The Creed Path · Stop 3
What do we say about Jesus?
A city far north of Jerusalem, full of shrines to other gods. Everyone there had an answer about who was divine. That's where Jesus stops and asks his friends a question.
Start this stopRead it in your Bible
- Matthew 16:15–16. Jesus asks his disciples who they say he is. Peter answers that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
- John 14:6. Jesus tells Thomas that he himself is the way, the truth, and the life, and the one who brings us to the Father.
The second part of the Apostles' Creed
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Words to know
- Messiah. The anointed one God promised. In Greek, the Christ. Peter's answer, “You are the Messiah,” is the heart of every creed's second part.
- Peter. The disciple who answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” A few verses later he got it wrong, and Jesus kept him anyway. There's room for us too.
- Keys. What Jesus promised to give Peter, a sign of the kingdom. Lutherans have long tied the keys to forgiveness. The church opens the door by forgiving sins.
- Salvation. Being rescued from sin and death, as a free gift. We don't earn it. Christ gives it. That's grace.
- Cross. What Jesus said his followers would take up. Luther taught that God is found where we least expect: in the cross, in suffering, and in love.