Bible Study (3) - All About JESUS (3) - The Identity of JESUS - Luke 9:18-26 - March 17, 2024

 

Bible Study (3) – All About JESUS (3) – The Identity of JESUS – March 17, 2024

Focal scripture is Luke 9:18-26.

JESUS invites us to identify with HIM.

Who is JESUS to you? Let’s explore!

Let’s explore how the disciples of JESUS got to know JESUS.

Educating, commissioning, and training JESUS’ chosen twelve disciples – Luke 9:1-17:

1 Summoning the Twelve, he (JESUS) gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. ² Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

It is interesting that the first step in educating HIS disciples, JESUS gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Then JESUS sent the twelve to preach and to heal diseases.

JESUS’ disciples had to be educated and equipped to do battle with the spirit world. How often do we hear sermons about the spirit world? Christians need to be educated regarding the spirit world. However, they must be careful not to be ensnared by it.

When JESUS was led into the wilderness as we read in Matthew 4:1: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

JESUS was tempted by the devil and so will Christians.

People who are truly Spirit-born (People who have invited JESUS into their heart and received the Holy Spirit), live in the power and strength provided by GOD, through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives one or more Spiritual Gifts to whom HE chooses as listed in 1 Corinthians 12. Pay special attention to verse ¹¹ One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

The Holy Spirit protects the Spirit-born person; however, the Spirit-born person can be lured away from the protection of GOD. Does the Holy Spirit warn that person? YES! But what does that person do? He/she ignores the warning and continues to follow his/her desire until the person is ensnared by Satan and his demons. That person no longer listens to the voice of GOD. Just know that the Spirit world is real but also remember 1 John 4:4: ⁴ You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one (JESUS) who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (Satan). Claim this verse as a Christian, even as you read this lesson.

We continue with JESUS instructing, teaching, and preparing HIS just chosen disciples to go out into the world. Luke 9:3-17:

³ “Take nothing for the road,” he told them, “No staff, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. ⁵ If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” ⁶ So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

Feeding of the Five Thousand

¹⁰ When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He (JESUS) took them along and withdrew privately to a^[a] town called Bethsaida. ¹¹ When the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

¹² Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.”

¹³ “You give them something to eat,” he told them.

“We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴ (For about five thousand men were there.)

Then he (JESUS) told his disciples, “Have them sit down^[b] in groups of about fifty each.” ¹⁵ They did what he said, and had them all sit down. ¹⁶ Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. ¹⁷ Everyone ate and was filled. They picked up twelve baskets of leftover pieces.

JESUS taught HIS disciples to use what they have and to trust GOD to provide. That is still true today. GOD equips us and provides. Our part is to trust.

Let’s read Luke 9:18-19:

Peter’s Confession of the Messiah

¹⁸ While he (JESUS) was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

JESUS was interested in who the crowds thought HE was?

Crowds of people were coming to see, hear and witness the miracles JESUS was performing. JESUS wanted to know what HIS disciples were hearing about HIM, thinking about HIM and HIS ministry.

Feed back is vital in ministry to help keep on track with our mission.

¹⁹ They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.”^[c]

All were dead people who they thought had come back to life.

What others think is useful, but the key is what do we, as a follower of JESUS, think about JESUS?

Let’s read Luke 9:20-22:

²⁰ “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

The most important question all of us must answer is, “who do we say that JESUS is?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

The Apostle Peter gave the correct answer for that time, but did Peter fully understand the mission of the Messiah? JESUS had equipped Peter, as well as the other disciples with “power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.”

Yet, what did Peter do when JESUS had been interrogated and beaten just the night before HIS crucifixion?

Peter denied JESUS three times. Why? Peter had the wrong expectations about JESUS and HIS Kingdom. Peter likely thought JESUS would establish an earthly Kingdom.  Many of us do the same thing. When Peter realized what he had done, scripture reveals in Matthew 26:75: Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Apostle Peter realized what he had thought about the Kingdom JESUS would establish was wrong. Peter was thinking of an earthly Kingdom. What changed his mind? Did the words of JESUS come to his mind as recorded in our last scripture?

So, what did the Apostle Peter do? He repented. How do we know that? Peter wept bitterly. Peter realized that JESUS knew before hand what he would do and that brought to Peter’s memory what JESUS had told HIS disciples as recorded in Matthew 20:18 ¹⁸ “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death.

At critical times GOD brings to our minds certain facts or scripture confirming that JESUS is truly the promised Messiah.

Sometimes in our denial of JESUS, we are drawn closer to HIM when we continue to seek truth. We must keep in our minds that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities. JESUS does not give up on us who seek, and we must not give up on HIM. This is the principle that JESUS taught as recorded in Luke 11:9: “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Once the door has been opened, that is your invitation to seek what has been revealed. The Holy Spirit will reveal and teach you. The gift of the Holy Spirit comes only by accepting JESUS as your personal Savior.

It is vital for a person to move from head knowledge to heart knowledge. A vast difference. Discover the difference!

What is the difference? Head knowledge is based upon a person’s intellect. Heart knowledge is revealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

His Death and Resurrection Predicted

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

That must have sounded like nonsense to JESUS’ disciples. Is this what Peter recalled? Likely.

Take Up Your Cross.

Let’s read Luke 9:23-26:

²³ Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after^[d] me, let him (or her) deny himself/herself, take up his/her cross daily,^[e] and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. ²⁵ For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and 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. ²⁷ Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

EASTER is coming. EASTER is celebrated as the resurrection day of JESUS, and it is every Spirit-born Christian’s assurance of eternal life through faith in JESUS!

What do we read in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians? Ephesians 6:10-20:

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. ¹³ For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, ¹⁵ and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. ¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. ²⁰ For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Spirit-born Christians are Ambassadors of JESUS.

Blessings!!!