Peter’s declaration about Jesus, and Jesus foretells his death Luke 9:18-27
Imaginative Contemplation
Enter into the scene
Jesus had been praying alone, and when he joined the disciples, he seemed quiet, as if there was something on his mind. ‘Who do people say I am?’ he asked. Well, what a question! It depends who you are talking to. The disciples shared what they had heard… this man is a prophet … a good man … a healer … a miracle worker. (And others say that he can’t be from God, because he doesn’t obey the Sabbath, and he confronts the scribes and Pharisees – but we won’t tell him that!)
‘But you,’ Jesus asks, ‘Who do you say I am?’
What a question! How can we answer that? But good old Peter steps up and says, ‘You are God’s Messiah!’ There is relief in Jesus’ voice as he continues. ‘Don’t tell anyone about this. For you see, I am telling you before it happens, that I will be arrested, condemned and crucified, and on the third day, I shall rise again. And if you really want to be my disciples, you will suffer for it, too.’
For further reflection
Discuss with Jesus the following points:
· Who is Jesus for me?
· Do I take time for quiet prayer, even when I am busy?
· Do I give good feed-back to people when they do something well?
· How do I react when I know that there are difficulties ahead?
Prayer
Lord, help me to know you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly day by day. Amen.