The Christ of God

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Gathered with pastors on the Missouri district this week to 
worship the Lord. It was great to be together - safely - and 
declare that Jesus is Lord!


Scripture:


Luke 9:18   Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”


Luke 9:21   He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”


Observation:


This scene becomes a turning point in the gospel. Everything, so far, has been building to this moment when the identity of Jesus is affirmed by Peter. But how does Luke get us here? Only Luke records that Jesus was again off praying. I find it fascinating that the disciples always seem to stay at a distance when Jesus is praying. Jesus may have instructed them to do so, or the intimacy of his prayer may have made them uncomfortable and they intentionally chose to stay at a distance. In this case, they may be nearer than they had in other occasions, and this may mark the fact that they are becoming more comfortable with who he is and his relationship to the Father. The connection to prayer also shows us that when Jesus prayers, the answers are supernaturally mediated. 


In the quiet of the moment, Jesus poses a question to the disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” There would have been many rumors and conversations among those in the crowd. The disciples provide the responses that they have heard but then Jesus turns the question toward all of them, “But who do you say that I am?” It’s Peter who seems to blurt out the answer, and he becomes the first person, actually he is the first human in Luke’s gospel to declare that Jesus is “The Messiah of God.”


Peter’s response is slightly different here than in the other gospels. It’s only here that he refers to Jesus as “The Messiah of God,” or “the Christ of God.” This is significant for the language of “the Messiah” or “the Christ” signifies “the anointed one.” In the Old Testament we read about the “LORD’s Anointed” which was language used in regard to the King, and quite specifically, David. Peter’s use of this language reveals the identity of Jesus as God’s chosen One, anointed to come and to lead the people of God. 


Application:


The reason this scene is so vital is that it presents the inseparability of Christology and discipleship. Unless we truly understand who Jesus is, we cannot be genuine disciples. Once this is firmly established, the remainder of the story of Christ can be told. 


Peter’s confession that Jesus is the “Christ of God” becomes the turning point in the gospel and in his life as a disciple. For each follower of Christ there must come a moment where there is the genuine and heartfelt declaration that Jesus is Lord. He is the anointed one of God who has complete and total authority in heaven and on earth. This is an understanding of the kingdom of God and it’s all-encompassing power and authority over the life of a disciple, and we are invited into participation in this confession. Jesus is the anointed One of God who can lead and guide us in our lives, every single day. 


This also brings us back to understanding the place of prayer in our lives. This incredible concept was understood by Peter after Jesus had been in prayer, and we also assume that the disciples had been praying as well. They were just learning what it meant to pray, but they had been participating in this intimate moment with Jesus. Our eyes won’t be opened to the realities of the kingdom of God if we do not spend time in prayer. 


Prayer:


Lord, I want to live with my eyes opened to the work of your kingdom in this world. Thank you for the moments of divine participation that reveal your activity in the already of your kingdom. Amen. 

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