Have you ever been asked a question that stopped you in your tracks? In Luke 9:18-27, Jesus poses perhaps the most crucial question anyone could face: “Who do you say that I am?” This wasn’t just a casual inquiry – it was a question that would define His disciples’ lives and continues to define ours today.
The Foundation of Faith When Jesus posed this question, He had already performed countless miracles. He’d fed thousands, healed the sick, and even raised the dead. Yet He wasn’t interested in public opinion polls or popular sentiment. Instead, He wanted a personal confession of faith from those closest to Him.
Peter’s response, “The Christ of God,” wasn’t just a good guess – it was divine revelation. This confession forms the bedrock of Christian faith, as Jesus Himself declared that upon this truth He would build His church. But the story doesn’t end there.
The Cost of Following Christ After Peter’s confession, Jesus did something unexpected. Instead of celebrating, He revealed the harsh reality of His mission: He must suffer, die, and rise again. Then He extended an invitation that seems paradoxical to our modern ears: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
This wasn’t a metaphorical suggestion. For Jesus’ first followers, the cross meant one thing: death. When He called them to take up their cross daily, He was calling them to die to themselves – their ambitions, comfort, and self-centered desires.
Practical Steps for Modern Disciples:
- Examine your confession: Who do you say Jesus is? Is He truly Lord of your life?
- Identify your “cross”: What is God asking you to surrender?
- Make daily choices that put Jesus first, even when it’s uncomfortable
- Live with eternal perspective, remembering that temporary sacrifice leads to eternal gain
The Challenge for Today In our self-focused culture, Jesus’ words challenge us to live differently. While the world says “be true to yourself,” Jesus says “deny yourself.” While society promotes self-preservation, Jesus promises that whoever loses their life for His sake will find it.
This message isn’t about mere discomfort or occasional inconvenience. It’s about complete surrender to Christ’s lordship. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us answer honestly when You ask, “Who do you say that I am?” Give us courage to not just confess You as Lord with our lips, but to take up our cross daily and follow You with our lives. May we find true life in surrendering everything to You. Amen.
