The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus took His disciples, “, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spoke unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But he said unto them, Give you them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets”, and in chapter nine and verse eighteen of his book Luke shared how Jesus asked His disciples, “whom say the people that I am?” where we read:
And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him:
and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
The verse reads, “And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him:” Luke began with the words, “and it came to pass” or “and it came into existence and happened”, “as he was alone praying” which means “while Jesus was supplicating, worshiping and making orations to God the Father”, “his disciples” or “Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “were with him” which means “were alongside Jesus”. Luke shared how Jesus was “by Himself” worshiping and making orations to His Father God while His disciples were nearby.
The verse goes on to say, “and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?” Luke continued with the words, “and he asked them” which means “and Jesus questioned, inquired and sought an answer from His disciples”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and asking”, “whom say the people that I am” or “who do the crowd, multitude or collection of human beings both male and female utter, declare and proclaim that Jesus is”? Luke shared how Jesus questioned His disciples as to who “people” were declaring Him to be.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus was “praying” to His Heavenly Father, and this time His disciples accompanied Him. As they were with Him, Jesus questioned them as to who “people” were saying that He was. Jesus' question is relevant today for every person to consider. Who is Jesus, and does it matter who He is? Indeed it does matter for a person's “eternal life” because death is certain and what a person thinks of Jesus will determine where they spend eternity. God desires people to live with Him, and this is gained by believing and trusting in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Let all who read these words answer this question, “Who do you say Jesus is”?
Next time Luke shares how His disciples responded, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and other say, that one of the old prophets is risen again”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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