five thousand anyway.

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