Luke 9:18-24 NRSVue
18Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 20Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”
21He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, 22saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
23Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.
“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”
Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
Lord, I hear your question to me too: /Who do you say that I am?/ Your life
and your words are not just for chatting about, but for letting you change my
life.
Reflection
People often prayed with Jesus, prayed near him at his prayer. Something of
his prayer and relationship with his father must have rubbed off on them.
People can be helped by praying together, even in silence. A child learns to
pray by watching a parent, a grandparent or another adult at prayer. Praying
together gives courage to face difficulties together, as the disciples faced
the death of Jesus after their prayer.
Reflection
When we believe in Jesus we believe in death and resurrection. We believe
that bad things can happen in life, often the result of others' actions. We
believe also that nothing bad is ever final, but that the love and power of
the risen Lord will be with us. Every day can be a 'third day'.
Reflection
I answer the question that Jesus asks in many ways. I show who Jesus is to me
by attending church, by professing my faith, by acting as Jesus did. I ask
God to help me to make it evident that I am a follower of Jesus.
Reflection
Every time I deny myself I have an opportunity to express my faith in
something greater than what I might enjoy here and now. I ask God's help to
take up the crosses that I find, realising that following Jesus is to live as
he lived.