Knowing Christ of God

Today’s Gospel Text: Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" 19 And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Eli'jah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen." 20 And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 But he charged 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 on the third day be raised." 23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. Luke 9:18-24

Reflection: Do people always say things openly or give their opinion openly? 

The truth is; very rarely we have people who will speak things in the open.

Did Jesus, who could read minds, have to find out who he is and what people say about him from his dedicated disciples?

I am sure not, he must have posed this question for the benefit of his disciples and  for us, for all time to come and for every time.

It is in this light that the question posed by Jesus to his dedicated disciples gains a lot more significance.

In other words this question is meant to be answered, not only by the dedicated disciples of his, at that time but it is question even meant to be answered, by each one of us, now and here:

"But who do you say that I am?" (vs. 20)

You may choose to avoid it and say that we are not meant to learn doctrine and lets be more pastoral and some may even say; "as long as we love as Christ wanted us to love is enough." 

Yet if you choose the latter then better step down as leaders in the church of Christ and if you have not grappled with this question in its entirety then you can only be an imposter scurrying for power and positions. (Mt. 16:17-19)

On the other hand, Jesus is not just the Christ of God but he also a suffering messiah for  a purpose.

Hence it is not enough to know the doctrine of Christ but also the suffering that he the messiah would undergo and all those who follow him will also have to undergo similar sufferings in order to follow him.

It is not just a life of mighty works and miracles, with the anointing of God all the way, that counts but a way of the cross is what is essential: 

"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. (vss. 23-24)

                                                                                                                                

Prayer:  Lord that I may know you and the power of your resurrection, and may share in your sufferings, becoming like you in your death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Prayer of St. Paul the apostle; cfr. Phil 3:10-11)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us