The Bible Text (Luke 9:18-26)
“18 And it came about that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the multitudes say that I am?” 19 And they answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.” 20 And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” 21 But He warned them, and instructed them not to tell this to anyone, 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 be raised up on the third day.” 23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:18-26) NASB.
Luke has introduced and regularly mentioned John the Baptist. We first saw that John the Baptist would have a great ministry and then die. We find that the same would happen to Jesus. The point of its conclusion, however, is given here–the disciples of Jesus must also take up his cross and follow Christ. We follow Christ no matter even if our life must be forfeited.
• How would you describe the scene given to us in Luke 9:18?
• What question did Jesus ask His disciples in verse 18?
• How would you respond to such a question?
• How did they respond to Jesus’ question (Luke 9:19-20)?
• What is the meaning of Peter’s answer (Luke 9:20)?
• Why do you think that Jesus wanted to keep this quiet (Luke 9:20-22)?
• What did Jesus say would happen to Him (Luke 9:22)?
• Looking back, what He said makes sense. What do you think they thought He meant?
• How is what Jesus says in verse 24 connected to what was said in 23?
• What does it mean to ‘take up his cross (Luke 9:24)? How frequently? How shall we do that?
• What principle does Jesus state in Luke 9:24-25?
• How can a person be ashamed of Jesus or His words (Luke 9:26)?
• What does it practically mean that the Son of Man be ashamed of a person upon His return (Luke 9:26)?
• What do you think the disciples might have thought about Jesus’ words in verse 22 and 26?
“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world,
and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:25).
• Who do you believe Jesus is? What you truly believe might be different than what you say. What you say will influence how you respond to Him and His words.
• What is your cross? Do you take it up daily? Share how you practically do that in your daily life.
• Many people including many evangelists do not tell people the implications of following Jesus? Why? What happens as a result? Would you say that most professing Christians know this? How do you handle it?
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