What Does Jesus Mean to You?  (Luke 9:18-22)

 Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

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.”

In this passage, the question of who Jesus Christ is takes center stage, a question with answers ranging from viewing Him as the Lord of the universe to considering Him a lunatic. Our view of Jesus is the lens through which she gazes upon the divine, and the refuge we should seek when we are struggling or afraid.

The critical nature of understanding who Jesus is for one's eternal destiny is emphasized, prompting an exploration of a scripture passage in Luke Chapter 9. The passage recounts an instance when Jesus, while praying alone, queries his disciples about public opinion regarding His identity. Various responses will be offered, including speculations that Jesus is John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the old prophets resurrected. However, Peter confidently declares Jesus as the Christ of God.

Jesus, in response to Peter's acknowledgment, issues a stern warning not to disclose this information widely. He foretells His suffering, rejection by elders, chief priests, and scribes, His death, and subsequent resurrection on the third day.

Although this passage is familiar, its practical application might not be immediately evident. This brief exploration of the scripture aims to uncover insights that could be beneficial in spiritual conversations about the Lord, particularly when engaging with others on the critical question of Jesus' identity.

Apart from the identification of John the Baptist and Jesus, which seems can seem confusing considering their differences, the crowd's perceptions about Jesus varied. Some speculated that Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected, while others thought he might be Elijah, pointing to the Old Testament prophecy in Malachi that Elijah would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Another group believed Jesus to be one of the old prophets risen from the dead, giving him the status of a prophet.

Despite these designations, the crucial point is that all these views fell short of recognizing Jesus Christ for who He truly was. While the titles attributed to Jesus were honourable, such as forerunner, prophet, or risen prophet, they failed to grasp the profound reality of His identity. 

Napoleon's famous acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is more than a mere man serves as a reminder that many people, even those with elevated ideas about Jesus, may still fall short in comprehending His true nature and how it should impact their lives.

In a broader context, this passage prompts reflection on how many people, even in contemporary times, may not fully understand the depth of who Jesus is. The common perception of Jesus as a great teacher does not capture the full extent of His divine identity, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding among individuals today. 

So, Jesus posed two questions to the disciples: the first, asking about the crowd's perception of Him, and the second, a more pointed and personal inquiry about their own beliefs (Luke 9:18-20). In response, Peter, always known for his outspoken nature, declared, "You are the Christ of God" (Matthew's account adds, "You are the Christ, the son of the living God").

Following Peter's confession, Jesus took a surprising step. Instead of encouraging them to spread the news, He strictly warned and commanded them not to tell anyone. This directive might seem counterintuitive, especially given the common practice of sharing the good news. However, Jesus had a specific reason for this caution.

The prevailing expectation among the Jewish people was that the Messiah would be a conquering king, liberating Israel from its enemies and establishing a powerful kingdom. Since the disciples recognized Jesus as the Messiah, revealing this truth could have ignited misguided enthusiasm. The danger lay in the people expecting an immediate political upheaval, driven by their desire for liberation from Roman rule. Jesus, aware that His time for establishing the kingdom in that manner had not yet come, wanted to avoid any premature attempts to crown Him as king.

The critical insight into Jesus' identity, according to Peter's declaration, was that He was the Christ, the awaited Messiah. However, Jesus emphasized an essential aspect of His messianic role – suffering. 

In verse 22, Jesus outlined the trajectory: the Son of Man must endure suffering, rejection by the religious authorities, and ultimately face death, only to be resurrected on the third day.

This crucial revelation shed light on the complexity of the Messiah's mission. While the people anticipated a triumphant king, Jesus unveiled a deeper reality.

That being, His journey involved suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. By instructing the disciples to keep this information to themselves for the time being, Jesus aimed to prevent a premature and misguided uprising fuelled by political expectations.

So, Jesus posed two questions to all his disciples: the first, asking about the general perception of Him, and the second, a more pointed and personal inquiry about our own beliefs (Luke 9:18-20), and how they should differ from the wider world’s view. Our response, like Peter’s should be, "You are the Christ of God" (Matthew's account adds, "You are the Christ, the son of the living God").

The prevailing expectation among the Jewish people was that the Messiah would be a conquering king, liberating Israel from its enemies and establishing a powerful kingdom. Since the disciples recognized Jesus as the Messiah, revealing this truth could have ignited misguided enthusiasm. 

The danger lay in the people expecting an immediate political upheaval, driven by their desire for liberation from Roman rule. Jesus, aware that His time for establishing the kingdom in that manner had not yet come, wanted to avoid any premature attempts to crown Him as king.

The critical insight into Jesus' identity, according to Peter's declaration, was that He was the Christ, the awaited Messiah. However, Jesus emphasized an essential aspect of His messianic role – suffering. In verse 22, Jesus outlined the trajectory: the Son of Man must endure suffering, rejection by the religious authorities, and ultimately face death, only to be resurrected on the third day.

This crucial revelation shed light on the complexity of the Messiah's mission. While the people anticipated a triumphant king, Jesus unveiled a deeper reality – His journey involved suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. By instructing the disciples to keep this information to themselves for the time being, Jesus aimed to prevent a premature and misguided uprising fueled by political expectations.

Furthermore, Jesus' mention of suffering and rejection by the elders, chief priests, and scribes carried additional significance. In the Greek text, the single article used here ties these groups together, identifying them as the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council responsible for religious and legal matters. 

This specific detail highlighted not only the Messiah's suffering but also the specific group that would play a role in His rejection and subsequent death.

Considering this insight, we can connect it to other passages that affirm the necessity of Christ's suffering and resurrection. In Luke 24:46, Jesus Himself will emphasizes that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and be raised from the dead. 

This aligns with Paul's declaration in 1 Corinthians 15, where he outlines the gospel: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.

In summary, Jesus clarified Peter's understanding of Him as the Messiah by revealing the dual nature of His mission – suffering and eventual triumph over death through resurrection. This nuanced perspective provided a foundation for the disciples to comprehend the full scope of the gospel message they would later be commissioned to share with the world.

So, the first practical point from this passage is the power of starting a conversation about Christ with a question, just like Jesus does here with Peter.

Just like Philip in Acts chapter 8, asking the Ethiopian eunuch if he understood what he was reading, initiating a discussion with a question can be a powerful and effective way to lead someone to Christ. It breaks the ice, engages the person in conversation, and opens the door for further exploration of faith.

The second practical point involves the central message about who Jesus is and why His identity matters to you as an individual.

 When Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" and Peter responded with "You are the Christ of God," it revealed a critical truth about Jesus' identity. He is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior, or more importantly we view him as our saviour.

Understanding this truth is essential for salvation, as highlighted in the gospel message.

So, in any version of personal evangelism, these two points can guide our approach. Begin with a question that engages the person in a conversation about Christ, and then emphasize the core message that Jesus is the Messiah who died for our sins and rose again. This simplicity not only aligns with biblical examples but also makes the message accessible and impactful for those we encounter.

Other times I just look him straight in the eye and I say, "You know, the most important thing you need to understand is that Jesus Christ died for our sins." It doesn't matter what background they come from, whether they are religious or not, whether they have heard about Jesus before or not – the critical message that everyone needs to hear is that Christ died to pay for all those things in their live that are not up to the standard of the type of life God would want us to live.

So, in summary, two practical points from this passage: first, be like Jesus in asking people about their understanding of who Jesus is. Initiate the conversation with a question, just as Jesus did. Second, no matter what their response, ensure that you communicate the gospel message – that Jesus Christ died for our sins. Keep these two points in mind when engaging in conversations about faith and let the Holy Spirit work through you to bring the truth of Christ's sacrifice to those who need to hear it.

That's a great example of using questions to engage in meaningful conversations. Asking questions about Jesus, His significance, or even more general questions about life and purpose can open up opportunities to share the gospel. The key is to be attentive to the person's responses and guide the conversation towards the central message of the gospel – that Jesus Christ died for our sins.

Remember, everyone is on a different spiritual journey, and tailoring your questions to where they are can make a significant impact. Keep being intentional in your conversations and trust the Holy Spirit to guide and work through you as you share the love and truth of Christ.