1. Who Do You Say I Am? Luke 9:18-27

2. Baseball Star Albert Pujols: Jesus Satisfies My Soul Forever”  Albert Pujols, the first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, is a World Series champ, an eight-time All Star, the recipient of three National League MVP awards, and according to a 2008 poll of 30 MLB managers, the most feared hitter in the sport. But even more impressive is his life off the field. The Pujols Family Foundation he started offers support and care to people with Down syndrome and their families, while also helping the poor in the Dominican Republic. He and his wife of ten years provide a loving household for four little children. But most importantly, he is a passionate disciple of Christ.

3. While speaking at an event at Lafayette Senior High School in Missouri…  … Pujols told the audience of men and young boys, "As a Christian, I am called to live a holy life. My standard for living is set by God, not by the world. I am responsible for growing and sharing the gospel."

4. Then, after reading Paul's words in Philippians 2:3  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves"—Pujols told the crowd, "One way for me to stay satisfied in Jesus is for me to stay humble. Humility is getting on your knees and staying in God's will—what he wants for me, not what the world wants." He added: "It would be easy to go out and do whatever I want, but those things only satisfy the flesh for a moment. Jesus satisfies my soul forever." Van Morris, Mount Washington, Kentucky; source: Tim Ellsworth, "Holy Hitter," World magazine (2-27-10)

5.  Jesus simply asks: Who do you say I am?  He has calmed a storm, cast out demons, raised the dead, given authority to heal and fed more than five thousand people  Jesus is calling us to find our satisfaction in Him

6.  What Do People Believe About Jesus?  Herod’s Interest (vv. 7-9)  The activity of the 12 piques Herod’s interest in Jesus  He was greatly perplexed as were the people in their speculations  Some thought John the Baptist had been raised from the dead  Others thought Elijah had appeared  Others thought that one of the prophets of old had risen from the dead  He continued to try to find out about this man  He kept trying to see the man for himself

7.  Jesus questions the Disciples (vv. 18-19)  Jesus asks the Disciples: Who do people say I am?  John the Baptist  Elijah  One of the prophets of old risen again

8.  Jesus asks them directly: Who do you say I am? (vv. 20-22)  Peter answers for the group  You are the Christ of God – The Messiah  Jesus warns them and instructs them to tell no one who He is  The Son of Man must suffer many things  He must be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes  He must be killed and raised up on the third day

9.  He is telling them straight out what is going to happen  But they don’t seem to understand what He is talking about  It probably has a lot to do with their expectations and hope for Jesus  Likely, they are very much like us – slow to get it many times  More importantly is the cost of following Jesus

10.  What Does it Cost to Follow Jesus?  If anyone wishes to come after Me… (v.23)  He must deny himself,  He must leave his own petty desires and ambitions  Take up his cross daily and follow Me  He must be willing to suffer just like Jesus will  The Disciples have no comprehension of what is coming  But these words will mean much more after they see Jesus crucified

11.  For whoever wishes to save his life… (v. 24)  Will lose it,  The harder you try to obtain and attain worldly success the more you lose  If you only live for yourself, you will live a shallow and unfulfilling life  But whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it  The person who gives everything for the cause of Christ will gain not only eternal life but much more

12.  For what is a man profited… (v. 25)  If he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?  There are some who have everything in this life, but have nothing that will last beyond this life  There are others who have very little in this life, but have eternal life and an eternal inheritance

13.  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words… (v. 26)  Jesus will own no one who is ashamed of Him  Don’t expect to be treated differently than you treat Jesus  Matthew 7:21-23

14.  But I say to you truthfully… (v. 27)  There are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God  Jesus is promising that the Kingdom of God is very close  They will see in their lifetime the inauguration of this kingdom  They will be shocked at how it begins at the cross  They will be even more shocked and relieved at the resurrection  They will be the “sent ones”/Apostles who preach the good news of the Kingdom of God

15.  You need to act according to what you believe about Him?  If He is a madman or just a good man, stop wasting your time  If He is a prophet of God, then listen to Him  If He is a religious huckster, then treat Him like one  If He is the Messiah, then bend your knee before Him in repentance and seek His forgiveness and eternal life

16.  Therefore: Who do you believe Jesus to be?  Who is Jesus?  Is Jesus just a good man who lived 2000 years ago?  Is Jesus a prophet of God?  Is Jesus some madman?  Is this just a bunch of religious gobbledygook?  Is Jesus the Messiah

17.  You need to act according to what you believe about Him?  If He is a madman or just a good man, stop wasting your time  If He is a prophet of God, then listen to Him  If He is a religious huckster, then treat Him like one  If He is the Messiah, then bend your knee before Him in repentance and seek His forgiveness and eternal life

18.  Are you willing to count the cost of following Him?  Do not listen to those who will tell you it will all be easy—they are lying  Jesus is asking you to give up what you believe will satisfy you  It is hard to give up the things you have grown up believing are most valuable and important  It is hard to break the old habits and desires  Jesus is calling you to give up what can only satisfy for a moment for that which will satisfy you for all eternity  Jesus is calling us to walk the very path He walked  Hebrews 12:1-2