Luke 9:21–22

Luke 9:21-22 

English Standard Version 

  This is not the plan I would have come up with.  Peter has just confessed that Jesus is the Messiah... and then Jesus follows with a plan that involves suffering, death, and resurrection.  Had I been in charge, I might have developed a plan that omitted the first two parts of that and focused on glorification.  

  Thankfully, God is in control.  God understood what must be done, even if it doesn't make sense to human minds.  God knew, and God was committed to saving humanity and was therefore willing to pay any price.  God wasn't afraid of the necessary suffering, because God thinks you and I are worth it.  

  So let us not shy away from what we do not understand.  May we ask big questions and follow God wherever God may lead, trusting in God's plans and God's ways, which are greater than our own.

Ephesians 4 Sermon for March 1, 2026

Luke 9:18–20

Luke 9:18-20 

English Standard Version 

  There are movies or television shows that I haven't seen that I still have opinions about, based on clips I've seen or what I've heard.  There are books that I have strong feelings about that I've never read.  I know that I should read them for myself... but my mind is made up.  

  We form opinions about people, too, even though we don't know them very well.  Perhaps an actor played a character that we didn't really like, but we've decided we didn't like the actor.  Does it make sense?  No.  Do we do it?  Yes.

  Jesus is addressing the disciples directly.  He asks what the general knowledge about him is, what the crowds think.  But that's not the tough question.  You can say anything at that point and just blame it on someone else.

  The real question is, what do you think?  Who do you say that I am?  Are you willing to put it on record, to bet your life on it?  That's a direct question.  No dodging here.

  How would you answer this question?  And do your actions match your words?

Daffodils and the Gospel