But what about you?
Luke 9:18-27
Key Verse 9:20
Luke09_18_27_DavidGates
20 “But what about you?” he asked.
“Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
Today’s Bible passage is a very personal encounter, much different from the amazing miraculous event of feeding thousands of people. Today’s passage is just a short conversation about Jesus’ identity and some instructions for his followers. The revelations of public opinion are astounding in light of all we heard about in the previous chapters but we are encouraged by Peter to confess Jesus is Christ, our savior and lord. And we are challenged by Jesus’ directions to live for him rather than ourselves. Let’s pray everyone may personally encounter Jesus, understand who he is, what it means to follow him and have faith to obey his words in our day.
Look at verse 18. “Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him …” It mentions Jesus praying in private, without any specific reference to when or where. So we are assuming this happened after all the previous amazing stories. It is hard to imagine how Jesus could find the free time, in private, seeing how the crowds were able to track him down previously. They were constantly interrupting to get help. It got so bad that Jesus had to send out the twelve to take care of most cases ahead of time as he made his way through the villages. It seems significant and meaningful that, when he had a break, Jesus used it to pray. We have to guess the major prayer topic based on the context, and later discussion. But it is notable that Jesus sought inspiration and direction for himself and direction for his disciples any chance he got. My guess about the urgent prayer topics would be conversing with our father in heaven about the previous success and whether to continue on the same ministry methods or to focus on something else. Based on the sudden question he raised to the disciples it seems like he was inspired this time to help his team improve their understanding and consider the real purpose for Jesus’ incarnation. Seeing bread appear from nowhere and every kind of human ailment instantly repaired, it would be easy to get the wrong idea of what Jesus’ ministry needed to accomplish so it does seem like time to turn a little toward in depth teaching about himself & discipleship for his followers.
Another prayer in John 17 near the very end of Jesus’ life probably expresses his concern and vision that was forming for his followers very well. There he prayed that they may know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom God sent. He also asked God not to take them out of the world, but protect them from the world. Seeing Jesus use his spare time in this way makes us wonder what we did last time there was a chance to rest? A few years ago I tried to pray more purposefully and effectively. It worked for a few months, but then business got busy and there were many things distracting me. I don’t think I was ever so busy as Jesus would be with thronging crowds. But, looking back, I noticed that when there was a chance to rest, I took a rest. Verse 18 reminded me that if there is time to rest, we should pray before we transform into a couch potato.
His prayer revealed it was sort of mid-term time for the disciples. So when they got together, he had some questions for them. First he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” At this point in their travels the disciples had lots of time to interact with people in villages and the large events. The question about public opinion tests the disciples’ observations of the people Jesus sent them to serve. They had to be interactive, listening to the people to assess the crowd’s expectations rather than just handing out miraculous help. Now Jesus wants the disciples to understand if those receiving many benefits had sincere hope in God’s kingdom or not. Verse 19 shares what the disciples learned.
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.” The public opinion is disappointing. It is the same rumors and superstitious ideas that Herod considered in chapter 9 verse 7. The crowds were poor bible students who were undecided and unable to make up their mind about Jesus, and did not even seem to take him seriously. They could not even accept him as a unique prophet on his own merits and concluded he was a reincarnation. At this time in his ministry, the large majority of people sought Jesus because he was a nice guy, a helpful individual whom God used to bless them. But regarding his lordship and eternal purpose, the people Jesus met were hard hearted like the path and withering spiritually like the rocky soil listeners he described in chapter 8.
Look at verse 20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Peter had the better answer, the correct answer. In Matthew’s gospel Peter’s answer leads to the promise of keys to the kingdom. It seems like he got a good grade on the midterm. But it took a while for him to figure it out.
John’s Gospel 1:41 records Peter considering this idea early on. Peter’s brother Andrew spent some time with Jesus after he returned from the wilderness and it says, “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).” Peter may have been a little skeptical at the beginning, but after seeing a huge catch of fish appear in his net his eyes began to open. Now after many adventures and Bible studies, Peter is convinced and agrees with Andrew 100%. I tried looking through the Bible to consider the origin of Andrew & Peter’s concept and what it means to call Jesus, “The Christ of God ” or “The Messiah” as some recent Bibles paraphrase the concept.
It must obviously have some root in the Old Testament, since Jewish people were
looking for “the Messiah” in Andrew’s mind. This slide shows an attempt at proper Hebrew sounding “maw-shee’-akh” and a definition, very simply, anointed. The basic concept throughout the Hebrew scriptures of Messiah is someone whom God has specifically chosen for some kind of leadership or other representative purpose. The one chosen was sometimes even “anointed” with oil in a ceremony, indicating God specifically chose them for something.
The earliest case was Aaron and any priest that succeeded him, as described briefly
in Leviticus chapter 4 and 6. In Samuel’s books there are some vague depictions of anointed leaders, and some specific descriptions of King Saul and David as machiach. After that psalms refer most often to David’s trials but one interesting mention describes Abraham, Isaac and Jacob wandering about as messiahs and prophets. Psalm 105:13-15. Much later in those psalms there may be a more prophetic reference to a future messiah, from David’s line. Next case is most unusual in Isaiah where Cyrus is called messiah. Cyrus permitted Israeli exiles to return, according to the prophecy in Jeremiah’s letter. That reference is most unusual because Cyrus was not a descendant of David, or priest in Israel, yet God chose him and raised him for a specific purpose, setting his people free from their punishing captivity.
The next mentions of an anointed one are in Daniel’s cryptic description of the kingdoms rising and falling. Many Christian scholars associate those prophetically with Jesus, and others with Cyrus fulfilling Isaiah’s promise.
The last mention in the Old Testament is in Habbakuk’s song, where the prophet sang of God’s help in troubled times, even if the nation were destroyed, Habakkuk determined to praise God and he realized God would protect and use his anointed one, but in context is seems a little ambiguous, not specifically indicating a person or position. It even resembles a metaphorical depiction of God’s people being saved as a whole in spite of utter desolation in the land.
These are the foundation for Peter and the Jews concept regarding the Christ of God. They help us think about what Peter was expecting from his Lord and helps put ourselves into the disciples shoes as the conversation continues. In a nutshell, they were hoping God will send a unique leader, the Messiah, who rescues or delivers Israelites as a nation set apart, establishing their homeland as a kingdom that would never end. The odd reality is that even though Peter got the right answer to the question, he was probably thinking of societal and political revolution into a utopian kingdom in his homeland.
Nevertheless, it is admirable and amazing that Peter was way ahead of the large majority. He cast his lot with Jesus and subconsciously, his declaration became a sort of confession and starting place for disciples. Believers should realize they need help with their sins and recognize Jesus as their savior. Peter truly hoped to experience God’s kingdom by serving God’s Messiah. With hindsight, we understand much better what God’s Messiah meant for Jesus, but God did plant some seeds of the true vision in those days. Luke even recorded some contemporary prophetic and angelic descriptions of what Jesus would accomplish as God’s messiah.
Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. These were told about Jesus just around thirty years prior to today’s passage, so the messianic idea of the Savior, an eternal ruler and son of God was not new, but it was difficult to see it in context. To make those things come true, along with everything else that was written about the anointed in the law of Moses, Prophets and Psalms, Jesus had to follow God’s plan. Though Peter had the right answer, Jesus realized he needed a better grasp of the actual plan.
Look at verse 21. “Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.” Why did Jesus strictly prohibit sharing the truth about him? It seems logical to counter the fake news that he is a reincarnated prophet from long ago. Why leave people in the dark? Mainly because he knew that his anointing was different from the preconceived notions of the day. Jesus needed to correct his disciples’ concept of the Messiah.
So he shared the inconvenient, unimaginable, prophetic truth with them in verse 22. “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” God’s plan for his anointed was the last thing anyone ever imagined. It would make sense if the establishment eventually came around and rallied behind Messiah so they could declare a breakaway kingdom and gradually take over the world. How could it be that God’s anointed must suffer and be rejected by his own people? This probably went in one of Peter’s ears and out the other at the moment. But it was decreed about Christ long ago.
Isaiah says, “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted… Although the future was horrible, the glimpse of hope for god’s people is also included, taking up our infirmities, though the people could not understand as it was happening. Messiah’s suffering would not be a complete surprise to the disciples, if they had a better understanding of the Bible, but the wrong indoctrination of many centuries left them in the dark.
Maybe the hardest thing to understand was why Jesus said he “must” suffer, be rejected AND KILLED. Emphasizing “must” means there is no other way to fulfill those prophecies. It also implies there is something much bigger on God’s plan than a Mediterranean utopia in the middle east for an everlasting kingdom. Of course we know it was God’s will for Jesus to suffer on account of sin and to die by shedding his blood as our Passover lamb. But we cannot think of solving our sin and death problem as some kind of deal with God, or a simple transaction where Jesus stops by, dies to pay the bills and returns to heaven, like if we paid a parking ticket. We cannot take for granted that Jesus has died to set us free from the consequences. Sin damages and destroys people’s inner being and leaves wounds and scars that cause deep sorrow, shame and pain.
We need healing and Jesus provides it, though it required suffering many things, being rejected and killed in a very shameful and painful way. Isaiah also said, “5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Let’s say, “Thank you, Jesus!” Thank you Jesus, for suffering many things and dying to save us from our sins and to heal our wounds and scars.
Another thing we can learn from Jesus’ revelation is that suffering and death was the way to victory for God’s Messiah. The disciples had no idea that the Messiah had to suffer, be rejected and die. So when they confessed Jesus as God’s Messiah, they dreamed of military victories, honor and glory. They were shocked by Jesus’ words and by the time Jesus said “be raised to life,” their hearts were already closed. It would take a while for them to accept the fact, probably because it just seemed so unbelievable. Yet it came to pass. After his suffering and death, God raised Jesus to life. Victory, honor and glory followed the messiah’s pain and suffering. Hallelujah!
Jesus knew his disciples had much to learn about God’s plan, so it was not possible to start proclaiming him the Messiah openly. If they did, too many people would be let down and despaired when Jesus died, because as a nation, they simply had no concept of what God’s Messiah needed to do for them at this time.
Right after revealing the upcoming plan for God’s messiah, Jesus shared his plan for the disciples. See verse 23-25. 23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? They are very challenging words. Taking up the cross is horrifying to those living under Roman occupation. It means, get executed, violently, every day. This means following Jesus into his true messianic kingdom will be difficult, dirty and demeaning for many of the disciples around him that day. In greater or lesser extents, the way of the cross is God’s way of salvation for all who follow Jesus. Believers have to execute their sinful self, every day, every time to live as the royal priesthood in the holy nation. But like missionaries suffering for lack of hometown cooking, everyone misses their sinful life very much. We are all proud of our country and heritage. We don’t like being misunderstood or rejected for joining the believers. We rather save ourselves from ridicule or persecution by laying low and keeping quiet about faith in Jesus, but the Messiah’s principle and directions are clear. Deny ourselves here to share God’s glory over there. As Paul said, we must die here every day, to live forever in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus can tell his disciples to live like this because he also led the way. Jesus denied himself heavenly glory to live among sinners and die on a cross when they rejected him. But God exalted him to the highest place and made him lord over all things in creation. Anyone who follows Jesus should be able and willing to lose everything in this world if God needs them to do that because they know God will share much more amazing glory with them in eternity.
Think about the value Jesus declared comparing our soul to this whole world! The world is meaningless compared to the value of our very self. So, hoping for a messianic kingdom in this world is also meaningless. We must trust God to share true riches with us after we die and rise again. This principle applies to all areas of Christian life. Apostle Paul said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” Apostle Peter also discovered the fruit of suffering & self-denial and encouraged Christians saying, “…rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1Pe 4:13).
Look at verse 26. 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Verse 26 has a scary truth that people may feel ashamed of Jesus when the worldly influences exert pressure to remain in the culturally acceptable way of life. Pray for each other to stand firm, with sure hope in Christ so Jesus will not be ashamed of us when he comes.
Verse 27 is one of Jesus’ more perplexing sayings. “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” It appears to be a sort of parable, which has many inspirations and applications. I thought of just two ways while preparing his message. First, metaphorically and second, metaphysically. Metaphorically, tasting death is a cryptic way of describing the lifestyle and principles he just mentioned, taking up the cross and denying ourselves ungodly things in this world. In this sense, it means there were some people there who would be on the fence about Jesus’ true messianic mission even after they actually saw Jesus risen from the dead. They had faith in his words, but could not give up their glory dreams of an Israeli kingdom on this earth. Some even asked Jesus if he would restore the kingdom just before he ascended to heaven. But a while later, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they started to understand much better and “saw” the kingdom of God in the right perspective. His kingdom is not of this world, but one they are building now as they seek the lost sheep and which they inhabit forever after the resurrection and judgment day. When they saw the big picture, they were able to live as witnesses, even die for Jesus in some cases. So, at the end of the day, telling them some would not taste death, just means some would be stubborn to associate with Jesus and purposefully follow his footsteps until they matured in faith. The other, metaphysical, way to understand
tasting death is based on the Messiah’s work described in Hebrews 2:9. It says, “we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In the metaphysical meaning, Jesus can substitute his death for anyone who belongs to him, so those who take up their cross and follow him have no reason to fear dying in the physical sense. Their bodies may be killed, but their souls are safe. They will rise with him to enter the kingdom of heaven like Pilgrim when he came out of the river. They stood on Jesus’ side and did not save their lives in this world but gave up their comforts and way of life to live as witnesses for Jesus’ kingdom. Some were martyred and some died naturally or by accident yet they will survive the judgment day because Jesus will remember them before his father and the angels. But there were some standing there who would not take up their crosses. They would rather save their lives in the world, walking on the wide road to destruction, enjoying sin after sin and clinging to their own self-righteousness. They will also die for the same reasons, but when they see the kingdom of God they will face a dreadful fate. They will see the king on the throne far off and beg him to admit them to eternal life, but he will say, away from me, I never knew you. Then they will be cast into the lake of fire, which is known as the second death.
These two concepts have a similar theme. There are those who will side with Jesus to inherit eternal life in his kingdom and those who choose to save their life in this world, ignoring Jesus’ frightening prophecy about the end.
Let’s read the key verse together one more time. 20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” After considering many scriptures in light of Jesus’ revelation of what Christ should do, we also have to consider his question individually and personally decide whether to confess with Peter, You are the Christ, my savior and Lord. What about us? Who do we say Jesus is? Pray that God may give us faith to confess Jesus is the Christ of God and strength to follow Jesus by denying ourselves, taking up our cross. Pray Jesus may not be ashamed of us, but invite us to share his victory, glory and everlasting kingdom.