Key Thought

No matter what the world might think of him -- whether it is Herod or the crowd or the enemies of Jesus -- Jesus' real concern was that his disciples know. He would leave his mission in their hands. They would be called upon to put their lives on the line. They would be called to move from being merely followers to becoming followers who were leaders, mentors, and guides for thousands of others. Peter answers for them: "You are the Messiah sent from God!" Who is Jesus to you? Is he your Messiah, the gift sent from God to save you? If not, what stands in your way?

Today's Prayer

Today's Verses in Context

One time Jesus was praying alone. His followers came together there. Jesus asked them, "Who do the people say I am?" The followers answered, "Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Other people say you are Elijah. And some people say you are one of the prophets from long ago that has come back to life." Then Jesus said to his followers, "And who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ from God." Jesus warned them not to tell anyone. Then Jesus said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the older Jewish leaders, the leading priests, and teachers of the law. The Son of Man will be killed. But after three days he will be raised from death." Jesus continued to say to all of them, "If any person wants to follow me, he must say 'No' to the things he wants. That person must accept the cross (suffering) that is given to him every day, and he must follow me. The person that wants to save his life will lose it. And every person that gives his life for me will save it. It is worth nothing for a person to have the whole world, if he himself is destroyed or lost. If any person is ashamed of me and my teaching, then I will be ashamed of that person. I will be ashamed of that person at the time I come with my glory and with the glory of the Father and the holy angels. I tell you the truth. Some of you people standing here will see the kingdom of God before you die."

— Luke 9:18-27 (ERV)

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