Knowing The Word in Luke 9:18-20

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

9:18 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?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Comments

Matthew and Mark locate this event near the foot of Mount Hermon in Gentile territory where the people worshipped Pan. Jesus had gotten far away from Herod and the crowds to a place to have time and space to talk seriously with his disciples. He wanted to talk about himself and his identity by asking the disciples who people thought he was. Their answers were very similar to what Herod had to say about Jesus. Then Jesus turned from a general discussion and asked them for personal answers. Peter spoke for the group, calling Jesus the Messiah of God, meaning “the anointed one.” Jesus, anointed by God for this mission, will be the deliverer for whom the people have been looking.

Application

The knowledge of Christ is always a personal answer for people, not learned from others. When did you come to a knowledge of Christ, believing him to be Savior and Lord as the Anointed One of God?

Prayer

You are God Te Deum laudamus

You are God: we praise you; You are the Lord; we acclaim you; You are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

(Canticle 21 from the BCP, p. 95)