Peter's Declaration about Jesus You are the Christ of God'. What led Peter to make this statement? How did Jesus reply and go on to say about discipleship? (10 marks)[Luke 9:18-27]

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Peter’s confession

Questions

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

1) ‘You are the Christ of God’. What led Peter to make this statement? How did Jesus reply and go on to say about discipleship? (10 marks)[Luke 9:18-27]

One day Jesus was praying (this shows that something important will happen) at Caesara Philippi when his disciples came to him. He asked them who the crowds say he is. They replied that some say he is John the Baptist, others that he is Elijah which is one of the law givers (announced the coming of the Messiah with Moses) and others that he is one of the prophets that lived long ago and has come back to life. In Matthew’s gospel prophet Jeremiah is added. Then Jesus asked them who they think he is. Peter said that He is God’s Messiah. This reply shows Peter’s faith and devotion to Jesus and in that in the future he will become the future leader and continue Jesus’ work after his death.

Jesus then gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what he was about to tell them. He wanted to avoid rebellion against the Romans and so did not declare openly that he was the Messiah. He also told them that the son of man must suffer and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law. He will be put to death but 3 days later he will be raised to life. Jesus uses the title “Son of Man” for him, which means that he is a future figure who will come and judge people and will die to save people from their sins as he will be a Suffering Servant. Jesus believed that that Jesus was a Militant Messiah that will come to save them from the Romans.

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Then he said to all of them that anyone who wanted to come with him must forget self, take up their own cross every day and follow Him. Because whoever wants to save his life must lose it but those who lose their lives for His sake will save it. Jesus added that people who win the whole world but are themselves lost or defeated do not gain anything. If people are ashamed of Him and his teaching then the son of man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory. Jesus then assured them that there are people there who would not die until they have seen the kingdom of God. Jesus gives important information to us for today that we must not be ashamed of our faith and that our soul is more important than material possessions. Also for being a disciple we must calculate the cost and be ready to suffer and have Jesus as our priority.

2) What can be learned from this about the character of Peter? (4 marks)

From this story we learn that Peter was a leader of the disciples as he speaks on behalf of the other disciples. He was the one to answer Jesus’ question. He was a spokesperson and that was why he was in the inner circle. James and John were part of the inner circle too and were closest to Jesus. He was the one informing Jesus about things and being more close to him. He was faithful, had total faith in Jesus, which he expressed with his answer. He knew that what Jesus said was true and believed in him without questioning him. He was completely devoted to Jesus, left everything behind without questioning and followed him. He shows perception, a complete understanding of Jesus’ importance when he replies to Jesus that He is God’s Messiah.

3) Describe an occasion when a heavenly voice declared that Jesus was God’s son. (8 marks)[Luke 9:28-36]

After speaking about death and suffering Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went up a mountain to pray (something important will happen) as a meeting with God. As He was praying His face changed its appearance and his clothes were dazzling white. Then instantly two men appeared and were talking to Him. One was Moses and the other was Elijah (the law givers) who appeared in a heavenly glory and talked with Jesus about the way He would soon fulfil God’s purpose by dying in Jerusalem.

Even though Peter, John and James were sound asleep they woke up and saw Jesus’ glory as well as the two men with Jesus. Peter without knowing what he was saying he told Jesus how great it was for them to be there and that he would set three tents for them. While Peter was still talking a cloud appeared and covered them and the disciples were afraid of God’s power with its shadow as it came over them. Then a voice, which came out of it, said that this was His son which He had chosen and told them to listen to Him.

Jesus was then left there alone when the voice stopped and the disciples told no one about this keeping quite of what they had seen. This event is described as the Transfiguration (a theophany-like the baptism of Jesus.

4) Explain the importance of this event for:

Jesus himself (5 marks)

This event is important for Jesus himself because the prophecies had been fulfilled after as it was proved that He, Jesus was the true Messiah. God himself and the other 2 prophets had proved it. This event strengthened the disciples’ faith which meant that they would have a proof to carry out his teaching and would devote themselves totally to him and carry out God’s will. Also this proved that he was the son of God and any doubts people had as human beings were removed. He knows that dying is necessary and that it was what God wanted Him to do. He is also sure about God’s approval as God appeared and gave orders to obey Him. Also it fulfilled the expectations and prophecies in the Old Testament as Jesus was with the law givers Elijah and Moses.

The disciples (5 marks)

This event is important for the disciples as they realise God’s plan that Jesus had to die for people to be saved. Their faith was strengthened as they had witnessed a miracle and God’s presence giving hem some orders and assuring them that Jesus was his son. They would also be the future leaders, which will in turn strengthen the other disciples’ faith, and in turn will carry out Jesus’ teachings. They will prove to people that Jesus is the Messiah-the Son of God that has come to suffer and die for our sins.

They also realised that dying is a plan of God and Jesus has to die. They will explain that Jesus is not a Militant Messiah but a Suffering Servant. Any doubts they had now were removed because of what they have witnessed-the appearance of God. They also learned that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of God. By seeing Moses and Elijah and hearing God’s words they realised that Jesus came to fulfil the laws and prophesies. The 3 disciples had witness what others wish to have seen.