Day 202 – July 21, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Chronicles 7, Luke 9 In Luke 9, Jesus feeds 5,000+ people with a little bread and fish. This incredible miracle is followed by an a conversation with the disciples about Jesus’ identity. “Who do people say I am?” Jesus asks this question after a time in prayer. The answers start rolling in. “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still other prophets, who have come back to life.” “What about you?” Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “God’s Messiah.” Peter obviously answers correctly. In each instance of this in other gospels, Jesus accompanies Peter’s response with the impending suffering and death of the Son of Man. The disciples continuously wrestle with the idea of the function and role of the Messiah. The furthest idea from their minds is that the Messiah would come and die. The common 1st century understanding of the Messiah was that he would come and conquer, not come and die. We have the rest of the story, and we have the perspective to look back on this text and know that Jesus did both. He came and announced the kingdom, died and conquered. We believe that Jesus is the Messiah who proclaimed and inaugurated a greater kingdom, an eternal one that is greater than death. It is interesting looking back at the answers that were given about the identity of Jesus. Some say Elijah, John the Baptist, or another prophet, and Luke then offers up the story of Jesus' Transfiguration. Two great prophets appear, Elijah and Moses. One of those questions is, “How did the disciples know who they were?” They couldn’t have possibly had a picture of them on their iPhone, right? Well Jesus probably communicated with them who it was later. That’s the only explanation, right? Anyways, it furthers the point. Elijah and Moses, two of the greatest prophets in the history of Israel, they are approving of Jesus. He is the Messiah. He is truly the one who is coming into the world to redeem it and he is calling us to follow him, take up our crosses. Follow the Messiah into the kingdom of God. Give your life to him today! Jordan
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AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
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