Daily Reading: 5-11-16
Luke 9:18-27 New Living Translation
Many people have opinions about God; who He is and how Jesus may or may not play a role in the divine Presence. Many religions acknowledge Jesus’ loving leadership in some form or another. Yet, Jesus was not just some amazing leader, prophet, teacher or healer. Jesus Christ strategically meets a lost humanity in a moment of authentic seeking; spiritual exploration to understand the God who claims to be Love.
In our reading today, the disciples have just witnessed Jesus feeding 5,000 men with a sack lunch: five loaves and two fish. By the way, when everyone was fed there were still leftovers. Seriously? Peter and the other disciples are still shaking their heads and wondering who this Jesus really is and how this miracle fits with their image of Almighty God whose Presence they believe lives in the Temple. Jesus knows when we seek and he responds to help the disciples discover Truth.
Luke 9:18-27
Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
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!”
Jesus Predicts His Death
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.”
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? 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.”
Those who authentically seek will find the Truth about God’s personhood as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; three entities that form one whole God. (NOTE: Humans are a three part being that make a whole, too. We are a speaking spirit, we have a soul-mind, will, and emotions-and we live in a body). Jesus is the divine speaking Word or Son sent by God. Jesus, Word of Love in human form, came to save humanity from sin and separation from God (v. 20). He gave his life, so the lost souls of humanity could choose to live in the power of Love (v. 23-24). When Jesus rose from the dead and returned to glory, he sent the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit permeates time and space in order to reveal the divine Presence and His Kingdom to the seekers (v. 27) and is the one who guides the way to Love for every life who welcomes his assistance.
One of my favorite verses in Scripture is the testimony of Jesus Christ found in Revelation 1:8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end. I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come–the Almighty One.” I need to connect to Christ…the Speaking and Living Word of Love.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for meeting me every time I seek to learn the Truth about Your love and for teaching me not only how to speak about love but live it out each day in practical ways. You are my Messiah; You deliver me to Love and save me from sin and dead living. Continue to guide my path, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.