The Most Important Question: Luke 9:18-22
“18) And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?” 19) They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.” 20) And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” 21) But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, 22) saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.” Luke 9:18-22
This same story is told in greater detail in Matthew 26:13-20. Both texts should be studied side by side.
Why do you suppose Jesus questioned His disciples about this matter? He Himself was omniscient. He knew the thoughts and opinions of people.
Like a good teacher, He was asking the question for the sake of His disciples. He was prompting them to think and process.
The second question was more important; “But who do you say that I am?” The disciples were with Him night and day. They were invited to follow Him into a deep discovery process. The timing was more than midway through their journey. In a sense, this was a mid term exam.
Everyone has an opinion about Jesus. We all have to answer this question. The way you answer this question determines your salvation.
Romans 10:9-11 says; ““that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”” The key is believing that Jesus is Lord!
Islam believes Jesus is a prophet. The Jehovah Witnesses believe He died for our sins. But they both reject Him as Lord. They refuse to acknowledge Him as the Son of God, the Messiah, coequal with the Father. (See Colossians 2:9; Revelation 5:13-14)
This is what makes Peter’s answer so profound. “And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:20) Matthew 16:16 says; “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This answer is the corner stone upon which Jesus is building His church.
It is no wonder Peter was later used to write the amazing truth found in 1 Peter 2:4-10. Take time to study these verses. They explain how Jesus is building His church even today.
Psalm 118:22-23 prophetically says; “22) The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. 23) This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.” Jesus quoted this Psalm in Matthew 21:42-46 and Luke 20:17-18.
The religious leaders rejected Him, but those who understand His true identity and believe in Him are saved and become living stones is the church He is building.
So why did Jesus warn the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ? There are two reasons. The first is timing. This was before His death, burial and resurrection. The gospel had to be fulfilled.
The second reason was preservation. They would have been accused of blasphemy and crucified with Him had they openly expressed their discovery at this time.
They had the mission to build the church. They were given the keys to the Kingdom. Indeed, most became martyrs because of this doctrine. They laid down their lives to defend the gospel and the true identity of Jesus Christ.
I now ask you the questions; “Who do you say that Jesus is?” “Have you placed personal faith in Him to be your only hope of salvation?” The way you answer these questions determine your eternal destiny.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“18) And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?” 19) They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.” 20) And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” 21) But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, 22) saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.” Luke 9:18-22
This same story is told in greater detail in Matthew 26:13-20. Both texts should be studied side by side.
Why do you suppose Jesus questioned His disciples about this matter? He Himself was omniscient. He knew the thoughts and opinions of people.
Like a good teacher, He was asking the question for the sake of His disciples. He was prompting them to think and process.
The second question was more important; “But who do you say that I am?” The disciples were with Him night and day. They were invited to follow Him into a deep discovery process. The timing was more than midway through their journey. In a sense, this was a mid term exam.
Everyone has an opinion about Jesus. We all have to answer this question. The way you answer this question determines your salvation.
Romans 10:9-11 says; ““that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”” The key is believing that Jesus is Lord!
Islam believes Jesus is a prophet. The Jehovah Witnesses believe He died for our sins. But they both reject Him as Lord. They refuse to acknowledge Him as the Son of God, the Messiah, coequal with the Father. (See Colossians 2:9; Revelation 5:13-14)
This is what makes Peter’s answer so profound. “And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:20) Matthew 16:16 says; “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This answer is the corner stone upon which Jesus is building His church.
It is no wonder Peter was later used to write the amazing truth found in 1 Peter 2:4-10. Take time to study these verses. They explain how Jesus is building His church even today.
Psalm 118:22-23 prophetically says; “22) The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. 23) This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.” Jesus quoted this Psalm in Matthew 21:42-46 and Luke 20:17-18.
The religious leaders rejected Him, but those who understand His true identity and believe in Him are saved and become living stones is the church He is building.
So why did Jesus warn the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ? There are two reasons. The first is timing. This was before His death, burial and resurrection. The gospel had to be fulfilled.
The second reason was preservation. They would have been accused of blasphemy and crucified with Him had they openly expressed their discovery at this time.
They had the mission to build the church. They were given the keys to the Kingdom. Indeed, most became martyrs because of this doctrine. They laid down their lives to defend the gospel and the true identity of Jesus Christ.
I now ask you the questions; “Who do you say that Jesus is?” “Have you placed personal faith in Him to be your only hope of salvation?” The way you answer these questions determine your eternal destiny.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
