Jesus asks the disciples to clarify who they say Jesus is. He wants to speak with them personally, away from the crowd. These are men who have kept company with Jesus from soon after he left home and began his ministry. They would have known Jesus better than most other people. Jesus also knows that his final journey to Jerusalem is not far away, and he wants to ensure that these men, who will
be responsible for spreading the Gospel to the wider world, have a clear and thorough understanding of who Jesus is and why he came.
Peter eventually speaks up for the disciples in response to Jesus' question. Peter declares that Jesus is “The Christ of God.” It was a good start. Jesus wants to teach them the implications of this understanding.
The Jews had long hoped for a
conquering king. Someone who would overthrow the Roman rule and set them free. But Jesus had come as a very different kind of Saviour. He had come to give his life for the salvation of all people. Jesus had come to offer freedom to all people that they may become one with God through Jesus. This was not up for debate. It was God’s will, and Jesus had to obey God’s will. Jesus was to face the cross. It was hard to hear, and Jesus would tell them a few times to ensure they heard him clearly (Luke
9:22; 17:25; 24:7)
Return to your reflections on who Jesus is for you.
As you hold Jesus' love and grace with gratitude, are there perhaps some questions of clarity you would like to ask Jesus?
Is there perhaps an area of struggle in your relationship with Jesus that you want to open to Jesus' further grace?
Reflections by Cherie-Lynn van der Merwe
We end this reflection time each day this week, building on words from Psalm 62:1,8.
Let us pray:
