JESUS IS GOD’S MESSIAH

Luke 9:18-27 / Keywords 9:20

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

 

 Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

9:18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Jesus Predicts His Death

21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

1. Jesus asked the disciples two questions: “Who do the crowds say I am?” and “Who do you say I am?”. The crowds saw Jesus as a prophet. But the disciples confessed that Jesus was God’s Messiah. Jesus is the promised Messiah people had been waiting for centuries. He is the One who saves us from sin and death. He is the One who gives us eternal life in the kingdom of God. He is the One whom we love, follow, and live for. Jesus is the Messiah and we are to commit our hearts and lives to him.

 

2. According to the prophecy, however, God’s Messiah must suffer and die and then be raised to life from death. He is the suffering Messiah to take away the wages of our sins, but God raises him as the victorious Messiah.

 

3. Jesus’ disciples are those who follow Jesus in his self-denial and his suffering by taking their cross daily. In other words, his disciples are those who follow Jesus in every aspect of their lives. Being Jesus’ disciple is not easy; it involves a struggle against self. But Jesus will clothe his disciples with the glory of the kingdom of God.

 

Prayer Lord Jesus, you are God’s Messiah who died and rose again to forgive us and take us to God’s kingdom. Help me follow Jesus daily.

One Word Who do you say Jesus is?