Making Sense of Jesus – Requires Change

Devotional based on Bible reading: Luke 9:10–27

If you’re trying to make sense of who Jesus is and what He can do for your life, you must fit into His plan—not the other way around. It requires CHANGE!

Introduction

Today we look at a subject that springboards off last week’s message when my friend, Rev. Howard Robbins, was with us. He encouraged us to understand what it means to go to the “edge with God” and discover God’s plan for our lives. He mentioned several people in the Bible who went to the edge and discovered God’s plan for their lives. He stated, “Everyone God ever used, He took to an edge.” (We will continue this theme on Wednesday nights with a study in Hebrews 11. Join us!)

Today, I want to get practical with you about Jesus.

While we may divert slightly from the previous subject, we will come to a greater understanding of who Jesus is and what He wants for our lives. It will be as if He takes us to the edge—for His glory.

Today’s message is titled:

Making Sense of Jesus: It Requires Change

If we back up a bit in our reading, we see a curious insertion by Luke about Herod. Luke notes that Herod took an interest in Jesus, stating that “Herod was perplexed by Jesus.” He also said that he sought to see Him. This passage sets up the framework for this message and others flowing from Luke 9.

Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus

Now Herod the tetrarch (which means governor of one of four territories) heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed. Some were saying that John had been raised from the dead; others that Elijah had appeared; and still others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see Him. (Luke 9:7–9)

Soon after Herod beheaded John the Baptist, he heard about a man performing miracles. Some rumored it was a resurrected John the Baptist; others said Elijah.

The word perplexed comes from the Greek word διηπόρει (diēporei), from diaporeo, meaning to be thoroughly perplexed, at a loss, or in doubt. It implies being “at a dead end.” Herod, having murdered John, could not understand or cope with the reports of Jesus’ miracles.

Luke helps us understand who Jesus is through illustration and story. Like many today, people are trying to make sense of Jesus.

Herod sought to understand Jesus—but his motivation was power and control. He only saw Jesus’ popularity and influence.

Many in this world are trying to make sense of Jesus:

• Why Jesus?
• Who is Jesus?
• How can He help?

But often they try to fit Him into their lives without making the changes needed to understand His ways.

Is He simply a good-luck charm?

A popular personality?

An icon to hang around your neck?

A religion to follow?

Or is He personal and relational to you?

Many try to press Jesus into their worldview or lifestyle—trying to control Him like a puppet on strings.

Jesus is more than a man who once lived or a clever idea. He is Savior and Lord.

Many follow Jesus for the benefits but not the responsibilities. We enjoy the blessings, the good feelings, and the virtues that come with following Him—but what about the values and commitments?

In Luke 9, we find a deeper understanding of who Jesus is.

Consider the crowd that followed Jesus longing for more. Many settled for bread and fish; others wanted to go deeper.

Three Key Concepts About Making Sense of Jesus

A. Benefits Versus Bearing Responsibility (Luke 9:10–17)

In verse 12 we read: “…for we are here in a desolate place.”

This was the edge of civilization.

I can relate. When we moved to Indiana from Chicago, we settled in a rural community. Having been in a metropolis surrounded by buildings, houses, sidewalks, and street lights, we came upon a field of farms and fields of corn and sow beans. My children were in shock of the change. They commented and complained that we moved them to the middle of nowhere! 

When we reach the edge, we feel vulnerable and insecure.

Most people enjoy the benefits. Membership benefits keep people connected—it’s the deals that meet our desires.

Luke shows us that if we want to make sense of Jesus, it requires change. We don’t fit Him into our lifestyle; we fit into His. Jesus changes us.

In the feeding of the 5,000, the disciples witnessed something incredible. Feeding 5,000-plus with only a few fish and loaves would leave anyone perplexed.

“People without the Word of God are in a desolate place spiritually. The ‘feeding’ to come is a picture of feeding God’s Word to those who are spiritually desolate. The most loving thing a Christian can do is feed them God’s Word.” – Discipler’s Commentary

Jesus required one thing: an act of faith.

He told the disciples, “You feed them.”

They had to take responsibility. Imagine their surprise!

Many depend on Jesus but fail to understand that we must respond in faith. The faith of a child was all it took.

Jesus met them at the edge—but they had to trust Him.

B. Icon Versus Identity in Christ (Luke 9:18–20)

We come to the question: Who is Jesus? And how does that knowledge impact our lives?

Jesus asked Peter, “Who do people say that I am?”

The world constantly redefines identity. People cluster themselves into groups and classifications, searching for meaning apart from Christ.

Jesus was not having an identity crisis. He was addressing the rumors—John the Baptist, Elijah, or a prophet. He was not merely an icon or symbol.

He is the Christ.

Peter got it right.

Jesus gives us identity. Though Christianity as a brand has been confused by culture, history, and tradition, Jesus’ identity remains clear.

He is Savior and Lord of all.

Jesus foretold His death:

“And He strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, be killed, and on the third day be raised.’” (Luke 9:21–22)

He did not come to be a celebrity. He came to save.

C. Fan Versus Follower (Luke 9:23–27)

Luke shows us that following Jesus requires taking up our cross.

This is the dividing line. There is no fence-sitting.

A fan is fickle.

A fan follows what is popular.

A fan has little commitment.

A follower is committed.

A follower is centered on Christ.

“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” – Luke 9:23

Jesus requires the cross.

Fans depart quickly; followers remain.

Pastor Joe Wittwer illustrates this with Babe Ruth near the end of his career. As fans booed him for striking out, a small boy ran onto the field, wrapped his arms around Babe’s legs, and wept. Babe picked him up and carried him to the dugout. The crowd fell silent.

Fans seek what they can get. A true follower loves beyond performance.

As Wittwer writes:

“Fans can be fickle… The same thing happened to Jesus: they cheered as He entered Jerusalem and five days later shouted, ‘Crucify Him!’ … Are you a fan of Jesus or a follower of Jesus?”

Closing

“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” — Luke 9:25

While the world chases shiny things, God calls us to shine for Christ.

While the world gathers possessions, God calls us to surrender and be possessed by Christ.

While the world strives for self, God calls us to be found in Him.

To make sense of Jesus—like Herod, the crowds, the disciples, and us—it requires change. We cannot stay the same and truly understand who He is.

It goes beyond benefits to bearing responsibility.

It is not about an icon—His identity is real.

It is more than being a fan—we must become followers.

The cost of discipleship is real.

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)

Making sense of Jesus requires change.

And that change begins with surrender.

Redeeming Culture from Within….

Many know that I have joined the team with MovieGuide. It has been an incredible experience. My role includes meeting with friends of the ministry and networking with industry leaders. I serve as an Industry Executive within the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, & Wisconsin). 

Having recently returned from the MovieGuide Awards Gala, Cindi and I witnessed firsthand the personal and purposeful way that the Gospel was shared. Several came to faith in Jesus! We celebrated that the Gospel is going out and making an eternal impact! 

Coming into this ministry has been an incredible experience. I have many reason to praise God for this opportunity. I get to meet myself, a pastor and servant-leader. I don’t have to pretend to be something that I am not. While listening and caring for those who are friends of the ministry, I also get the opportunity to steward their involvement to help fulfill the mission of the ministry. For more than 50 years, Dr. Ted Baehr has been at the forefront of ministry to the industry of Hollywood and media. His personal connections that now include his grown children has been both compelling and visionary. The ministry reaches celebrities and industry leaders of both film and media. 

While I have so much more to learn, I am feeling not only excited but also trained on how to engage strategic relationships that will forever impact media. My boss and friend, Michael Howell has been a great source of encouragement. He often tells me that “many will be concerned about what people put into their bodies but ignore what they feed their mind.” Perhaps that is what makes this ministry stand out, missional-minded and thriving. With millions of followers to their MovieGuide rating APP or daily emails, and even compelling stories of virtue and redeeming stories from Hollywood’s elite. 

The mission of MovieGuide is essential to maintaining insightful information and accountability on the industry. Their MovieGuide Awards gala (shown on Great American Family in early March) is one way to reward the industry for family-friendly and value-centered content! The annual MovieGuide report also demonstrates the accountability of movies and industry leadership. They have proven that statistically, the industry can be successful financially if they keep to value-centered and family-friendly content! Dr. Ted Baehr also provides an industry top-level training for those wishing to be successful in the industry. His class is called, How to Succeed In Hollywood Without Losing Your Soul. This class is like a retreat event and many have been added to the alumni going onto succeed creatively and with value-added content! 

The mission is ripe until harvest, even in Hollywood! I have seen it first-hand! I can testify of the faithfulness of people who have done so much with so little! They are family themselves as well as creating a family-like atmosphere among employees and trade-venders. They are a preferred partner in the industry! Robby and Evy, children of Dr. Baehr have shown their commitment to the ministry and mission of reach people for Christ! 

MOVIEGUIDE®’s mission is to redeem the values of the entertainment industry, according to biblical principles, by influencing industry executives and artists.

I cannot fully tell you how impactful this ministry is! Whether you ask me about their sincere efforts in prayer (which happens as a team daily) or you were to ask me about their stewardship of resources, in which they trim as needed and carefully monitor, holding to strict accountabilities, or even how well they care for others, in which I have seen firsthand. They live out what is means by community as they humbly share Communion as a staff and their Sunday Morning worship “send-off” gathering. Their kindness is clearly demonstrated to all. I have seen the team share Christ with hotel staff and managers as well, demonstrated to all staff serving during the MovieGuide Awards Gala. They serve everyone with compassion and Christ-likeness. 

For more information and how to get involved, please shoot me an email: Rick @ MovieGuide.org

H4 – Good Words: Harmony – Series 4 of 4, January 25, 2026

This is week number four of my New Year’s series that I want to share with you. I’m calling this "Good Words" because I’ve tried to identify four keywords that will help you remember as you enter into 2026. I know we’re well underway and not looking back as we quickly find ourselves in 2026.  

Listen here. 

Let me summarize each of these themes that I have tried to share effectively with you.

1. Habits: Each of us forms habits through our activities and daily living. Not all habits are good, but as we think through what would make a difference in our lives, we must realize that habits formed from the disciplines we learn through the Word of God further equip us on our discipleship journey with Christ.

2. Hunger: It’s important that we satisfy the spiritual cravings in our lives. We should have an appetite for God’s Word that sustains us. What matters most is that we engage with God’s Word to inform our lives so that we can develop the right plan that He has for each of us.

3. Humility: I want to share this word to help us understand that pride is the grossest of all sins; it limits our capacity to learn, grow, and develop as followers of Jesus Christ. As we walk through life with humility, we are lifted up by Jesus. If we begin with humility, God will work with us to gain the confidence we need in Christ alone.

Today, I want us to look at the fourth word that helps us understand what it means to produce unity in the body of Christ as we interact with one another. I told you that I would define this word "unity" in different terms than we may be used to.

We begin with a few questions because curiosity is essential in our search for truth. So, I will ask, why does harmony matter?

The church is made up of individuals. Each of us embodies the church. We reflect Christ as Christians, and we exemplify what Christ wanted us to know about the church. We are a portrait that reflects the values, purposes, and meanings of the body of Christ. Each of us joins together as a body, with Jesus as the head. We are individuals who make up the various aspects and functions of the church.

We all have them, but cannot see them. What are they? Blindspots! We all have blind spots, but we don’t always see them. Recently, I rented a vehicle equipped with a blind-spot indicator. If there’s a vehicle in a blind spot that my mirrors cannot see, a light flashes in my mirror, notifying me of its presence. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, in our spiritual lives and interactions with others, we could see our own blind spots? 

We may be overzealous about a topic and come on too strong, unaware of our blind spots. We might hold a particular position firmly but be oblivious to how we communicate that issue. It may be an attitude or a set of beliefs—not biblical—that can lead us to conflict.

The word I’m using to define unity is "harmony." In musical terms, we call it dissonance. Dissonance occurs when notes are tightly constructed on a music sheet, creating an uncomfortable sound. We need harmony to be resolved into a melody for us to feel at ease.

Wherever there are people, there will be differences. Wherever there are ideas, contradictions will arise. Wherever there are perspectives, there will be diversity. However, diversity is not a bad thing. Let me be clear: God does not call us to uniformity.

Indiana University recently won the national championship as a cohesive team made up of individuals, each with specific responsibilities that contributed to their success. When we witness Fernando Mendoza, the quarterback, leading the team to an undefeated national championship, we must respect their achievement. What I cherish is Mendoza’s testimony—how he respects his mentors and coaches and compliments his teammates and fans, demonstrating his love for the game and, more importantly, for Christ. His faith in God was tested, and he testified that we don’t need to agree on everything to see the effectiveness of his message. God elevated his status, clearly a remarkable achievement, and as he rightly says, "To God be the glory!"

I have to ask you, what do you have in your hand? What gifts, abilities, and opportunities has God given you that can be used for His glory? For Moses, it was a rod. For David, it was a sling. For Paul, it was his ability to write. But what about you? What has God placed in your hand that would bring Him glory?

Let’s look to scripture to understand what Jesus desired for His disciples—and for us as modern-day disciples. In John 17, He prayed that we would be one, just as Jesus and the Father are one. God employs each of us as individuals, but as we are knit together in the Spirit, we can accomplish much more for His glory. Take a moment right now to write down one quality you possess. What is that one thing you do well? Then reflect on how you will allow God to work through you.

Today, we sit as individuals; I know this because you have your assigned seats. In fact, it can be disorienting if someone else sits in your seat. I’ve occupied the wrong seat many times, unaware that it belonged to someone else. I’m grateful for this because it signifies a degree of loyalty and certainty about your place in this church. I was tempted to ask you to sit in a different seat today to illustrate my point more clearly, but I decided that might border on harassment. If you’re comfortable, that’s a good thing.

I want to explore this question of unity further: What is it in you that points to Jesus? The world needs you, and God has called and gifted you, enabling you to do every good work for His glory through His Holy Spirit.

Each of us is called to different responsibilities pointing to Jesus—whether serving, teaching, mentoring, leading, or any calling God places upon us. This is for His glory; it’s not about us; it’s about Jesus.

Last week, I took a trip to St. Louis via the route through Effingham, Illinois. I’ve passed through there many times and know what to expect, but the first time I saw the giant cross at the intersection of highways, I was taken aback. You could say I was shocked. As you turn at that intersection and suddenly see the huge cross, it’s astonishing that it visually represents faith in Christ and its purpose is undeniable.

If you take the time, as I have on other trips, to stop at the visitor center, you will find Bibles and tracts that point to Jesus. You can walk around the perimeter of the cross and find different stations that speak about Jesus. It’s almost worth the trip just to stop there.

Now, let me clarify my understanding of unity. I define it as harmony. This concept is musical. It’s like an orchestra where members of all kinds play their parts in the musical presentation.

Can you grasp what I’m saying? Each of us doing our part is what God calls us to. We’re not to play the fiddle if we’re percussionists. We shouldn’t trumpet ourselves when we should be playing the harp. We are not like the tuba when we are meant to play the flute. God keeps us balanced in the orchestra as we keep our eyes on the conductor while knowing our music.

John Wesley wrote,  

“If you understand your particular calling as you ought, you will have no time that hangs upon your hands… And whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. Do it as soon as possible: no delay! No putting off from day to day, or from hour to hour. Never leave anything ’til tomorrow, which you can do today. And do it as well as possible. Do not sleep or yawn over it: put your whole strength to the work. Spare no pains. Let nothing be done by halves, or in a slight and careless manner. Let nothing in your business be left undone, if it can be done by labor or patience.”¹

Today we are discussing a good word: harmony. You see, God isn’t looking for uniformity. He doesn’t want us all to look the same. In fact, I would submit that even our differences in political positions can be healthy for the body of Christ. Each of us brings gifts that may provide valuable perspectives and help us become more aware of others. I am certain only you can reach the people you know for Christ. It takes each of us.

God is looking for your availability, not your ability. Too often, we are impressed by our capabilities, but God merely asks us to be available within our ability—not because of it. He told us that He has given different abilities to each of us—something we see in the scriptures today. We try to emphasize this point by recognizing each of your contributions to the church. Every person here is valued by God, and if you allow it, you can help advance His kingdom. Each of you has a ministry! Together, we form a church. Each of you possesses not only the ability, but as you avail yourselves, your ministries will grow alongside your personal growth in Christ. Yes, I’m calling each of us to embrace the opportunities God has placed within you through the gifts He has given you.

Consider this: Who made a difference in your life? Was it a teacher, coach, parent, friend, or perhaps even a pastor?

It was through someone, not something, that your life was changed. God might have used circumstances, but His greatest work is accomplished through individuals who make themselves available for His purpose. After all, He receives the glory regardless.

We are CALLED to do God’s work—that is ministry. God EQUIPS us for every good work—for His glory. We are a BODY serving one another!

John 17 contains the prayer Jesus prayed for the disciples and for us today. He prayed that we would be united. It is a state of being in harmony!  

Harmony means being in tune with God! We all need to be tuned up by God!

What does Romans teach us?

Romans 12:6-9  

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.  

Do not just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”²  

The Romans needed to understand that the gifts of the Spirit are given by God’s grace to all who follow Him. As we serve one another, we supernaturally come to love one another! Notice how we’re instructed to serve according to our giftedness. See the active verbs? Doing things well. It’s about being eager to help!

What does Ephesians teach us? 

Ephesians 4:11-13:  

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all reach such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.³ “

Can you see how our gifts interweave to bring encouragement to the body of Christ? We are “fitted together.” There is perfection in our love for one another!

As we near the end of this series, I am reminded that we serve together to reach people who need hope and support. What we have here in our church is special, and I believe people are searching for this kind of fellowship!

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Footnotes:  

¹ John Wesley, "The Works of John Wesley."  

² The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Romans 12:6-9.  

³ The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Ephesians 4:11-13.