View source for Luke 9:18-27 Seeking Informed Consent

= Luke 9:18-27 Seeking Informed Consent =

== Big Idea: Easter reminds us not only of salvation accomplished, but of the serious, lifelong commitment required to follow Christ. ==

== Christ Focus: The suffering, rejected, crucified, and risen Son of Man who alone saves. ==

== Application: Confess Him rightly. Understand Him fully. Follow Him wholeheartedly. ==

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= Introduction =

== Image: Palm Sunday begins celebration week ==

Crowds cried “Hosanna!” — but many did not understand what kind of King they were welcoming.

We are heading into a week filled with performances, rehearsals, memories, and even reunion.

But before we celebrate Easter externally, we must answer a deeply personal question internally.

**Imagery: A wedding is joyful — but it is not the marriage**

Excitement is not the same as covenant.

== Need: As we race toward Easter, we must renew our commitment to Christ — not naively, but fully aware that following Him is costly and fully convinced that it is worth it. ==

== Preview: In Luke 9, Jesus asks the most important question ever asked… ==
He clarifies what kind of Messiah He is…
And then He defines what it means to follow Him.

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== Setting the Stage: ==

In Luke 9:1-17, Jesus experiences two incredibly powerful ministry moments. First, we see Jesus sending out the twelve to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Then, to cap that off, we see Jesus feeding more than five thousand from only five loaves of bread and two fish.

Popularity is rising.
Speculation is everywhere.

But Jesus is not interested in public polling.

He is interested in personal conviction. So Jesus withdraws for a time of prayer, and during that time, some of the most significant elements of Jesus’ ministry are revealed.

== Text: Luke 9:18-27 (to be read at the beginning) ==

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= Body =

== _Revelation_ — The reality of who Jesus is makes everything worth it (18-20). ==

Jesus asks two questions:

“Who do the crowds say that I am?”
Then more personally: “But who do you say that I am?”

=== If you have never answered the question, “Who is Jesus?” today is the day (18). ===

There is so much packed into this short verse.

Jesus — the Son of God, the Creator of the universe — is found praying. Private prayer was a consistent mark of His earthly ministry. Before pivotal moments, He withdrew to commune with the Father.

And in that moment of prayer, He turns to His disciples and asks, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

Luke does not tell us what Jesus prayed, but the context tells us much. Just prior to this, Jesus had sent out the Twelve. Ministry was expanding. Miracles were multiplying. The feeding of the five thousand had just taken place. From the outside, everything looked successful.

But Jesus knew something the crowds did not.

The cross loomed on the horizon.

While popularity was rising, suffering was approaching. As He fellowshipped with the Father, it is not hard to imagine that the coming Passion weighed heavily on His mind.

And with all of that in the background, this question becomes incredibly significant.

Strip away the miracles.
Strip away the excitement.
Strip away the crowd enthusiasm.

One question remains:

Who is Jesus, really?

That question mattered two thousand years ago.
It matters just as much today.

Who is Jesus?
More personally — who is Jesus to you?

Christian culture cannot answer that for you.
Family heritage cannot answer that for you.
Church attendance cannot answer that for you.

The weight of this question falls squarely on your shoulders.

Who is Jesus?

=== The answer to the question is full of wrong answers (19). ===

Jesus begins gently. He asks about the crowds first.

“Who do the crowds say that I am?”

The disciples respond with what they have heard — wrong answers, but revealing ones.

*   **John the Baptist.** This was the rumor that troubled Herod. Herod had executed John — a powerful prophet, yes — but still only a man. As significant as John was, he was not the Christ. And Jesus was far more.
*   **Elijah.** In Malachi 4:5–6, the prophet promised that Elijah would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. There was real expectation surrounding Elijah’s return. But Jesus is not merely a forerunner. He is the fulfillment.
*   **One of the prophets.** For some, Jesus was important — but undefined. A spiritual voice among many.

Notice the pattern in all of these responses:

Close — but not correct.
Respectful — but insufficient.

It is possible to speak highly of Jesus and still miss Him completely.

C.S. Lewis famously argued that Jesus is either Lunatic, Liar, or Lord. He does not leave room for polite middle ground.

And close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

When it comes to Christ, close is lost.

=== The right answer is nothing short of incredible (20). ===

Having prepared them, Jesus now asks the real question:

“But what about you? Who do you say that I am?”

Peter answers:

“God’s Messiah.”
“You are the Christ of God.”

Not merely a teacher.
Not merely a miracle worker.
Not merely an inspirational leader.

The Christ.

“Christ” is the Greek translation of the Hebrew “Messiah,” meaning “Anointed One.” But to a first-century Jew, this title carried the weight of centuries of hope — the expectation that God Himself would send the One who would rescue His people and set right what sin had broken.

Peter declares that Jesus is that One.

God’s provision of salvation.
God’s answer to a fallen world.
God’s promised Redeemer.

But the question of Jesus still echoes today:

“What about you? Who do you say that I am?”

=== Image: Teaching math ===

I taught math for more than a decade — everything from middle school classes to graduate-level courses. And here is something I discovered: the hardest concepts are often the simplest ones.

I would ask a question with an obvious answer, but students would assume it couldn’t possibly be that simple. So they would construct complicated, creative, and completely incorrect solutions.

Finally, someone in the back would hesitantly say, “Is it just three?”

And I would say, “Yes. It’s just three.”

Sometimes the obvious answer is the right one.

I imagine something similar happening here. The crowds have overcomplicated it. They’ve speculated. They’ve theorized.

But the answer is clear.

Jesus is the Christ.
The Savior of the world.

Truth is not determined by majority vote.
Truth comes from God.

And Jesus is the Truth.

=== MTR: Pause right now and confirm — not what your parents believed, not what your church believes — but what you believe. ===

Do you personally confess that Jesus is the Christ?

That question is not theoretical.
It is not academic.
It is not seasonal.

It is lifelong.

Because confessing that Jesus is the Christ is not the finish line — it is the starting line.

Peter got the title right.
But he did not yet understand the cost.

And that’s where Jesus takes the conversation next.

He moves from revelation — to explanation. From confession — to the cross.

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=== Transition ===

And this morning, I can’t think of a better person to help us think about what it means to follow Christ — not just in a moment, but over a lifetime — than someone who has faithfully done exactly that.

Pastor Bob was here when this Easter play first began more than 30 years ago. He has preached this gospel, walked with this church, and followed this Savior through decades of ministry.

Bob, would you come and lead us through what Jesus says next?

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== _Informed_ — Those who follow Jesus must understand what He has done (21-22). ==

Peter had the right title.
But he did not yet understand the mission.

The disciples needed to know that Jesus was not just a king — He was the Suffering Savior (21-22a).

The Messiah must suffer.
This was not accidental. It was necessary.

=== Rejection and execution by those in power was certain (22b). ===

Elders.
Chief priests.
Scribes.

The very people who should have recognized Him would reject Him.

The cross was not a tragedy.
It was the plan.

=== But rejection and death was not the end (22c). ===

“And on the third day be raised.”

Suffering.
Death.
Resurrection.

Without understanding the cross, we misunderstand Christ.

=== MTR: Do you understand not only who Jesus is — but what He has done? ===

You cannot follow a Christ you redefine.

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== _Consent_ — The invitation to follow Christ is an invitation to hardship — but it is worth it (23-27). ==

After explaining His cross, Jesus explains ours.

=== The call to follow involves daily submission — even when it is hard (23-25). ===

“Deny yourself.”
“Take up your cross daily.”
“Follow Me.”

Not admiration.
Not occasional enthusiasm.
Daily surrender.

Losing your life for His sake is how you truly find it.

=== The call to follow is a call to commitment and loyalty (26). ===

Public identification.
No shame.
No divided allegiance.

Following Jesus is not private preference — it is visible loyalty.

=== The call to follow is completely worth it (27). ===

The Son of Man will come in glory.
Reward is real.
Kingdom reality is certain.

The cost is high.
The reward is eternal.

=== MTR: Have you merely admired Jesus — or have you consented to follow Him fully? ===

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== Conclusion — Give your consent today. ==

Palm Sunday reminds us that crowds can celebrate without committing.

Easter reminds us that Christ gave everything.

So today the question is simple:

Have you confessed Him rightly?
Do you understand Him clearly?
Will you follow Him fully?

Give your consent today — not emotionally, not casually — but knowingly and completely.

He is worth it.