Recognizing The Son Of Man Series

Series: Jesus- Son Of Man [#32]

RECOGNIZING THE SON OF MAN

Luke 9:18-27

Introduction:

It has been an awesome week of Vacation Bible School, full of fun, learning, and growing closer to God. During the week, both children and adults learned about Jesus’ great love and the sacrifice He made for us. Today’s message is very similar to what we learned during VBS. It shows us how important it is to truly recognize who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him with all our hearts. Just like during VBS, we are reminded that Jesus is the Savior and the Son of God, and today we will go deeper into understanding His identity and what He calls us to do- Take up your cross and follow Him every day.

In our text, Jesus asked His Disciples an important question-: "Who do the people say I am?" This story makes us think about how others see Jesus, but also how we personally recognize Him. Recognizing Jesus as the Son of Man means more than just knowing about Him; it means trusting Him and choosing to follow Him. As we look at this part of the Bible, we will be reminded that truly knowing Jesus means we are willing to follow Him, even when it’s hard. Just like VBS helped us learn more about Jesus’ love and power, today’s message invites us to say again that Jesus is the Son of Man and to think about how that affects the way we live every day.

Luke 9:18-20

Recognize the…

1. Identity of the Son of Man.

Jesus asked His disciples who people thought He was. They say some believe He is a prophet or a good teacher. Then Jesus asks them directly, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ of God." This means Peter recognized Jesus as the Son of God sent to save His people. The important idea here is that understanding who Jesus truly is, (His identity as the Son of Man and the Messiah) is the foundation of faith. It shows that Jesus is more than just a teacher; He has a divine role given by God to bring salvation to the World.

Practically, recognizing Jesus for who He really is should change the way believers live. Just like the Disciples were asked to see Jesus clearly, Christians need to understand and believe in His true identity. This means trusting His power, following His teachings, and living in a way that shows they believe He is the Savior. When we truly recognize Jesus as the Son of Man, it should inspire us to have faith, obey Him, and share His message with others. Knowing who Jesus really is helps us grow closer to Him and guides us to live in a way that reflects His love and purpose.

Luke 9:21-23

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2. Cost of discipleship.

Jesus clearly teaches that being His disciple comes with a price. He says we must be willing to deny ourselves and carry our cross every day. Spiritually, this means really accepting who Jesus is as the Son of Man and being fully committed to His way. It’s not just about believing in Jesus, but about changing our lives to follow Him, even when it’s difficult or costly. Practically, this means we might have to give up some personal desires, comforts, or even face hardships and sacrifices to stay faithful to Him. Taking up the cross each day is about surrendering our own plans and doing God’s will, knowing that real life is found in giving ourselves for Jesus’ sake.

For the sermon, recognizing the Son of Man means understanding that following Jesus isn’t always easy or comfortable. It’s a lifelong commitment that may involve suffering or sacrifices. This teaches us to be prepared to stay faithful even when it costs us something. Practically, it encourages us to trust Jesus enough to persevere through difficulties, knowing that sacrificing for Him leads to eternal life. When we accept the true cost of discipleship from the start, we can choose to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, confident that His promises are worth every sacrifice and that true life is found in Him.

Luke 9:24-25

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3. True value of eternal perspective.

Jesus teaches us that focusing only on worldly things, (like money, success, or possessions) is pointless if we lose sight of our souls. The most important thing is to find eternal life, which is a gift from God. Recognizing the Son of Man means understanding who Jesus is and what He came to do- To save us and give us eternal life. When we value spiritual things more than material things, we are living according to God's plan. This helps us see what really matters, (things that last forever) so we can focus on storing up treasures in Heaven instead of on Earth.