Luke 9

Peter's Declaration about Jesus

18 Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

21 He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

23 Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25 What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? 

26 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Luke 9

Jesus Again Foretells His Death

43b While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, 44“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.” 45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

True Greatness

46 An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.”

Luke 9

Jesus turns toward Jerusalem

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village.

Would-Be Followers of Jesus

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 

61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Litany of the Despised

Call:

Who has believed our message?

Response:

We believe in the One who was despised and rejected, the Suffering Servant.

Call:

He grew up like a tender shoot, like a root out of dry ground.

Response:

We follow the One who had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him.

Call:

He was despised and rejected by humankind, a man of suffering and familiar with pain.

Response:

We walk with the One who bore our grief and carried our sorrows.

Call:

He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Response:

We follow the One who emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant, humble and obedient.

Call:

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth.

Response:

We honor the One who, though in very nature God, humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Call:

He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Response:

We proclaim the One who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Call:

He was exalted and lifted up, and all people will bow before Him.

Response:

We await the day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Wayfinders Family Blessing

Gracious God,

We gather before You as a family, grateful for Your loving presence with us.

Bless our children:

Guide them in Your truth and lead them in Your ways. 

Help them to walk in faithfulness, seeking Your will in all that they do. 

May Your Spirit empower them to love one another deeply, 

to forgive as You have, and to extend grace and mercy to all.

May the lessons they learn and the stories they share grow their love for you.

Help them to know how deeply loved they are by you and this church.

In Jesus' name we pray,

Amen.