Gospel Of Jesus Research Paper

In our Gospel reading today, the disciples have been spending time together traveling with Jesus and they have had some amazing experiences. They watched Jesus calm the sea. They saw him drive out demons and heal sick people. They even helped Jesus feed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. I am thinking the disciples must have believed they were going to be the next upcoming group of leaders! But then, as seen in our Gospel reading today, everything seemed to have changed. There seems to be a change of focus from who Jesus is and his ministry to what it means for Jesus to be the Christ and what that means for those who follow him. Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples answer him, “Jesus, some are comparing you to John the Baptist, or maybe Elijah, or some other prophet." Then Jesus says, "What about you. We have been traveling together and you know me well by now. What do you think? Who do you tell people that I am?" Peter speaks up for …show more content…
The disciples learned that Jesus wanted them to follow him, to be like him and to trust God. What about us today? What does Jesus say he expects from us, his followers? Actually, the expectations have not changed. Jesus still is saying “If any want to become my followers,” let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” What does that mean to us today? What does it mean to deny oneself? Many in our world today spend all their time and energy centered on their own pleasures of possessions, power and authority. Denying oneself of these things certainly seems to go against today’s measurements of success. Jesus also told his disciples that they must take up a cross. Jesus is saying there will be difficulties, even suffering, for those who follow him. As followers, we will be called to make some very difficult choices. Some folks will even reject