Life's Most Important Question

This morning, we continue in our study of Luke’s gospel, and we are going to see life’s most important question.  It comes from the mouth of Jesus in 9:20.

 

However, this is not the first time we have heard this question.  We heard a very similar question from Herod just a few weeks ago.  It is found in 9:9.

 

9 Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Please listen carefully.  How you answer this question, life’s most important question, will determine where you spend eternity.  You will either spend eternity living in heaven, or your will spend eternity dying in hell.

 

 

Exposition

In verse 18, we see that Jesus was alone praying.  However, His disciples were close by.

 

BTW…If Jesus spent time alone in prayer, don’t you think you and I should as well?  What is prayer?  Prayer is simply talking to God.

 

The most I talk to God is first thing morning after I have let God talk to me by reading my Bible.  Then I pray for about 30 minutes.

 

I pray for me.  I pray for my family.  I pray for you.  Then I pray thought out the day as needs arise or the Lord brings them back to mind and heart.

 

 

1. An Answer of Public Consensus, Luke 9:19

19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

 

When His twelve disciples joined Him, He asked them who they crowds were saying He was.  In verse 19, they answered Him.

 

Their answer was one of public consensus.  In other words, this is what the crowds were saying.

 

Keep in mind, these are the same crowds who had heard Him teach, and they had seen Him heal.  Therefore, their answers were not surprising.

 

Some said John the Baptist.  Others said Elijah.  Other said an older prophet who had come back to life, possibly Moses.

 

BTW…Do prophet still exist today?  Yes, and no, they are similar to apostles. 

 

Apostles with a capital A witnessed the resurrected Christ and wrote Scripture.  They don’t exist today.  However, apostles with a lowercase a are sent ones who are Christians sent to the Lost with the gospel.

 

Prophets like Moses and Elijah and John the Baptist spoke the very words of God.  They don’t exist today. 

 

However, prophecy is a spiritual gift, but not one that predicts the future.  It is boldly proclaiming the truths of the Bible.

 

Essentially, Herod reported the same earlier in this chapter.  See 9:7-8.

 

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

 

The public consensus was that Jesus was some type of prophet.  Today, multiple religions say similar.  This would be true of Islam.

 

Hinduism believes that Jesus was some type of self-realized saint.  Buddhism believes that Jesus was a great moral teacher.  Judaism believes that Jesus was a crazy man.

 

 

2. An Answer of Personal Conviction, Luke 9:20

20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” 

 

After the disciples spoke about the crowds, Jesus looked directly to them, and asked life’s most important question, “But who do you say that I am?”  Keep in mind, how you answer this question will determine if you spend eternity living in heaven or dying in hell.

 

Peter spoke for the group.  He confessed that Jesus was the Christ of God.

 

What does that mean?  In the language of the NT, Christ is word for Messiah.  Jesus was the Messiah sent from God.

 

What does Messiah mean?  It means that Jesus was and IS the savior sent from God.

 

Why is that significant?  Sending a savior implies we need a savior, and we do.

 

Let’s work backward.  We need a savior because we are sinners. 

 

Consequently, our sin separates us from God because God is holy and cannot have fellowship with sin.  Therefore, we need a savior. 

 

However, our man-made saviors don’t qualify.  What do I mean?

 

First, morality won’t save.  We can’t ever be good enough.

 

Second, genealogy won’t save.  Our family can’t ever be good enough.

 

Third, generosity won’t save.  We can’t ever give enough.

 

Fourth, ingenuity won’t save.  We can’t ever be smart enough. 

Fifth, authenticity won’t save.  We can’t ever be sincere enough. 

 

As a matter of fact, unless you trust in Christ, regardless of your authenticity, you can simply be sincerely wrong.  Jesus is the only qualified savior because He is the only sinless, perfect Son of God. 

 

Next, it was this sinless, perfect Son of God that died on the cross for our sins and in our place.  To authenticate all He said and did, Jesus didn’t stay dead.  He was resurrected from the grave and now reigns in heaven.

 

 

Conclusion
Today’s text ends with verses 21 and 22.  In verse 21, Jesus warned all of His disciples not to proclaim this truth yet.

 

Why?  It wasn’t God’s time yet, and this announcement at that time might have been perceived as Jesus being a political and military savior rather than a spiritual savior.

 

In verse 22, Jesus predicted His death and resurrection for the first time in Luke’s gospel. He would do it two more times in 9:44 and 18:31.

 

BTW…If Jesus predicted He would suffer and He would be rejected and we are His followers, what should that say about us?  More than likely, we will suffer, and we will be rejected.

 

The end of verse 22 is the gospel in brief.  Jesus would die on the cross for our sins, but He would be resurrected from the grave, and invites us to be saved.

 

Paul said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

 

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

 

How will you answer life’s most important question today?  Is Jesus your savior?  If not, would you receive Him today?

 

If He is, what is now your job?  God didn’t leave you on earth to live the good life chasing the American Dream.  He left you after saving you to share the gospel again and again and again and again.  Will you commit to that today?