04_Biblica_1_A_Ossandon_Layout 1 05/11/12 12:18 Pagina 386 386 JUAN CARLOS OSSANDÓN There is no opposition between Jesus and Peter as characters (after six days, Jesus will choose Peter as a witness of his glory), but between two points of view about the messianic identity of Jesus. He makes clear to his disciples that there is no intermediate way: either you think as Jesus, or you think as human beings, a point of view which he identifies with that of Satan. In the next episode (9,2-13), Jesus surprisingly says nothing dur- ing the transfiguration, to the point that the narrator, against his usage, evaluates Peter’s statement in 9,6. Thus the Father’s voice is emphasized: God confirms his agreement with Jesus’ words and invites the disciples to listen to him, that is, to adapt their way of thinking to his point of view. The dialogue between Jesus and the disciples in 9,9-13 shows that they do not understand the resurrec- tion, but Jesus does not react as he had done before with Peter. Mark 9,30-32 reflects again the contrast between Jesus’ and the disciples’ point of view. Jesus speaks; the disciples keep quiet, but the narrator reports their reaction (their point of view remains in the background). They do not dare to ask; Jesus instead asks them what they were discussing on the way, giving them a new lesson (9,33-50). The correction of John’s claim in 9,38-41 reveals that the previous extension of the call to “anybody” (8,34) was a con- sequence of what following Jesus means. He urges the disciples not to identify as his followers only those who are physically close to him. It is interesting to observe that he considers the disciples as his (9,41): their misunderstanding has not broken the real relation of belonging to Jesus. In 10,13-16, the reader finds out that the disciples have not un- derstood Jesus’ teaching about becoming like children (9,33-37). Briefly, they make no progress 23. The same impression is left by the episode of the rich man. This time, Jesus’ teaching refers to wealth ― it is not a sign of divine blessing, but an obstacle to entering the kingdom. The dialogue with his disciples shows again the distance between their points of view. They still think like human beings (10,27). Finally, we come to 10,32-45. The reaction to the third an- nouncement of Jesus’ death illustrates dramatically the disciples’ 23 At least they recognize his authority, for they obey Jesus and let the children come to him; Peter called him “Rabbi” in 9,5 and John “Master” in 9,38 (cf. 9,16; 10,17.20.35.51).