Prophet or Lord – Emails to my Church Lent 2021

This year is like no other year that I remember, I am taking time to prepare my heart for Easter by reading and meditating the Scriptures and following some helpful books on Lent. I have to say it has been a great experience so far. I want to arrive at Easter and celebrate Jesus’ victory over death and embrace life in its fulness.

So, I have teamed up with one of my leaders, she is great, and if you are aware of her work, you will know how the Holy Spirit is using Jill. So, she has drawn some pictures that will stimulate our imagination and draw us closer to Christ. This is how it is going to work. I will be blogging this short clip (click on picture) with, I hope, some encouraging words and drawings, and we pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to you.

So, here we go…

When people hear me speak, they immediately ask me two questions: Where are you from, and what are you doing here? These two questions are about identity and purpose, who are you and what you do!

I believe that Jesus asked two similar questions to his disciples. This is what the Gospel of Luke say:  “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?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (Luke 9:18–20 ESV)

He asked his disciples two crucial questions about his identity.

The first question, “Who do the crowds say that I am? It is a perception, a general question, pointing out what the public thought about who he was. What do you think of Jesus?  If we put it in today’s context, your Facebook profile is where people have a perception of who you may be.

The second question,  “But who do you say that I am?” It is addressed to his disciples; they were part of the inner circle of friendship that Jesus had. This is like a personal private text message to your best friends!

If Jesus would ask you and me these two questions, what would your answer be? Would you answer with a general knowledge referring to Jesus as a public persona, quoting the Bible or even Wikipedia?  Or will your answer be like the one Peter gave; “You are the Christ of God”.

What is the difference? The difference is simple, if your answer is like what the crowd perceived him to be, then you are missing who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish.

But if your answer is similar to what Peter said, then you will know that it was revealed to you by the Holy Spirit. Disclosing the identity and mission of Jesus. This revelation knows the heart of Jesus. 

So, you could play safe and say he is a prophet, or you can wear your heart on your sleeve and say, Jesus, you are my Messiah, the Christ, my Saviour, my Lord.

Look at Jill’s picture and read Luke 9, and ask the Lord to speak to you. Let your heart be set on fire with the presence and love of Jesus!    

“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?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of 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. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”” (Luke 9:18–27 ESV)