Please note that Pastor Henn is struggling today with laryngitis. This is not his normal speaking voice but he presses on to give us another great sermon.

“Peter’s View,” Luke 9:18-36

Open:  Declaring ourselves in romance and friendship.  Why we duck the question.

I.        Identity Check

          A.     (v18) Very general—“Who do the crowds say I am?”

                  1.      The disciples discreetly mention the more positive suggestions.

                  2.      Put on the spot: (v20) “But what about you?  Who do you say I am?”

                  3.      Peter answers correctly, without the affirmation of Matthew 16:17, “The Christ of God.”

          B.     (v21) Jesus switches to his favorite moniker, used 81 times in the gospels: The Son of Man.”

                  1.      (v22) “The Son of Man must suffer and be rejected and he must be killed…”

                  2.      Not exactly the strong, superhero type.  Will you follow knowing the cost?

II.       Costly Journey (vs23-27)

          A.     (v23) “If anyone would come after me”:  Deny yourself, daily take up your cross, and follow…”

                  1.      We are not good at denying ourselves.  What is your cross?  Daily?

                  2.      Jesus tells us to follow, but where is he going?

          B.     (v24) “Whoever would save their life will lose it.”

                  1.      “Whoever loses their life for my sake will save it.”

                  2.      (v26) “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed…”

III.      Transfigured (vs29-36)

          A.     Peter, James and John, meet Moses and Elijah

                  1.      (v29) “The appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as lightning…”

                  2.      (v31) Moses and Elijah “spoke about his departure [Greek=Exodus], which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”

          B.     Peter offers to pitch tents

                  1.      We try to enshrine Jesus.  We build memorials to those we martyr.  It is harder to follow.

                  2.      (v34) “A cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified.”

                  3.      (v35) What the cloud [Exodus 24:15-18] said about Jesus

Conclusion:  Communion and picking up our cross daily