Who do you say I am?
Pray
Begin with prayer, opening your heart to His Word and Spirit.
Read Luke 9:18-22
18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”
21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Reflect
Soon Jesus and his disciples will start their journey to Jerusalem. They are together as Jesus prays. Then the questions come. “Who do the crowds say I am?” The disciples respond with several suggestions. Jesus’ second question, “Who do you say I am?” prompts an immediate response from Peter, “The Christ of God.” Not as quick is Peter’s full understanding of this declaration that would include Jesus’ suffering, rejection and death.
Closing prayer
Father God, thank you for sending Jesus as part of your great plan and for what it cost so that we could be redeemed. Amen.