Pastor Scott Andrews | March 9, 2025
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Luke 9:18-22
School has been in for a couple months now – long enough for you to know which classes you like, which ones you don’t. Which ones have lots of homework, which ones don’t. Which ones will be a breeze, which ones won’t. Which teachers you like, which ones you don’t. Of course, you understand if you’re homeschooled, that last one is not an option for you.
If you’re a college student, perhaps the professors have given you a syllabus, which lays out the class schedule, homework assignments, papers or projects and the exam schedule. I don’t want anyone to hyperventilate, but let’s consider for a moment the exam schedule. You see, at the end of almost any formal training comes a time of examination. A time of testing to determine if the student has acquired a grasp of the material. So, at the end of the semester, you’ll likely have some type of EOG or final exam, research paper or project to determine your knowledge of the subject. Did you learn it?
Go with me now to that last day of school. Mother’s Day or June is around the corner, the sun is shining, it’s warmer outside. You’ve just spent a sleepless night cramming. We all understand that’s not the best way to learn, but most of you do it anyway. Now imagine walking into class prepared to take the final exam. No notes, no books, just you, pencil in hand, the other students and the teacher. As he or she hands out the exam, you notice it’s only one page. This ought to be a breeze, you think. In fact, when you get the test, you find it only has one question. But then, as the teacher finishes handing out the final, he or she says, “You must get this question right to pass the class – if you get it wrong, you fail, not only the final, but the entire class. Your entire grade lies in the answer to this one question. In fact, fail and you won’t graduate.” All of a sudden, you start sweating, and you should.
There is a sense in which that is before us today in our text in Luke 9. You see, Jesus has been the teacher in His class for over two and a half years. The disciples have been the students. So have we. He has taught them through His teaching, His miracles, His fulfillment of OT prophecies, even through debate with the Pharisees. The disciples have had ringside seats, privileged to see it all, hear it all. They followed the teacher. They’ve been in the classroom – so have we, for us, almost two years. And while this may not be the final exam, make no mistake about it, it is critical – we’ll call it a mid-term.
Again, the disciples were there when He performed all those miracles – healing people of every disease, every malady. They had watched blind eyes see, deaf ears hear, mute tongues speak, crippled legs walk, lepers healed, deformed bodies restored. They saw storms calmed, dead raised, demoniacs delivered, thousands fed with a poor boy’s lunch. These were not your run-of-the-mill, slight-of-hand tricks – these were bona fide miracles – there could be no explaining them, there could be no denying them.
They were there to see the opposition mount from the religious elite – from the scribes, the teachers of the Law, the Pharisees. They watched Him deftly handle their challenges and accusations. Despite their best efforts, they could neither trap nor trick Him. No one spoke with the authority or wisdom of this man. He was amazing.
At one point recently, Jesus expected His followers to become participants, so He sent His Twelve to say what He said and do what He did. Further, He took His students outside Jewish territory – it was a study abroad. They traveled to Gentile country; the other gospels tell us to Tyre and Sidon; Luke tells us to the Decapolis where He delivered the demon-possessed man from a legion of demons. And now, we find from the other gospels, they are in Caesarea Philippi. You see, the disciples had been in the classroom and were beginning to understand the kingdom would eventually transcend cultural, national and racial boundaries.
Again, they arrived in the villages around Caesarea Philippi outside Jewish territory. Located about 25 miles northeast of Bethsaida, it was right at the base of snow-capped Mount Hermon. It was a city Philip the Tetrarch had inherited from his father, Herod the Great. He had built it into a magnificent city, and named it after Caesar Augustus, and of course, himself, Philip. The place was full of pagan idolatry – it was originally named Paneas since it was rumored to be the birthplace of the pagan god, Pan, who was half man and half goat and considered the guardian of flocks and nature. But it was a safe place for Jesus to go with His disciples to escape the ever-present crowds and the hostility of the Pharisees in Galilee. Remember, they had traveled to Bethsaida for a little retreat, but a large crowd met them there. So Jesus spent the day teaching, healing, feeding the 5,000 – all that. So, they eventually traveled farther north.
And it is when they arrived Jesus gave them the exam. Oh, there will still be much to learn in the months to come, just like there is always more to learn after a class ends. But this is a major exam, and it has one question. Get this one right, and you pass the class, disciples. Get it wrong, and you fail everything – the last two/three years, miserably. Let’s read the test, Luke 9:18-22. But, before I read – this is a test you must pass – your eternal destiny depends on it. You see, you’re going to live forever. The question is, where will you spend eternity? The answer to that question is determined by how you do on this exam.
“And it happened that while Jesus was praying alone” – stop right there a moment. Luke makes a big deal about Jesus praying alone often, when facing significant points in His ministry. He prayed at His baptism. Right after that, He fasted for forty days, and we assume praying. When He called the Twelve, He spent the night praying alone. Here, when He is about to test those Twelve. Later in this chapter, at the Mount of Transfiguration. Later, alone in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed so much that in chapter 11 when He is done praying, the disciples will ask Him, Lord, teach us to pray. [Luke 9:18-22]
Do you see the final exam question? Jesus asked, “who do you say that I am?” It’s the question Luke has been posing throughout this book. Remember back in back in chapter 4 after Jesus performed His first miracle in this gospel – driving out a demon – the people said, “What is this message, for with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” In chapter 5, when He said to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven, the Pharisees asked, “Who is this man that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” In chapter 7, John the Baptist sent a deputation to Jesus to ask Him, are the Expected One? In chapter 8, after He calmed the storm, the disciples asked, “Who then is this, that He commands the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” In chapter 9, Herod Antipas asked the question, “Who is this man about whom I hear such things?” You see, it’s the question Luke has been posing. And now Jesus asked the disciples the question.
It is a question not only for them – but for every person on the planet, from then till now, for every person in this room, to answer. Who do you say Jesus is? It’s the most important question you’ll ever hear and the most important question you’ll ever answer. Get it right, you pass. Get it wrong, you fail – which brings disastrous, eternal consequences. But don’t miss it – not only does Jesus ask them, do you know who I am, He tells them what He came to do. This text contains the person and work of Jesus Christ. Faith in both is necessary for eternal salvation. Don’t fail to hold faith in either one. Let me give you the outline of the passage as we make our way through the text.
- The Final Exam – The Person of Christ (18-20a)
- The Passing Grade (20b)
- The Post-exam Instruction – The Work of Christ (21-22)
As we look at the final exam in those first few verses, we note some failed the test. In fact, most failed the test – then and now. It’s interesting that disciples usually asked their rabbis questions. But Jesus regularly did what was unexpected, so this time, He asked the questions. Let’s begin with the wrong answers – with those who failed. Because again, there have always been people who fail this question. Who do people say that I am? We’ve already seen this back in verses 7-9. What’s the word on the street about Me? Their answers:
Some say you’re John the Baptist. After all, both the messages of Jesus and John were similar, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And John, you remember, was dead by this time – he had been beheaded by Herod Antipas. But, John had been highly regarded by the people – they saw him as a prophet. Apparently, in their high regard for John, some thought, we haven’t seen the last of him – maybe, just maybe, Jesus is a resurrected John. That’s what Herod heard, which was one reason Jesus steered clear of him. Well, of course, we know Jesus wasn’t – couldn’t be – John the Baptist. They were contemporaries – born six months apart – cousins. John had baptized Jesus in the Jordan River some time ago. John was the one sent to prepare the way of the Lord – the forerunner to prepare the way for the Messiah – that’s important – but He wasn’t the Messiah. John was the herald of the King; Jesus was the King. John the Baptist? Wrong answer.
Some say you’re Elijah – now, why would they say that? Well, Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, riding a chariot of fire, and it became expected he would return that way. Also, Malachi 4:5 says, “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.” This was rightly seen as prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah – that Elijah would come and announce His soon coming. Even today, orthodox Jews leave an empty chair at their Passover celebrations, waiting for Elijah. Further, Elijah, you remember, did lots of miracles – some of the same ones Jesus did – raising the dead, feeding people. Maybe Jesus was a resurrected Elijah, doing lots of miracles, all in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Good guess – wrong answer.
Over in Matthew, the disciples answered, still others say, maybe He’s Jeremiah. Why would they say that? Well, first, Jeremiah was seen as a prophet of gloom, and Jesus didn’t have a lot of positive things to say about the future of Israel and their religious system – maybe He’s a resurrected Jeremiah. Not only that, there was a teaching within Judaism that came from the apocryphal book of II Maccabees – one of those books written in the inter-testamental period between Malachi and Matthew, that said, Jeremiah took the ark of the covenant and the altar of incense out of the Temple right before the Babylonians arrived and hid them – if only Indiana Jones knew. The legend said he would return those items right before the coming of the Messiah. So, maybe Jesus is Jeremiah…wrong answer.
Finally, there were others who didn’t try to identify which prophet – they just thought Jesus might be one of the prophets, come back, in preparation for the Christ. Maybe He was even the prophet – the one Moses talked about in Deuteronomy 18 – the prophet like Moses to come.
I want you to notice something about all those guesses. Every one of those was positive. They weren’t saying bad things about Jesus. In fact, Luke frequently records people’s amazement at Jesus’ message and miracles. They called Him a healer, a rabbi, a teacher. He had disciples, large crowds. Sure, there were those, namely Pharisees, who were accusing Jesus of being in league with Satan. But that’s not what the people were saying. Jesus, you’re obviously a good man, a great man, a godly man – a prophet – a man sent by God. Which one, we’re not sure. But we think you’re okay. They were saying some good things…just not the right thing.
Notice also, most of those guesses had to do with someone sent to announce the coming of the Messiah – in other words, they saw Jesus as right next to the Messiah, a forerunner to the Messiah, but not quite the Messiah. Good man – ‘atta boy, keep up the good work, we like the miracles, we like the healings, we like the food, but you’re not the Messiah.
You see, there was a major problem, and it had to do with the popular perception of what the Messiah would do. We’ve talked about this – they were looking for a political militant to overthrow Rome and lead the Jews to their rightful place of glorious victory and world domination. Jesus wasn’t that kind of guy. I mean, come on, He was from Galilee – up north – a Yankee Jew – can any good thing come out of Galilee? And He didn’t appear to be gathering an army. His followers were a ragtag group of former fishermen, tax collectors, lepers, sinners, prostitutes. We’re impressed with this guy, but He’s going to have to gather some fighters. He doesn’t fit our Messianic profile.
And that assessment has been the conclusion of people through the centuries. People throughout time – they like Jesus, but they’ve also dismissed Him. Oh, they may not call Him demon-possessed, they may not call Him a fraud, but they dismiss Him nonetheless. They may even say great things about Him. They may call Him a good man, a good example, a man without equal, maybe even a prophet. Pilate said, “I find no guilt in this man.” Great. Positive – He’s not such a bad guy. Diderot referred to Him as “the unsurpassed.” Strauss, the German rationalist, saw Him as “the highest model of religion.” Decante said He is the “guide to humanity.” The French atheist Renan said He was “the greatest among the sons of men.” And my personal favorite, Martinot saw Him as the “flower of humanity.” Isn’t that special. None of those answers get it. When you’re a sinner and need help, when you need hope, the flower of humanity just isn’t going to do it for you.
Even today, people dismiss Jesus. Oh, they might see Him as an historical figure. I believe what I’ve heard read about Him in history books, in my philosophy of religion classes. They might see Him as a moral example – He was a great guy who did and said lots of good things. I mean, I like the golden rule. In fact, most people don’t even have a problem with us being here today, I mean, if that’s what we want to do – our religion is somewhat harmless and inconsequential. And they dismiss Him. You may even be here this morning with warm and fuzzy feelings about Jesus. You may like this church and the people here. But all those answers are inadequate. There is only one answer to pass the test.
So Jesus looks at the disciples, final exam time, this is it guys, “Who do you (it’s in the emphatic in all three synoptic accounts) say that I am?” You see, in the final analysis, it doesn’t matter what other people think. How they answer the question on the test. You can copy someone else’s answer on the test, and get the wrong answer, too. It doesn’t matter if they think He’s the devil, He’s a good man or even that He’s the Messiah. You see – what matters is what you think. Your parents can’t believe for you, your kids can’t believe for you, your spouse can’t believe for you – you must know it and believe it for yourself. Who do you say Jesus is? John 1, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Peter, ever the spokesman for the group, gets it right: “You are the Christ of God” and over in Matthew, he adds, “the Son of the Living God.” A+, Peter, you got it right, you passed the test. Again, this is the question Luke has posed in this book. Everyone was asking it – who is this this man. It’s the question Luke has been trying to answer. And by the way, this is the first time a human answers it. Sure, Luke the narrator has been trying to get us to see who He is.
Gabriel said it when he told the virgin Mary she was going to have a baby – He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David…and His kingdom will have no end. The angel said it to the shepherds when Jesus was born, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Jesus Himself said it to His parents when they desperately looked for Him after a Passover, did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house. God the Father said it at Jesus’ baptism, “You are my beloved Son.” Of course, the demons declared it over and over, I know who You are—the Holy One of God, or, You are the Son of God, or, What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? They knew it.
But here, Peter, a disciple, finally gets it and proclaims, “You are the Christ of God, the Son of the Living God.” And every person who would seek to be His disciple must understand and believe those truths. Declare them – that is, if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord. Two things Peter answered, two things which are absolutely necessary to be believed, trusted, by faith in order to get this right, to pass this test, and frankly, make it to heaven. Without which, you will not.
First, notice, Peter said, you are the Christ. In a sense, that speaks of what Jesus did. Christ is the Greek word for the Hebrew Messiah – the Anointed One. In the OT, three different people were anointed – prophets, priests and kings. Jesus was all three. He is the Anointed One. You are the one, there is no other, designated by God to bear the sins of the world. Jesus, and Jesus only, is the Savior of the world – there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life – no one comes to the Father but by Him. You must know, you must understand, if there is any hope for you, if there is any hope for your sins to be forgiven, to be reconciled to God, to go to heaven, it is through this man, Jesus the Christ. Now, Jesus is going to tell us what He came to do in the verses that follow.
But not only is Jesus the Christ, secondly, again in Matthew, Peter said, You are the Son of the Living God – that speaks to who Jesus is. He is the Son of God, making Him one in essence with deity – He was God in the flesh. If He was just another man, His death would have accomplished nothing. But as the divine Son, His death provided atonement for sins. He was the perfect one, as God in the flesh – the God-man – to represent man to God, and God to man. Hebrews 2 says it this way:
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil…
17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
A+, Peter, you got it. How about you? Who do you say Jesus is? There is only one right answer. Can you say in your heart, “Jesus, you’re my only hope, You are the Christ of God, the Son of the living God”? Have you confessed that with your mouth.
A couple other final thoughts before we close – very quickly our third point, some post exam truth. You see, while we have 2000 years of church history to contemplate this – these two verses would have shocked the disciples. Notice first, since Peter got it right, it would seem this would be a time to celebrate – let’s go tell everyone – the Messiah is here. But notice the so-called Messianic Secret in verse 21, “But He warned and instructed them [those are very strong words of warning] He warned them to tell this to no one. Why? Again, because of the messianic expectations at this time – they expected a Messiah-figure to show up as a political, military leader and throw off Rome. But, this was not Jesus’ mission. He came not to be a political militant to deliver His people from Rome, but a suffering Savior to deliver His people from sin.
Which leads to the second, even greater shocking news. Tell this to no one, saying, verse 22, “The Son of Man must suffer [that word must is a divine imperative. It had been determined in the council of the Triune God that there would be one way to redeem humankind from its rebellion, and that would be through the death of God’s Son]. There are four infinitives here – first, the Son of Man must suffer – and that He did at the hands of the religious elite who opposed Him, and from Roman authorities who flogged Him, who put a crown of thorns on Him, who mocked Him. Second, He would be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes – that’s the three groups of men who made up the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling body. They would indeed try Him, find Him guilty of blasphemy for claiming to be the divine Messiah, the Son of God, and they would hand Him over to the Romans. And third, they would kill Him. You see, later, Jesus will make clear that His death would be through horrible and agonizing crucifixion. He will also make clear that He went voluntarily to the cross – that He laid down His life for the sheep. And if He laid it down, He also had the authority to take it up again, and He did. Which leads to the fourth thing – and He would be raised up on the third day. And He was.
They were looking for the Messiah – but no one expected this. They expected a conquering Messiah to battle the enemy of Rome. No one expected a suffering Messiah to battle and conquer the enemy of sin. So Jesus moves from His person – Peter’s right confession – to the gospel. This is why I came. You see, as soon as they knew who Jesus was, they needed to know what He came to do. Knowing who Jesus is, is not the end – it is absolutely necessary, but it is only the beginning. You must know the gospel. So I am asking you this morning, do you know Jesus and what He came to do? Have you received Him and believed the gospel for yourself?
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as the divine Lord of your life; and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead – which presupposes death – then you shall be saved. It’s the only right answer to the question. The person and the work of Jesus, the Christ of God, the Son of the Living God.