The most important question that everyone must wrestle with.

In Luke Chp 8 Jesus calms the storm and the disciples ask, “Who is this?” Then Jesus heals and casts out demons and feeds 5,000 in response to the question; like a pop bottle being shaken up. Then Jesus poses the question to his disciples and their response is like the top exploding off the bottle.

The disciples thought they were being complimentary and elevating Jesus in their comparison of him to prophets.

What you say about someone is confirmed or denied in how you act when they are not in the room.

Who is Jesus?

Moral teacher, prophet, icon, personal idol…

Many have a hard time saying he is Lord.

Liar- was Jesus just duping everyone?

Lunatic- he really believed that he was the Son of God, but he was crazy.

Lord- if we believe that what happened in scripture is true then the only option is that he is Lord.

All of Israel including the disciples were expecting the Messiah to be like Caesar and to kick out the oppressor and be a victorious political ruler.

Vs 22 Jesus undoes the wrong thinking about who Messiah is and he makes a very Messianic statement that was not shrouded in mystery and yet it was so outrageous that it went right over their heads. They probably thought that he was using battle figurative language. It sounded like Captain America showing up and saying he had to lose.

“Son of Man” was from the book of Daniel that had divine traits and was synonymous with God acting on earth.

Jesus says this MUST happen.

“Jesus must undeceive his followers.” -Michael Card

Jesus tells them to keep this proclamation that he is Messiah a secret because he knew that if it was proclaimed it would get in the way of suffering and dying.

Vs 26 is talking about Jesus return at the end of time.

Vs 27 is talking about the Kingdom of God invading earth through the church.

Vs 23-25 Jesus addresses this part to the entire crowd. There are not levels of following Jesus. If you name Jesus as your savior then you are one of the ones being addressed here.

“Deny himself” not just discipline. It is cutting off and disowning of self.

Jesus follows the declaration of who he is with what that means for himself and for them. “Take up your cross” was a very literal thing.