Bible Study - Questions Jesus Asked - Half-Hearted Interest or Total Committment? - Luke 9:18-26, 57-62 - March 10, 2013

Bible Study – Questions Jesus Asked – Half-Hearted Interest or Total Commitment? – March 10, 2013

Our scripture is Luke 9:18-26, 57-62.

When we accept CHRIST as our Savior, we make a commitment to HIM. It is often a moment we will remember for the rest of our lives. Salvation is the launching pad for our Spiritual growth and maturity. We can make a commitment to read and study the Bible, pray, attend church and do many things to show our commitment. The question is have we committed our lives such that we are willing to tell CHRIST, “Here I am, as I am, help me to be all that you want me to be.” JESUS makes it clear in our scripture what it means to be totally committed to HIM. GOD’S desire is for HIS children to be totally committed to HIM through their relationship with CHRIST. Revelation 3:16 - So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomitp Or spit you out of My mouth. Half-hearted commitment to CHRIST makes HIM sick.

Let’s consider the Apostle Peter’s commitment to CHRIST before HIS crucifixion, death and resurrection. Peter was physically, totally committed to CHRIST even unto death but he had to see Spiritual truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit. The barrier of false notions had to be dealt with.  

JESUS told Peter that he would “deny” HIM. To deny means to separate or disassociate from something or someone. When the apostle Peter denied JESUS three times, his motive was to distance himself from JESUS because he feared for his life when JESUS was arrested. Peter was willing to fight to the death as we see in John 3:37-38 - 37 “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!” 38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

We see in John 18:10-11, that Peter was willing to fight.

John 18:10-11 - 10 Then Simonj Mt 16:17 Peter,k Lk 6:14; Ac 10:32 who had a sword,l Mk 14:47; Heb 4:12 drew it, struck the high priest’sm Lv 16:32 •slave, and cut off his right ear. (The slave’s name was Malchus.)
11 At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Sheathe your sword! Am I not to drink the cupn Isa 51:22; Jr 49:12; Mt 20:22; 26:39,42; Mk 14:36; Lk 22:42 the Father has given Me?”

Peter was ready to fight. He knew JESUS was the promised Messiah but he thought of HIM, as did most people, that JESUS was a political Messiah sent to deliver Israel from Roman rule. Peter’s earthly conclusion had to be shattered to make room for truth. When truth was revealed to him, his Spiritual eyes were opened and the scales were removed from his earthly eyes and understanding. Peter still had to face the traditions of his earthly life in order to be fully used by GOD to minister to all people. Peter’s heart had to be changed toward the Gentiles before he could minister to them. He had to deal with his prejudice and learn to trust fully in the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Christians are no different. We are on a Spiritual journey and as we live and build our relationship with CHRIST, our Spiritual eyes continue to be opened to more truth and false notions are dispelled.

Our scripture begins with Peter’s response to at least one of the questions JESUS asked. JESUS had just finished feeding over 5,000 people. Peter had just witnessed this miracle, which was just one of the many manifestations of the presence and power of GOD through JESUS. GOD was revealing and confirming Who JESUS was. JESUS went to pray. Biblical prophecy had to be fulfilled before CHRIST’S journey to the cross. We do not know what was in the mind of CHRIST. Perhaps the questions JESUS were related to checking a milestone of prophecy. CHRIST knew the answer but were these questions for HIS disciples and for all Christians to ponder regarding their relationship with CHRIST?   Let’s explore!

Let’s read Luke 9:18-23:

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

18 While He was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others that one of the ancient prophets has come back.”20 “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?”Peter answered, “God’s •Messiah!”

These are such important questions. These were questions regarding those who had witnessed the presence of CHRIST. Does this question give us a clue into what JESUS might be praying about? Was JESUS asking these questions to get HIS disciples to ponder HIS questions? These questions are just as relevant today as they were then. But the most important question is “Who do you say that I am?” JESUS used the name for GOD, “I AM.” Do we see JESUS as a great teacher, prophet, lunatic or the Son of GOD? How a person answers that question is important. It is one thing to say who JESUS is but knowing who JESUS is through a personal experience is another. The former is head knowledge and the latter is heart knowledge. Peter uttered the words but his false notions had to be dispelled so he could experience the Spiritual purpose of JESUS in his life. A person’s notions can be serious barriers to receiving and understanding truth.

Notice, it was Peter who answered the question correctly. Yet, Peter would deny CHRIST not once, not twice but three times. Once he denied CHRIST it resulted in him reconsidering the purpose of CHRIST.  He placed his faith on the firm foundation of truth. Head knowledge is not the same as heart knowledge.

Peter had to go through the process of denying CHRIST before he was able to see CHRIST in his heart. As stated earlier, the word “deny” meant he disassociated himself from CHRIST. Peter knew that GOD’S power had been manifested through CHRIST but was he disappointed that JESUS did not come out swinging when HE was arrested? Peter was blinded from Spiritual truth until his Spiritual eyes were opened. Do you need to ask CHRIST to open your Spiritual eyes so you can see truth? If so, ask HIM now to reveal truth to you and dispel any false notions as you seek Spiritual truth through the study of the Bible.  

Luke 9:21-22 - His Death and Resurrection Predicted 

21 But He strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The •Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, •chief priests, and •scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Why did JESUS tell them not to tell anyone? Knowing about JESUS is one thing but knowing JESUS as Savior is another. There are no short cuts to salvation. JESUS did not want HIS disciples to give the impression that salvation was embodied in knowing about HIM being the Messiah versus knowing HIM personally as their Savior. The faith of HIS disciples would be tested when these things happened to HIM. The proof was in the fact that GOD would raise HIM from the dead on the third day. The sin debt would be paid and death would be conquered for all would place their faith in HIM.    

Luke 9:23 - Take Up Your Cross

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

JESUS made it clear that following HIM was a daily commitment and not for wimps. Following JESUS is not easy and only possible through the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s read Luke 9:24-26:

24 For whoever wants to save his •life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. 25 What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.

No person can save his/her physical life because all humans will die physically. The question is, “Is there life after physical death?” The death of JESUS paid, in full, the price GOD required to pay the debt for sin. Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.e

The wages of sin is death but the gift of GOD is Eternal life through the miracle of rebirth in our spirit. The shed blood of CHRIST removes the barrier for sin. When a person realizes his/her need for salvation from Spiritual death and asks CHRIST to forgive him/her for his/her sins the miracle of rebirth takes place. That person becomes a child of GOD in that instant and that relationship will never change. Rebirth can only be found by placing your faith in CHRIST as your Savior. If you have never asked CHRIST to forgive you for your sins and to come into your life, ask HIM now and receive the gift of salvation and eternal life.

Let’s read Luke 9:57-62:

Following Jesus

57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go!” 58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”“Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” 60 But He told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

As JESUS went about teaching and preaching, many wanted to become a disciple. CHRIST wanted each follower to know, then and now, that following HIM is not an easy road to go down. Luke gave us several examples of those who wanted to follow CHRIST:

-         One wanted to follow HIM but CHRIST told him that he would not have a permanent place to lay his head at night. JESUS went to where HIS Father led HIM. That is a message to us today. Are we willing to go where GOD leads us?

-         One wanted to follow HIM but he had to go bury his father. Now that sounds like a good reason. The problem was his father had not died. Was this person saying I want to bury my father, get my inheritance and then I will follow you? We are not sure what was in this person’s heart but CHRIST did. JESUS’ message is clear, when you are led by GOD, called to follow HIM, you don’t delay.

-         One wanted to go and tell his family bye. That seems reasonable. But again when GOD calls, we are to respond. If we are sincere and desire to obediently serve GOD, when the Holy Spirit leads us, we are to respond. GOD may give us a few seconds to speak to a person about salvation, if we do not respond at that moment, it may be gone. A missed opportunity to plant a seed, do some encouraging, weeding or whatever GOD lays upon your heart to do. GOD wants HIS children to be ready to present HIS message at just the right moment because that moment may never happen again. May all Christians be found to be faithful warriors for our LORD and willing to respond as HE gives us opportunity!

Blessings!!!