Who is Jesus? Today’s message is brought to you from Luke chapter 9. You say you want to know Jesus and here is a passage that can answer that very question. In the Roman Empire, a fourth of the kingdom was ruled by Herod Antipater the son of Herod the Great. He was the tetrarch of both Galilee and Perea and his role there would involve the executions of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth. After executing John the Baptist, Herod Antipas was perplexed because he continued to hear about miraculous signs were still taking place in Galilee. So he wanted to know that it was not John the Baptist risen from the dead or possibly a prophet from the past. He inquired as to who then is this I hear such things about? Herod Antipas was determined to find out and so this is the subject of today’s lesson. Who then is this I hear such things about? Meanwhile, Jesus disciples had returned to him and thousands of people followed them to meet Jesus. They had travelled so far that not enough food was available to feed them all and so Jesus preformed the miracle of feeding the five thousand men and the women and children that had journeyed to meet him. Once all the people had been fed and the remaining baskets of food was collected, Jesus went to a private spot with his disciples to pray. He then turned to them and asked, who do the crowds say I am? Like Herod Antipas, the crowds thought he may have been John the Baptist risen from the dead or possibly one of the prophets of old. Jesus then asked his disciples to tell him who did they believe him to be? Well, Peter the out spoken one declared that Jesus was “God’s” Messiah, the Christ. Jesus strictly warned his disciples not to tell this to anyone. It was not until his resurrection did he then commission them to go preach the good news to all. (Matthews 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”) Now back to Luke chapter 9 and eight days after Jesus had warned his disciples not to tell anyone, he took Peter, James, and John with him, up on a mountain to pray. Jesus was about to show these three disciples more convincing proof that he is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. On the mountain, Jesus was transformed in his countenance and there with him was both Moses and Elijah. The appearance of both Moses and Elijah spoke to them about the “Law” and the “Prophets.” God has revealed himself to man through the “Law” and the “Prophets.” Both would reveal how man could be restored in his relationship with God. Now Jesus presence reflected that through him will come grace and truth. It is interesting to note that as these two men stood there talking with Jesus about his soon departure which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. The disciples were sleepy and did not become fully awake until the two were about to leave Jesus. Well, what has happened here that can answer the question; who is Jesus? By Moses being present we see that it is the “Law” that revealed that it will take a blood sacrifice to cover the sin of mankind. And the “Prophets” revealed to us that there would be “One” who would come and be that atoning sacrifice. So when we read the “Law” and the “Prophets” today this will be the conclusion. Peter, James, and John had now heard from the “Law” and the “Prophet” and then they also heard the voice from within the clouds that surrounded them. “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
Posted on: Sun, 01 Sep 2013 10:00:55 +0000
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