Who is Jesus to You — Luke 9

0:00 Open your Bibles to Luke chapter nine. Luke chapter nine. We're we're going through a series of the Gospel of Luke, and we are now in chapter nine. And I am going to cover 10 through, 35. However, I'm only gonna read 18 through 35.

0:24 So if you can turn to Luke chapter nine, we'll start with verse 18. Okay. And it came about that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he questioned them saying, who do the multitudes say that I am? And they answered and said, John the Baptist. Others say Elijah, but others that one of the prophets of old has risen again.

0:57 And he said to them, but who do you say that I am? And Peter answered and said, the Christ of God. But he warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, saying the son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised up on the third day. And he was saying to them all, if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. Verse 24.

1:35 For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains a whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words of him will the son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the father and of the holy angels. But I say to you truthfully that there are some of those standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God. And so made days after these sayings, it came about that he took along Peter and John and James and went up to the mountain to pray.

2:27 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face became different and his clothes... His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were taking... Or I'm sorry, take talking with him, and and they were Moses and Elijah, who appearing in glory were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep.

2:56 It's kinda kinda interesting that Jesus is transforming and glowing, they're sleeping. They were also sleeping when he was in the Garden Of Gethsemane, getting ready to die and agonizing, and they were also sleeping. Two two of the most greatest moments, they were sleeping. But when they were fully awake, verse 32, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. And it came about as these were parting with...

3:26 From him, Peter said to Jesus, master, it is good for us to be here and let us make three tabernacles, one for you, one... And one for Moses and one for Elijah, not realizing what he was saying. And while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud saying, this is my son, my chosen one. Listen to him.

3:55 Alright. Let's pray. Father, we ask for the Holy Spirit's help as we consider this text in Jesus' name and for the glory of the father and the son. Amen. Amen.

4:29 And they say it in several occasions, over three times, the demons say, we know who you are. And so Jesus is... The writer Luke is expressing to us that Jesus truly is the Christ, the Messiah, the the one. But at that time, during during that time as well, many people were saying, I'm the Christ. You can read the gospels and see that they referred to this several times.

4:54 It's like, oh, another one that's saying he's the Christ. And so that he... It was necessary that through signs and wonders and healings and different things, he would show the people that he was genuine, that he was the real deal. So to this point then, we we see... Have seen, observed through the gospel of Luke that he did many miracles.

5:14 He healed many people miraculously. He removed many demons from people. You remember a couple of weeks back, we looked at the fact that he calmed the storm, he's in the boat, there's a massive storm going on, he says be quiet and it immediately stops. And so the disciples are like, wow, Who is this? They were they were still trying to grasp the the greatness of the person of Jesus Christ.

5:44 And Jesus knew that slowly, he had to reveal himself to them so they could be able to take in the the greatness of the person in front of them, which was God himself in human form. And so as as he's showing that he has power over demons and power over sickness and power over death and power over storms, he also has the ability to create food out of nothing. And so there's the text that I was going to read, but I don't have time. 10 through 17 is the story of the 5,000, where there's 5,000 men plus women and children and probably grandparents and and others. So I I...

6:24 I'm assuming 15 to 20,000 people were there and just... He prayed and started giving out food and it just kept coming. It kept coming. Right? And and there was food for everyone.

6:36 And so once again, the people are just like, wow. Look at this man. And so you notice... You can notice in chapter seven and verse 30, for example, that it says, but the pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John. So in other words, the the religious sector, as they were observing Jesus, were suspicious of him, and they basically rejected him.

7:05 All of the evidence, all of the miracles, the removing of demons, everything that he did, all the... Anything that you could put before them didn't matter. I mean, he could keep doing sign after sign, miracle after miracle, and they had hardened their hearts, and he's not the Messiah, and they rejected him. That's why they didn't get baptized with the baptism of John because then they would have identified with a message. And so all of these miracles and these signs weren't weren't convincing them at all.

7:38 In fact, in Matthew chapter 12, when he removed the demon from a man and the crowds were saying, could could this be the Messiah? And the Pharisees and and the religious men said, no, no. They started telling the crowd, he's not the Messiah, and and they were trying to do whatever they could to keep them from believing that he was the one. And it's no different today. If you haven't acknowledged Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, Satan is doing whatever he can in in any way, shape, or form to keep you from coming to Christ for the salvation of your soul.

8:16 And so Jesus was accepting sinners and baffling the culture because the leadership had had said to the people or had communicated that was a culture that God is far away from sinners and from tax gatherers. We also noticed that by this point, he was been tempted in so many ways and he had passed the test, and he continued to do so until, well, he never sinned. So he was tempted in every way yet without sin, so he passed that particular test. And then it gets to the point then in our text where he says, alright, that's enough evidence. Now I'm gonna ask a question.

9:07 Go to social media. Who's Jesus? You're going get every kind of answer that you can imagine. Right? All kinds of crazy stuff and within that, there might be a couple of people who are really saved, really believe in Lord and will say, hey, he's the Messiah.

9:21 Right? He's a he's a savior. And so you get all kinds of answers and all kinds of things, but notice that they said, John the Baptist, the multitudes. So what what are people saying? What are people saying?

9:34 Well, John the Baptist, other people said Elijah. And what did another person say? One of the prophets and someone... One another text they said Jeremiah. So in other words, the the multitudes of people out there, what do they say on the Internet?

9:50 They they were saying, well, he's just one of of many. He's like his... He's like a contemporary. He's in the same level, same page as Elijah, one of the prophets, Moses. He's there.

10:05 They they still hadn't come to the point where, no, they're down here and Jesus is up here. He... He's one of them. And God the father is saying, no, no, no. No, Moses, I created him.

10:20 Jesus saying, I created Moses. I created Elijah, John the Baptist. I'm I'm above them. I'm not in that level but that's what the multitudes were saying. And so it's a it's a it's a question posed to them.

10:35 What what what is the word in the street? What are they saying about me? But then, he turns a question. He makes it more personal. He goes, alright.

10:43 Alright. I I hear what they're saying and that's always going to be true. History repeats itself even today. They're saying all kinds of crazy stuff about me. But here's the question, and this is the most important question that can be asked and the most important question that that you need to answer.

11:02 Right now, I went online and I put that out there. What is the most important question we can ask? And so believe it or not, in the Internet, a lot of them said the most important question you can ask is what Jesus asked. Who do you say that I am? There's no greater question that we need to answer because your eternal destiny hinges on how you answer that question.

11:29 Do you realize that? You can't get it wrong, in other words. Now if somebody asked me a math question, I'm not good at math and I'll probably get it wrong, but you know, I just pull out the phone, put up the calculator. Oh yeah, I know the answer. Right?

11:44 I I cheat. I I know the answer. I I I I'm forgetting how to divide and all that because I don't use that hardly anymore. I don't need it. I just pull out my computer.

11:52 There, oh, there's the answer. But I can get it wrong and no big deal. But but this question is the most important question, and I want you to go home with this, and it's it's it's relevant relevant, it's important. Everything matters with this question right here because it has eternal consequences. And here's the thing, you've seen my miracles, my power, my authority, my many healings, so who am I then?

12:23 Who am I? That's the question. Who am I? Now, let let's let's bring it down here. Many of you, I don't know if this is your first time in a church or not, but some of you I I don't know very well.

12:37 But okay, you've heard the sermons. You've come to church, you sang the songs, they were nice. Right? And you you probably, I don't know if you grew up in a Christian home or not, but, you know, you heard your parents pray and and read their Bible and and and you've seen all that, you've heard what we have to say here, But after all of that, here is the question. Who is Jesus to you?

13:06 Well, I grew up in church. I sang the songs. I I know you have. I know you have but have you personally taken Jesus Christ as your savior and you're fully convinced that he is lord and there's no other way to heaven but through him that he is the only one and that nothing else matters. Have you come to that point?

13:45 You've been with me and you've seen it. Who am I? Who am I? By the way, I was I was teaching Matthew 16, which... In which he asked the same question and in in Mexico to a group of evangelists that preach the gospel.

14:03 Right? They're out there preaching Jesus. And as I asked that question to them, one of the guys who had been preaching for about two years got up and said, oh my word, I'm not saved. I've been handing out tracts and telling people and all that, but when I posed the question, who is Jesus to you? Have you personally come to know him?

14:27 He he realized, I don't know him. And so Jesus is saying, I'm not asking if you've seen my miracle because you have. And the way I gave bread to 5,000, you saw it? Yes. I know you saw it.

14:42 I'm not asking if you've gone to church and if you say, you sing the songs and and Jesus loves me this I know. Yeah. I I sang those too. That that's not the question. The the question Jesus is asking is, who am I to you?

14:58 And so Peter asked to answer correctly, if you notice in verse 20, but who do you say that I am? And Peter answered, the Christ of God. The Christ of God. By the way, that's the correct answer. In Matthew sixteen sixteen, he said this, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.

15:19 That's why Matthew puts what Peter said. Martha, in John eleven twenty seven said this, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, and even he who comes into the world. So that was their personal testimony. That's what they believed, and they stood on that truth. And so who do you say Jesus is?

15:43 Well, my mama had faith. I know your mom had faith. And when my dad was... Yeah. I know your dad was a preacher, and he did this and that.

15:49 But is he your lord and savior? Are you fully convinced? Thousands of people, hundreds that I know, grew up in church like you, like many of you, I'm assuming that y'all did. And there comes a point where they're like, well, I don't know. I don't believe it anymore.

16:07 Why? They walk away. They walk away. And so today the question is, who is he to you? Now as as as they...

16:19 As he says this, notice that there's a quick pause. And he said to them I'm sorry, verse 21. But he warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone saying, the son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised up on the third day. You see, because up to this point, the disciples and many of the people following him were like, oh, man. We we got we got a we got a a hero here.

16:49 This guy can do miracles. This guy can can give us food. So if we're in a battle against the enemy, the Romans, he could've just keep giving us food. We won't go hungry. You know, many of the battles back then, they would encircle the enemy and they would go hungry inside.

17:05 And he can just keep giving us water and food and and he can just do miracles and and he can say he's gonna be our hero. They they still weren't grasping. And so he said, wait a minute. I know I know where you're thinking, where you're going. We're gonna keep this quiet.

17:21 Right? Because before before I I show all my glory and all my power of who I am, first, there's something else that needs to be taken care of. And and that's the sin problem. That's a sin problem. Because you want me to right now to just, you know...

17:40 In fact, look look at this look at this verse. Just listen. John six fourteen to 15. When therefore the people saw the sign which he had performed, they said the sign of the 5,000 by the way. 5,000 people who were fed.

17:57 This is of truth, the prophet who was to come into the world. Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself alone. So you see the same scene. John gives us a little more information. What...

18:15 So what they were saying is like, wow. He's gonna be the king. He's gonna stop the Romans. All they were thinking was that, you know, we need to win the lottery. We got the guy that's gonna do it for us.

18:26 We're gonna get rich. He's gonna be the king. We're gonna defeat the enemy. And things are gonna be cool for us. In fact, later on, they start saying, I'm gonna be greater than you with him because I'm entitled with Jesus.

18:38 And they're arguing who's gonna be the greater. See, because their mind was, he he's he's gonna be the the king, and and we're gonna we're gonna be the top nation, and we're gonna have it made into shape. See? That's how they were thinking. Just said, look, you're not gonna take me by force to be your king.

19:16 And that's why he says, the son of man must suffer many things. First, he has to pay for sin and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and notice and be raised up on the third day. That that's what he have to do. That's the gospel. Christ died on the cross for our sins, was killed, was buried, rose again on the third day, and he's up in glory right now.

19:39 And if you turn to him, he'll save you from sin. See? And so, hold on. Don't don't start telling everybody, we got the Messiah and getting a big old crowd ready and trying to force me to be king because that's not... It's not time for that yet.

19:55 Right now, I have to take care of the sin problem. That's why I came. The son of man came to seek and save that which was lost. Alright. Then then he says, okay, now let's let's talk about this.

20:09 A true believer, someone who's really saved, who really says that that they belong to me, a follower of Jesus, here's what it says, verse 23. And he was saying to them all, if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. See, that is true Christianity. That's a true believer. That's someone who has been transformed by Jesus Christ and cleansed from his sin and is following him.

20:38 Yeah, take up your cross. I don't want to take up my cross. Well then, really, you're not saved then. A true believer will take up his cross. A true born again man or woman will say, anyone wish to come after me, deny yourself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

20:58 It's it's a daily thing. How do I know I'm saying? Because I daily follow him. I took up my cross. I'm following Jesus Christ.

21:05 Remember Paul said in second Timothy right before he died, I have kept the faith. So in other words, I'm a true believer. I kept the faith all the way to the end. Now it's time for me to die. I'm ready to go.

21:17 But I kept the faith. And so a true believer will keep the faith to the end. And a true believer understands that we're we're committed to Jesus Christ. He's our lord and savior. So I deny myself.

21:31 I take up my cross daily every day and I follow Jesus. He is what I'm following. He's my lord. He's my savior. He's my god.

21:39 He tells me what to do. I'm following him. And then he says, whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it. Wow. But whoever loses life for my sake, he is the one who will save it.

21:56 So true life, losing it, dying to self in this world, and living for Jesus. Now that's life. That's life. Now the world's not going to tell you that. Hey man, party, do do whatever you want to do.

22:08 In fact, several of my uncles, when we presented the gospel to them, it's been forty years now or longer. They were in their in their twenties or even their teens still, and here's what they said. I I understand what you're telling me, but I don't want to give up the party. You know, the party life, I want to do my thing. When I'm older, I'll I'll turn to Jesus.

22:31 Well, guess what? All of those uncles of mine, they all died without the Lord. They all died without the Lord. And that's the sad part about it. And so that's why he says here, for what does a man profit if he gains the whole world and loser forfeits himself?

22:53 What does it matter if you gain the world and lose your soul? So Jesus is saying, the the most important thing right now is, who am I? I know that there are all these opinions about me, but who do you say that I am? And you understand one thing, that if you don't get this... The answer to that question right, then you're going to forfeit your soul.

23:17 In other words, if you don't get this... The answer to that question right, you're not gonna enter heaven and be with Jesus. The most important thing is your soul. The... Your eternity.

23:30 So the question is not just a casual question, but it's the most important question that can be asked. And Jesus is asking that. Who am I to you? Who am I to you? Now, what does it matter if in this world you get fame and you do this and you do that and and you party or maybe you didn't party, maybe you just had a family, whatever, but you never turned to me.

24:14 There's been times where I've been kind of embarrassed. And I don't really speak out and say, you know what? I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. He's my Lord and Savior. There's been many occasions.

24:23 Thank the Lord for his grace and his forgiveness and his patience with us. Right? Who hasn't been at times ashamed and embarrassed? All of us have. But generally speaking, I haven't been.

24:35 Generally speaking. But he's talking about ashamed to the point where I'm not gonna turn to Jesus and be called a Jesus freak. I'm ashamed of that. And his words and that he died on the cross? What?

24:46 And deny myself? And I'm going to be one of those holy rollers? I'm ashamed of that. So Jesus is saying, alright, whoever is ashamed of me and my words, everything I taught of him, will the son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory. Notice that he he expresses three glories.

25:07 Right? His glory, the father's glory, and the glory of the angels. So he's gonna come, and when you see the... His glory, you're gonna say, oh my word, I I forfeited my forfeited my soul. I I I just wanted to live for that of the temporary.

25:23 And then here he comes in all his glory, and and... But it's too late. All the glory and everything he has. So in other words, you... We're we're living for eternity.

25:35 We're living for the future. You're thinking of that. So everything that you live to on earth is not gonna matter when you stand before Jesus Christ. So who is he to you? You've heard about him, but do you believe in him?

25:51 Is he your lord and savior? Are you following him? Have you taken up your cross? Have you denied yourself? Because when you lose your life, you actually gain it.

26:00 That's what he's saying. Are you ashamed of Jesus and his words? Today is the day that you need to be saved and turn to him. And then interestingly enough, Jesus says, I'm gonna give you one final proof of who I am. Because I want it to be concrete that I am the true Messiah, that I am the only savior, that I am going to come back in a future full of glory.

26:28 Right? Now my miracles are one proof. Healing people, that's another proof. Taking demons out, that's another proof. Stopping the winds and storms, that's another proof.

26:40 Feeding 5,000 people out of nothing, there's another proof. And so with all of that evidence, who am I? And if I am the one, then you should turn to me and follow me and not be ashamed of my words. But I'm going give you a final proof. We're going to go up to a mountain, and I'm going to just take three men with me, they're going to see something.

27:02 And and this is what's going to happen in the future. And so notice verse 29, while he was praying, the appearance of his face became different, and his and his clothing became white and gleaming. So in the future, his first coming was he was humble and just poor, really, like any any man, but he was God. And he didn't sin, and he took our place in the cross, paid for our sin. But in his next coming, man, he's going to be glowing and gleaming, and and the the Bible says that the the heavens are going to open up and there's going to be thunder, and then the son of man's going to come and all of his glory and all of his power.

27:43 And people are going look over like, oh. And so that's what he's talking about. So when they were up in in the mountain and praying, he gave him a a like a little taste of what it's going look like when I come. When you see me, you're not going to see me like now. But you're going see me with my scars as a reminder of what it cost me to save you.

28:04 Right? But I'm going to be glowing, and I'm going be full of glory and radiant. And so that's that's where he's going. He's giving them a little a little preview, a little taste of what's to come. And so that's when it says in verse 32, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with them.

28:30 And then verse 34, and while he was saying saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud, and the voice came out of the cloud saying, now here's what God the father has to say about Jesus. Look what he says. This is my son, my chosen one. You listen to him. Listen to him.

29:00 So the amount of transfiguration has to do with god the father affirming, alright, Peter, you said it. You are the Christ of god. Correct. Now, I'm saying the same thing from heaven. So Peter's confession, God the father agrees with him.

29:19 This is my son, the chosen one. He is the Messiah. Right? You're going to listen to him and follow him. It's so Christianity is about Jesus Christ.

29:30 It's not about you and me. It's about him. So let's go back and let me ask that question again. Who do the who do they say out there? Who do the multitudes say that I am?

29:43 You can get every kind of opinion that that can possibly be posted. Right? But the question was, and then he zeroes it down, but who do you say that I am? So who is he to you? Who is he to you?

29:58 Have you have you seen the the fact that he that he is truly the savior of the world? Have you have you noticed that that he is... He had to die on a cross in order for you to be forgiven and cleansed of your sin and given eternal life? Have you have you acknowledged that? And have you turned to him in full repentance and said, Lord Jesus, I want you to save my soul, and I wanna follow you.

30:27 I acknowledge who you are, and I bow to you. I choose to lose my my life and follow you, take up my cross and follow you daily, and I will not be ashamed of you. I will tell people and friends that I am a follower of Jesus. He's my lord, and he's my savior. Have you turned to him?

30:54 Let's pray. You can give your life to Jesus today and be saved. Alright. Let's pray. Father, we thank you that Jesus truly is the Messiah, the Christ.

31:13 And in this local church here, we acknowledge that, and that's what we preach, that Jesus is the savior of the world, that he is the chosen one, that he is the one that you sent, that he's the one that died on the cross for our sins, that he rose again. We are not ashamed of him. We are following him. And one day, we're gonna be with him in glory, and we're gonna see him in all of his power and all of his glory. And he's gonna be glowing like we saw in the text.

31:47 He's the one that we worship and we adore and we bow and we turn to. This is our confession, Lord. I pray that if anyone here has yet to turn to you today, that they would do so. That it would be their own faith that by themselves, they would turn to you for the salvation of their soul. For what does it matter if you gain the world and lose your soul?

32:13 All glory to you, Lord Jesus. We we worship and praise you, and it's in your name we pray. Amen.