(6th in a
series on Lent)
Luke 9:18-27
(Use the link below to read the verses.)
I’ve
lived in Columbus, Ohio for over thirty years, and it still amazes me how
fanatic Buckeye fans are. If you’re a good Buckeye fan, then you will have at
least one championship shirt and/or hat from 2015. You can tell what someone
believes by their actions, their words and in what they invest their time,
talent and treasure.
18 One time when Jesus was off praying by himself, his disciples
nearby, he asked them, “What are the crowds saying about me, about who I am?” 19 They
said, “John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the
prophets from long ago has come back.” 20-21 He then asked,
“And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?” Peter answered,
“The Messiah
of God.” MSG
Peter
responded with the correct answer, but the real question is, “So what difference
does that make in your life”? Remember, the disciples were still under the misdirected
belief that the Messiah would bring political power to the Jews. Even though
Jesus point blank told them he must die, they didn’t get it.
Jesus
follows his question above with some instruction on what exactly it will mean
for the disciples to believe that he is “the
Messiah of God”. He told them, and us, that there is a price to follow
Jesus; to believe in him; to call him Lord and Savior.
23-25 Then he told them what they could expect for themselves:
“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the
driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it… Self-help is no help
at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my
way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get
everything you want and lose you, the real you? MSG
I
used to have a neighbor that had season football tickets for the Buckeyes. Every
Sunday morning, following a game, he would be in his driveway talking on the
phone, dissecting every play and referee call.
As
mentioned in the first paragraph, if you’re a good Buckeye fan, people can
tell. They can tell by the clothes you wear; by what you talk about; by how you
spend your time and money; by what you do for entertainment. People can tell.
During
this Lenten season, as we draw closer to the celebration of Easter, how do you
answer the question of who Jesus is? Are you just a fan or a devoted follower?
People can tell.
(If
God has spoken to you through this devotional, please feel free to share it
with others.)
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