2018 Easter Devotional — February 15

Luke 9:18-25 (click to view Scripture below)

The question that Jesus asks his disciples is still relevant today. Ask people their opinions about who Jesus is and you will get as many answers as the people you ask. Everyone would like their version of Jesus to be exactly what they want him to be; which is inevitably self-serving. The reality is that the path for Jesus included suffering, but the result was the victory of the resurrection.  Jesus makes a very poignant statement that essentially says, you can live life by your own rules but that will not end well. (v.25)

The world of violence and poverty that Childhope students live in can easily produce the expectation that Jesus should provide the alleviation of that tragedy. Our compassionate efforts to provide food and medical attention plus a solid education are something that Childhope does because we are called to act lovingly on Jesus’ behalf.  But the answer to the question, who do men say that I am is still the same. Jesus suffered on the Cross to provide the only transformation that can truly set us free.

Byron Klaus
Vice President, ChildHope
Prayer: Lord, forgive us for trying to make you into our personal version of a Savior. Thank you for taking the path to the Cross. We accept the gift of a new life.

See other devotionals in this series.


Luke 9:18-25 (ESV)

18 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?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 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 on the third day be raised.”

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

See other devotionals in this series.

 

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.