Luke Part 2 Week 7

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 9:18-20 

¹⁸ One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” ¹⁹ “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.” ²⁰ Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 

Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!” 

Notice how Jesus moved from a general question to a specific one. First He asked His disciples what they heard others saying about Him. Then He asked the disciples specifically what each of them thought about who He was. Peter, usually the first to speak, said, “You are the Messiah sent from God!” Saying that Jesus was the Messiah was the same as saying He was the Christ.  

REFLECT 

Does this give you an idea for witnessing about Jesus? You can begin with a general question and then go to a more specific one. 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about how you may use this principle in witnessing about Jesus. Some people believe Jesus died for the world, but what do you think would be the answer if you asked, “Do you think He died for your sins?” 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 9:21-22 

²¹ Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. ²² “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” 

Jesus predicted His death at the hands of the religious leaders. The disciples always seemed to have a hard time grasping those statements until after His resurrection. They were not expecting to have a dead Messiah. Notice that Jesus precisely predicted when He would rise from the dead. This has given rise to differing opinions about when Jesus was crucified. It must be remembered, however, that a part of the day was counted as a day. 

REFLECT 

What would you have thought had you been one of the disciples hearing Jesus make comments about dying and rising from the dead? Such had never occurred before. 

RESPOND 

The message of the resurrection of Jesus is crucial to the gospel message. It is mentioned in defining the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:4. Join with a friend in also reading 1 Corinthians 15:12-14. Notice what would be lost if Jesus did not rise from the dead. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 9:23-25 

²³ Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ²⁵ And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” 

At the time Jesus made these statements a cross was a death symbol. One needs to realize that faith in Jesus for salvation is more important than life itself. Some live to accumulate greater wealth but it would be of no benefit without a right relationship with Jesus.  

REFLECT 

As someone has said, “There is nothing wrong with possessions unless they possess you.” 

RESPOND 

One needs income in order to live, but read what Jesus said as recorded in Matthew 6:24. Join with a friend in talking about how you view possessions. 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 9:26-27 

²⁶ “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. ²⁷ I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.” 

These are sobering words spoken by the Lord Jesus. To be ashamed of Jesus will cause Him to be ashamed of such a person when He returns in glory. Notice what Jesus promised His listeners at that time. How was it possible that some living then would see the Kingdom of God before their death? 

REFLECT 

Remember the reminder to keep reading if there is something in the Bible you don’t understand. 

RESPOND 

With a friend read Matthew 7:22-23. Think of people like Judas who betrayed Jesus. The other disciples did not know that he had never trusted in Jesus as Savior. When Jesus said someone would betray Him, each disciple asked, “Is it I?” (Matthew 26:20-22). Judas must have been doing all they were doing but he was not a Christ-follower. Are some like Judas today? 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 9:28-29 

²⁸ About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 

This answers the question that Luke 9:27 raised about how some still living would see the Kingdom of God. This transformation of Jesus was a prefiguring or foretaste of what the coming kingdom would be like. Not everyone saw it at this time. Jesus took only Peter and brothers James and John with Him up the mountain. Revelation 19:11-16 reveals what it will be like when Jesus returns to the earth at His second advent. 

REFLECT 

Was it helpful to keep reading when you saw the unusual statement in Luke 9:27? 

RESPOND 

Peter, James and John seemed to be in the inner circle with Jesus. What a precious knowledge they received about Jesus on these occasions. As you read the gospels, be looking for these three going with Jesus. Think of yourself as in the inner circle with Jesus as you read the Scriptures today.