Who Is Jesus? Series

“Who Is Jesus?”

Luke 9:18-22

A sermon for 1/23/22

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Pastor John Bright

Luke 9 “18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 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 the third day.”

We seem to have reached a turning point in the events that have gripped the whole world for almost two years. Lately, I have noticed more and more reports of medical folks saying we will have to learn to live with this virus just like we live with seasonal flu. That may not be turning point you have been hoping for but it’s the only one we seem to be getting.

I bring up this turning point because we have come to a turning point in the Gospel of Luke. Today’s passage has Jesus describing the suffering that is to come. He is sharing it with them – His inner circle – and even warned them not to tell others (v.21). We have seen those who questioned Jesus claims before:

• Luke 4 – Jesus goes to the synagogue in Nazareth – “22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

• Luke 7 – Jesus raises the son of a widow – “16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”

• Luke 8 – Jesus calls the storm – “5 …And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

• Earlier in Luke 9 – Herod wonders who Jesus might be with an answer that sounds like the report we get from the crowds - 19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”

I want to be super clear – Jesus is NOT John the Baptist. Remember, they were cousins. Jesus is NOT Elijah. Many Jews believed that Elijah would return to herald the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. At the Passover meal, there are four cups that proclaim the past redemption of God’s people. Then there is one more cup from which they do not drink – Elijah’s Cup – that cup points to future redemption. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/117141/jewish/The-Silent-Cup.htm

Jesus is NOT one of the Old Testament prophets. There is only one Christ!

Who do you say that I am?

20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

Luke uses the Greek word here (“christos”) that is the same for the Hebrew word for Messiah. Both these words literally mean “anointed one.” In the Jewish tradition the king would have oil poured over his head when he was chosen. After the Kingdom of David ended and Israel was divided, the Old Testament prophets foretold of the anointed one/Messiah that would come from the line of David. Jesus fulfilled those prophecies. Actually, the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies recorded in the Old Testament.

That is an amazing fact and very hard for it to be simply a random occurrence, according to Professor Peter W. Stoner was Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College. In his book, Science Speaks, Professor Stoner outlines the mathematical probability of one person in the first century fulfilling just eight of the most clear and straightforward Messianic prophecies - the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 1017 (that’s a 10 with 17 zeros added on – a trillion has 12 zeros). Hard to imagine a number that big. Stoner gave this example – take 1017 silver dollars and cover the state of Texas. They would be stacked up 2 foot thick. Mark one of these and randomly place it in the pile. Then blindfold a person who is told they can go anywhere in the whole state of Texas and pick up one coin. When he increased the number of prophecies fulfilled to 48, the probability went up to 1 in 10157. WOW!