The Call Of Jesus Series

I would guess that we are probably similar in that we get so many unwanted calls each day. Somehow, I’ve been getting calls for some group who says they can get me on Social Security Disability. Other times I’ve been on the list for VA loans - except I’m not a veteran. I’ve received calls for solar estimates and estimates for exterior work on my house. I’ve also received calls inviting me to redeem some vacation that I supposedly signed up for years ago - all I have to do is to pay $199 to have my offer extended.

You may be wondering, why do I answer those? Frankly, most of them I reject. Every now and then I answer to make sure it’s not someone in need, someone from town, or some of you in the event that your number might not be in my phone yet.

With so many of these calls, there is the familiar refrain of how my life will be better or my budget bigger or my interest rate lower if only I heed their call. Whether they are well-meaning or just scam artists, these calls tout benefits way more than they do the costs.

But that’s not the way that Jesus works.

If you have your bibles, open them to Luke 9. We’ll be looking at verses 18-27. If you don’t have a bible with you, let me encourage you to use one the bibles in front of you. You can open to something around page 733.

As we’ve been walking through the book of Luke for several months now, we’ve witnessed Jesus doing so many things. From his humble birth in a stable to feeding 5000+ people to healing the sick, raising the dead, giving sight to the blind, and giving dignity to the outcast - Jesus has amassed quite a following and has been gaining some attention in high places - both political and religious high places. He has moved from times of solitude in prayer to intimate times of teaching with his disciples to fellowship and lectures with crowds so large that he could hardly move.

The verses that we are looking at today begin a pivotal shift in the book of Luke. We’ll take a few sessions to work through this shift, but one of the things that we see in this transitional period, is that Jesus is increasing the clarity of what it means to be his disciple. Rather than enticing His listeners with the benefits, He’s going against every marketers inclination and amping up the cost in His call to follow Him. In this passage there are three calls - two for us and one for Jesus.

First of all, we see…

The call to confess Jesus as the Christ (18-20)

This is essentially a call for us to confess or acknowledge who Jesus is.

Luke 9:18–20 ESV

Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

The picture that Luke makes of Jesus throughout his gospel is one of a praying Jesus. So again here, Jesus is praying alone, but it seems that His disciples are not far away. Maybe guided by His time of communion with the Father, He asks the disciples about His identity.

In responding on behalf of the crowds, their answer is the very same answer that Herod’s advisors provided when he was perplexed about the identity of Jesus (Luke 9:7-9) - John the Baptist, Elijah, or another prophet.

If you’re a non-Christian here, I hope you’ll understand that this is a crucial question for you! Who is Jesus to you?

Is He some great prophet? Prophets may have said some wonderful things and performed some powerful miracles, but they all lacked the ability to forgive your sins. Often their ministry was one of reminding people of their sinful condition. They called for repentance and a turning back to the ways of God.

If He is more than a prophet, is Jesus a great teacher? Yes, he taught some life-giving truths that can make a difference in your life. I would urge you to follow and obey His teachings, but recognize that no amount of obedience will bring you eternal life, because you stand in a sin-stained state.

Even the Apostle Paul, who had attained great heights of religious achievement and accolades recognized that his works apart from Christ were useless:

Philippians 3:7–9 MSG

The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.