This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

Luke wants you to see Jesus’ miracles and
wrestle with the question “Who is Jesus?”

Jesus rebukes a storm
and casts out demons.

He heals a chronically ill woman who touches
his clothes and raises a dead girl with his touch.

He miraculously feeds five
thousand men plus women and children.

He even delegates his
authority to his disciples.

While King Herod wonders who Jesus could be,
Peter says clearly Jesus is “the Christ of God”.

Jesus is the one prophesied in the Old
Testament who will save Israel from their
sins and proclaim good news to the poor.

Peter recognizes Jesus as the true successor of
King David who will establish God’s kingdom forever.

God confirms this divine identity on a mountain
when a bright cloud engulfs Jesus and his disciples.

Who is Jesus?

The voice from the cloud proclaims, “This
is my son, my Chosen One, listen to him”.

While Jesus is the Chosen One, his identity
will only be validated through his death.

Not only that, but anyone who wants to follow
him must “take up their cross” and die, too.

The way we follow Jesus
is by dying like Jesus.

Luke then gives us four examples of the
disciples trying to cling to life, power, or authority.

They don’t yet understand that
following Jesus will cost them everything.

So why is it good news that we have to lay
down our lives to enter the kingdom of God?

Why is it good news that we have to
surrender everything we hold dear,

pick up our cross, and die
with Jesus if we want life?

The answer comes when we answer the
question, “Who is Jesus?”

Peter declares it and God spoke it—
Jesus is the Chosen One.

He was chosen to become the least
so he and anyone who follows him

would become great in
the kingdom of heaven.

The disciples didn’t
understand this reality.

They wanted to compete for greatness
and rain down fire on God’s enemies.

But Jesus tells them that all the Old Testament
prophets pointed forward to a far more sacrificial path.

Jesus takes our idea of greatness
and turns it on its head,

and this is good news because it is
the only path that leads to eternal life.

Yes, we lose the whole
world, but we gain our souls.

Jesus was chosen to show that following
him into death is the only path to true life.

May the Holy Spirit open your eyes to
see the God who turns sacrifice into life.

And may you see Jesus as the chosen one who
brings life through his death and resurrection.