Luke 9:1-20
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”…. -Luke 9:20
Jesus demonstrated a life of example to His disciples as He took them along with Him and opened their understanding to what the Kingdom of God is like. Having spent some quality time with them, Jesus now thought it fit to put into practice what they had heard him teach and preach about the Kingdom of God. So he sent them out on a mission to preach the gospel and heal the sick, giving them authority and power. They returned after a successful mission of having accomplished what the Lord told them to do.
In the context of all that was happening around them, we see a few people’s approach and perspective of Jesus in our reading today. As we look at them, can we identify ourselves with any of them?
· Herod the Tetrarch: After beheading John the Baptist, this political leader was scared as to who next was rising up and potentially challenge his power. There was a mixture of curiosity and apprehension about Jesus and the reports about Him. Herod’s wanting to see Jesus was more of an interest about the rising popularity of one who had a great following of crowd and did many miracles. Herod was clearly not a God-seeker.
· The Crowd that followed: The crowd that followed Jesus was mixed- some earnestly wanted to listen to Him, others wanted their needs met- healing of various sorts, satisfying their immediate physical needs, some out of curiosity to watch Him perform miracles, etc. Many would have viewed Him as a miracle-worker, maybe a prophet who taught and spoke with authority. Some may have paid Him respect, reverence, worship too.
· The Disciples: Jesus’ disciples were the closest who knew Him as they literally lived with Him and experienced His presence. Yet Jesus wanted to test their perception. When Jesus asked them to provide food for the big crowd of over 5,000, we see their “human thinking” upfront instead of looking up to the One who could do a miracle in feeding the crowd. After the event, Jesus now led them to first asking them “Who do the crowds say I am?” (V.18). The answer surprisingly was a repetition of what Herod had heard of Jesus. Then He launched the next question: “But what about you?” …“Who do you say I am?” Here was a heart to heart question from the Lord—“what’s your true impression about me?”
· Peter: Peter’s answer was spot on! — Jesus the anointed one of God! Whether all of them had the same understanding, we don’t know. Peter was enlightened by the Spirit of God to speak forth that answer. Jesus while warning them to keep it among themselves, He made them aware of the disciple’s call to follow Him at all costs- a life of taking up one’s cross and following daily! That called for commitment, with all risks and even at the cost of one’s life (Vs.23-25).
The various approaches to Jesus and the Kingdom of God isn’t any different in our day. There are the on-lookers, then the ones who need God just to meet their physical needs, others who have a marginal relationship with Jesus with church-going and the ceremonials, who are content with what others say about Jesus! Yet there are the real followers, those who have a living relationship with the Saviour and Lord of their lives, who represent Him. To them, His power is made available through the Holy Spirit to carry on the task He entrusts as He did with His first disciples.
The question to you is: Who do you say Jesus is? The answer will decide your perception of Christ!
Acknowledge what Jesus says:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)
Listen: 'Behold Him! '