LUKE LESSON 24
We will begin this lesson in Luke 9:18 "And it came to pass, as
he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them,
saying, Whom say the people that I am?"
This means that Jesus had removed from the multitude. when He
finished praying. He asked them this important question. I have
written a small book called "Who is This Man Called Jesus and why
Should we worship Him". This is the most important question in all of
Christendom. What are you going to do with Jesus? Who is He? Your
answer can seal your doom in hell or save you.
Luke 9:19 "They answering said, John the Baptist; but some [say],
Elias; and others [say], that one of the old prophets is risen again."
As important as John the Baptist, Elijah. and the prophets
were, none of them could save you. The people were confused. Looking
at Jesus, they saw a man.
Luke 9:20 "He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter
answering said, The Christ of God."
Matthew 16:16 gives a more explicit answer from Peter, "And Simon
Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God." Jesus replies to Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed
this to Peter. but the Father. In saying this, Peter has said: You are
God's Son who has taken on flesh to live among us.
Luke 9:21 "And he straitly charged them, and commanded [them] to
tell no man that thing;"
The only person then or now who truly knows in his heart who Jesus
is, is the one who the Father has revealed it to.
Luke 9:22 "Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be
rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain,
and be raised the third day."
Jesus has just revealed (above) to them that He is truly the
Messiah that they looked for: but in the very same breath. He tells
them that He will suffer and die at the hands of His Jewish church.
The elders, chief priests, and scribes made up the ruling body of the
temple of that day. His own people will reject Him and even crucify
Him. His promise to these disciples is that He will rise again on the
third day.
Luke 9:23 "And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and
follow me."
This is a message that no one wanted to hear. It is still an
unpopular message today. If we do not take up our cross every day,
then we will not receive our crown and sit with Him in heavenly
places. In our day, the message has wandered so far from this. Many
preachers are bringing a message that if you receive Jesus, there will
be nothing but good times. Our leader suffered. If we are true
followers of His, we can expect no better. The walk with Jesus is a
walk of denial to worldly things and, also, brings suffering in this
world.
Luke 9:24 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but
whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."
We must be willing to give our very life, if necessary. The
important life is the eternal life with Him. This few years we live
here on the earth are but a blink in all of history. We must live and
die staying true to God, so that our eternal life will be spent with
Him.
Luke 9:25 "For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole
world, and lose himself, or be cast away?"
Desires for things of this world in abundance usually cause us to
sin in acquiring them. We may become very rich in worldly goods and
yet lose our soul. It is a terrible trade off to trade perhaps 70 or
80 years of pleasures now for the thousands of years of all of
eternity.
Luke 9:26 "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words,
of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own
glory, and [in his] Father's, and of the holy angels."
Jesus is the Judge of all the world. If we do not accept Him as
our Saviour and Lord here now, He will not recognize us as belonging
to Him then. Our stand for Him must be taken here. If we truly believe
in our heart and confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and hold up His
Word, then He will welcome us into His kingdom. If we do not uphold
His Word and declare Him to be the Christ (Messiah), He will say get
away from me, I never knew you. Jesus will declare the true believers
(Christians) in front of His Father and the angels. We will be
accepted and crowned by our Saviour, Jesus.
Luke 9:27 "But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here,
which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God."
We do know that Peter, James, and John get a glimpse of the
kingdom of God at the transfiguration. We, also, know that Stephen
looked into heaven and saw the throne of God and Jesus standing at the
right hand of the Father just before he was stoned to death.
Luke 9:28 "And it came to pass about an eight days after these
sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain
to pray."
Always, when Jesus went aside. He took these three with Him.
They seemed to be the closest to Him. Jesus went to the mountain to
pray so that He could pray; in private. We might take a lesson from
Jesus in this. The best prayers are the ones we pray in secret to God.
Luke 9:29 "And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was
altered, and his raiment [was] white [and] glistering."
This Light was showing who Jesus really is; the Light of the
world. This could be likened unto the Shekinah. This Light that came
from within Jesus was so bright that His clothes glistened.
Luke 9:30 "And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were
Moses and Elias:"
These two Old Testament men represented the law and the prophets.
Luke 9:31 "Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which
he should accomplish at Jerusalem."
These two came to discuss with Jesus the things which were about
to happen in Jerusalem. Jesus' flesh did not look forward to the
rejection and cruel force of the death on the cross. I really believe
that this, also, was to help Peter, James, and John when remembering
back that God still has everything under control. These 3 should draw
an extra strength from this transfiguration on the mountain top.
Luke 9:32 "But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with
sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men
that stood with him."
They had been tired and went to sleep. On awakening, they saw this
magnificent sight on the mountain: Jesus in all His glory and the two
Old Testament representatives. Moses for the law and Elijah for the
prophets.
Luke 9:33 "And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter
said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make
three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:
not knowing what he said."
Peter truly did not know what he said. Moses and Elijah were men,
Jesus was God the Son. You do not build tabernacles to men.
Luke 9:34 "While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and
overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud."
Luke 9:35 "And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my
beloved Son: hear him."
This is while Peter was speaking that this cloud of the Almighty
overshadowed them. When this cloud came so close and they knew this
was the presence of God, it frightened the disciples. Even more
frightening is the voice that comes from this cloud and says, "This is
my beloved Son; hear him". All of this should have strengthened them
when their test came. Peter, the one we would expect to be the
greatest believer, will, in fact, deny that he even knew Jesus. This
should be proof enough to these three forever of who Jesus is.
Luke 9:36 "And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And
they kept [it] close, and told no man in those days any of those
things which they had seen."
They had seen the glory of God the Father overshadow Jesus and
God, Himself, tell them that Jesus is His beloved Son and to listen to
whatever He says. Perhaps because they assumed no one would believe
and because Jesus told them not to tell it, at any rate, they did not
mention this until after Jesus' resurrection. Jesus had chosen these
three disciples to see things the others had not seen.
Luke 24 Questions
1. When Jesus was alone with the disciples and praying, what did He
ask them?
2. What is the most important question in all Christendom?
3. If you cannot answer this question correctly. where will you wind
up?
4. When they answered Jesus' question, who did they say the people
said He was?
5. The people were confused. Looking at Jesus. they saw a _________.
6. What did Peter answer when Jesus asked, whom say ye that I am?
7. Jesus told Peter that ________ and _______ had not revealed this
to him, but the __________.
8. In verse 22. Jesus told them some terrible things would happen to
Him. What were they?
9. He also told them He would rise from the grave on what day?
10. Who made up the ruling body of the temple in Jerusalem?
11. If any man will come after Jesus, they must do what daily?
12. In what way has the modern church wandered from this message?
13. The walk with Jesus is a walk of _______ and brings _______.
14. We must live and die being true to whom?
15. If we are ashamed of Jesus and His Words here, what will happen in
heaven?
16. What would cause Jesus to welcome us into His kingdom?
17. Who were some who did not taste death before they saw the kingdom?
18. Which three disciples went to the mountain with Jesus to pray?
19. What are the best prayers?
20. As Jesus prayed. what 2 miraculous things happened?
21. What could this Light be likened unto?
22. Who were the 2 men who talked to Jesus?
23. What do they symbolize?
24. What were they speaking of?
25. Who wanted to make three tabernacles?
26. Why was this wrong?
27. Whose voice spoke from the cloud?
28. What did He say?
Home