LUKE 9:18-20 – “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.””

THEME OF THE DAY: THE QUESTION OF ALL QUESTIONS.   When we ask questions, we are seeking information or clarification on someone or something.  We also ask probing questions to go deep into the hearts and minds of people, and especially in times of emotional intensity.  Questions like “Why did you do that?” or “What were you thinking?”  The problem with probing questions is they can be avoided.  We can skirt around the clear and right answer out of fear; of not wanting to be exposed and know the questioner cannot read out hearts.

Today’s exchange between Jesus and His disciples contains the question of all questions. It is probing. It is exposing. It can even be uncomfortable.  The uncomfortableness in the question is because of Who is asking it – the Lord Jesus, the All-knowing God, the Always-Present Savior, the very God-man who knows all the thoughts within each created being including us!  There is no skirting this question.  No hiding our hearts behind words.  He knows the true answer to what He asked Peter, the disciples, and us – “Who do you say that I am?”

How we answer this question from Jesus has both eternal and temporary consequences or blessings.

First the negative, the consequences.  If a person will not confess Christ is Lord, he or she faces the second death; the pain of eternal separation from God with His wrath poured out forever without end – “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8). The temporary consequence of not professing Christ as Lord is the missing of life’s purpose for existence – eternal life defined as “knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent”” (John 17:3).

The opposite, the positive, is so encouraging. To those believers enabled by God’s Spirit to profess Christ as Lord, the eternal blessing is to be with this glorious God forever in the land of perfect fellowship, worship, love, and freedom from all the consequences of sin – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away”” (Revelation 21:1–4). But there is a great temporary blessing too.

For sincere Christians professing Christ is Lord, we have the privilege to fellowship with the Triune God – “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

“Who do you say that I am?” asked the Lord to His disciples. It is a question asked of us each day, and our answer includes our words and conduct.

PRAYER:  Father, I praise You for enabling me to confess Your Son is Lord.

REFLECTION:   If we answer the Lord’s question like Peter, our lives will be lived under the authority of Jesus.