Here we move into a higher understanding of who Jesus is. Luke wrote a snapshot of Jesus’ younger life as a twelve year old, reasoning out high level theological arguments with the religious leaders in the Temple. If this boy had no sinful impediment to learning and understanding, therefore having clear wisdom and knowledge, His intellect and argument must have been astounding – leading to days of discussion with the Teachers of the Law.
Then we hear of Jesus’ baptism and anointing, the trial in the wilderness and His victory over all that would undermine His knowledge of Himself and His reason for being here.
So by the time we get to Luke 9:18-27, when Jesus asked His disciples “Who do people say that I am?”, He knew who He was and what He was here for.
Peter was the one who declared “You are the Christ of God.” This was an explosive declaration, pregnant with expectation. “The Christ of God” was widely recognised as the One who would rise up and restore the national fortune and sovereignty of God’s chosen people. He would be enthroned in Jerusalem to the fanfare of the nations. And all who stood against the Lord and His anointed would be destroyed as a rod of iron smashes pottery (Psalm 2).
Jesus affirmed Peter’s declaration, and immediately told His disciples not to tell anyone. Such heightened expectations would hamper the work Jesus had to complete before His time came to go to Jerusalem.
Because Jesus did have to go to Jerusalem. God’s Anointed One rode triumphantly into the city to the fanfare of the crowds. He was received by royalty dressed in shackles. He was whipped and humiliated. He was paraded under the weight of a wooden cross. His coronation was being nailed and raised up on the cross, His crown made of thorns. The Christ of God died a brutal physical death at the hands of the powerful and the corrupt.
But that was the purpose for which He came. He understood this as He reasoned and explored the Hebrew Scriptures, of the meaning of the Messiah and the Suffering Servant. He knew the Christ of God meant the perfect sacrifice for once and all for the sin of the world. Jesus the Christ knew His coronation would bring victory and salvation to all who turn to Him in faith, blessing to all who took refuge in Him – and destruction to all who did not.
His kingdom was not of this world, and yet will overcome the kingdoms of this world. His resurrection is evidence of His truth and life, and His ascension is the evidence of His glory and the promise of His return.
Jesus the Christ always knew what this explosive title meant. I think too often we forget, or worse ignore, the expectation and power of the title. And for those who use Jesus’ title and name blasphemously, as a swear word or in a derogative manner, they will find that their bluster that is as brittle as clay is no match for the sceptre of the living Christ.

When we looked at Jesus in the Gospel of Luke as a historical figure, as a “Good Teacher” and as a revolutionary, it didn’t require belief in any transcendent or supernatural qualities of Jesus. Unbelievers could, and do, understand Jesus in these ways, and are happy to leave Him like that.
The next three views of Jesus are supernaturally oriented as we explore His influence in the “seen and the unseen” realms, in other words, this physical world and the unseen spiritual world.
Prophets are recognised in many spiritual traditions and religions. Their universal role is to bridge the seen and unseen, to reveal the spiritual to this present age. But not all prophets speak truthfully and prophecy can be used to increase personal gain in terms of influence, money or gratification. None of these end up well.
The LORD God gave Moses some strong boundaries for engaging with the unseen realm in Deuteronomy 18:9-13. Clearly, there are dangers in the spiritual realm not to be messed with. As our ‘secular’ nation drifts further from Christ and His Word, isn’t it fascinating how such spiritual practices are being pursued?
In the very next passage (Deuteronomy 18:14-22) Moses taught the people of God of the Prophet who would be raised up and who would do exactly what was required. God told the Israelites that He had initiated the line of prophecy and prophets to reveal His Word to His people across history, as they had struggled to stand directly in His presence (Deuteronomy 18:16 and Hebrews 12:18-24). The prophets spoke God’s Word while the kings rose and fell, when the superpowers raged around and through Israel, and within and outside of the Tabernacle/Temple institution.
Moreover, the LORD told them how to discern a false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20-22): If what they said didn’t happen, then they weren’t a prophet. Unfortunately, this principle was not recognised to the detriment of God’s people – then, and now.
So, to Jesus as a Prophet. Clearly Jesus bridged the seen and unseen realms. He frequently spoke of things unseen, which came to pass. He spoke with authority and backed it up with powerful works that revealed His dominion over creation, sickness and the evil spiritual forces.
When the disciples of John the Baptist came to ask Him on behalf of John “Are you the One who we are waiting for – or do we still have to wait for another?” Jesus immediately demonstrated His power, fulfilling prophetic words of Isaiah 29:18-21 and 35:5-6 – releasing, restoring, reviving and renewing.
He told John’s disciples to return to him and tell him everything they had seen and heard, and to stay strong because Jesus is the One he was waiting for.
Jesus then turned His attention to the crowds, to admonish them for their pigeon-holing of the prophets. If they were out in the wilderness, dress rough and eat rough – “he has a demon!” says the crowds. If they move around the city and attend parties at the houses of powerful people, “he is a glutton and an alcoholic!” says the crowds. Jesus told them to stop judging the appearance – and listen to what they are saying.
“Wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Those who listen to what Jesus said will find life and truth. He had a unique insight into the seen and unseen realm. He now has full authority over all of it, and His rule will be seen by all people on the Day of the LORD when He wraps all history and fulfils all the promises and prophecies we wait for.