Luke 9 - One Year New Testament

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Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Chapter 9 marks the beginning of a change from Jesus doing the preaching, teaching and healing to the disciples doing it. Importantly it says he gave them the "power and authority" to do it. We have talked a lot about this. Bottom line is that Jesus never asks us to do something he doesn't give us the power and authority to carry it out. They preached about the kingdom of God and then manifested it by casting out demons, healing sicknesses and diseases. It says they healed people everywhere. When Herod heard what had happened, he wondered if John the Baptist had risen from the dead, or a prophet had appeared. 

They also took nothing with them as a sign of complete dependence on God. When people would not listen to them, they moved on to places where there was more receptivity. Sometimes in our pride, we try to convince people to believe in Jesus, but if their hearts are not receptive it is a waste of time. This is why Jesus said, "If a town will not welcome you, shake the dust off as a sign against them." 

Shaking "the dust off" symbolized that they did not want to take anything from this town with them. It was a sign that they wanted nothing to do with them. 

Why do you think we spend some time trying to convert someone who is not interested, when someone who might be receptive is right down the road?

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

After the disciples returned to Jesus excited about what they had just done, the crowds followed them and Jesus still welcomed them and healed them. By late in the afternoon, the disciples thought it was best to send them away to get something to eat. It sounds somewhat reasonable to do this, but Jesus had a better idea. "Let's give them something to eat", he said. The disciples must have thought something like, "Great idea Jesus but what are two fish and five loaves of bread going to do?"

Jesus told them to get the people to sit in groups of 50. He obviously knew that God would provide through him and the disciples. Jesus gave thanks for what they did have, broke it into pieces, and gave it to the disciples to distribute. Sure enough they all were fed, and there were even leftovers. When God provides, He does so in abundance. They fed five thousand men, which meant there were probably many more there. 

This miracle displayed Jesus’ total authority over creation. Yet He insisted on doing this miracle through the hands of the disciples. He could have done it directly, but He wanted to use the disciples. No one knew where this bread actually came from. Jesus showed that God can provide out of resources that we cannot see or perceive in any way. It is easier to have faith when we think we know how God might provide, but God often provides in unexpected and undiscoverable ways. (Guzik)

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

Although Peter often put his foot in his mouth, this time he gets it right. When Jesus asks the disciples who he is, Peter says, "You are the Christ!" In Matthew, Jesus commends him as says "Blessed are you Peter, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by God. And on this rock I will build my church!"

This is the question placed before all who hear of Jesus; and it is we, not He, who are judged by our answer. In fact, we answer this question every day by what we believe and do. If we really believe Jesus is who He says He is, it will affect the way that we live. - Guzik

Jesus Predicts His Death

Right after it is revealed that Jesus is the Messiah, he spells out the type of Messiah he would be. He would be a Messiah who is rejected, suffers and dies. But after three days this Messiah would be raised from the dead. Then, Jesus tells the disciples that what would happen to him will happen to them too. Jesus will die on the cross once, but the disciples will pick up their cross every day. Three days after his death, Jesus rose again, but the disciples would rise to new life every day as they died to self. Jesus finished by saying that anybody who was ashamed of him and his words, he would be ashamed of when He comes back. 

Paul echoes this in Romans 1:16 when he says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for those who believe!" 

Maybe you might not consider yourself ashamed of Jesus, but do you boldly proclaim him? Are you afraid of a culture that is anti-Christian? Do you live out your faith in ways that show you are a Christ follower? As we pick up our cross and follow Jesus, life may not be easy, but in losing our lives we find them. Each day we "die to self", we come alive in Him through the power of His Holy Spirit. It is actually the most meaningful and joyful way to live. Living only for one's self is overrated.

The Transfiguration 

Jesus' inner circle of disciples get a glimpse of his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Two other men were beside Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Moses represented the Law, and Elijah the prophets. When the disciples finally awakened, they saw Jesus with the two men. Peter decided they should put up three shelters for each of them. Peter wanted to keep this experience etched in history, but Jesus knew he still had work to do. Like at his baptism, the Father pronounced that Jesus was His Son, and He was well pleased with him. 

A lot of people have mountaintop experiences, but at some point you have to go back down into the valley. But those experiences keep you going when things get rough, because they are a glimpse of heaven. 

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

The demon who possessed this boy literally threw him down and he went into seizures. The man's father begged Jesus to help. He had gone to the disciples, but they were unable to help the boy. Jesus was frustrated by the unbelief he was encountered, and he rebuked the spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to His Father. 

There is a sense that Jesus was frustrated with His disciples. His season of ministry before the cross was coming to an end, and perhaps He felt frustration that the disciples did not have more faith. - Guzik

 “They were confounded at their want of success-but not at their want of faith, which was the cause of their miscarriage!” (Clarke)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

If the disciples didn't get the idea of Jesus' death the first time he told them again. But the text says it was hidden from them. 

Though they were frequent, the disciples forgot these reminders about Jesus’ suffering and resurrection until after His resurrection (Luke 24:6-8).

Their response about who would be the greatest in the kingdom shows that they misunderstood the nature of Jesus' kingdom. In Jesus' kingdom, the greatest is the one who serves. Jesus showed them the nature of the kingdom when he took a little child into his arms and said, "To such as these belongs the kingdom!" 

We know that one Man was actually the greatest among them and among all: Jesus Christ. This means that Jesus Himself was humble like a little child. He wasn’t concerned about his own status. He didn’t have to be the center of attention. He could not deceive, and He didn’t have an intimidating presence. - Guzik

Samaritan Opposition

Interestingly though we normally hear more about the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, we see the Samaritans were equally resistant. The Samaritans hated the Jews as much as the Jews hated them. Therefore, some of the Samaritans put Jesus in that same camp.

“For Jesus to take that way to Jerusalem was unusual; and to attempt to find hospitality in a Samaritan village was still more unusual.” (Barclay)

The Cost of Following Jesus

Though Jesus had taught the disciples the cost of following him, he hadn't shared this as much with the crowds. In this case a man was interested to follow Jesus possibly because he had seen all that Jesus had done. He was even as bold enough to say he would follow Jesus wherever he went.  Jesus toned down the man's expectations by letting him know that just as Jesus had no place to lay his head neither would he. This wasn't going to be a joy ride.

Similary, another man wanted to follow him with the proviso that he bury his dead father first. Jesus certainly wasn't against this act of kindness, but it showed the man's reluctance to count the cost of following Jesus. 

Finally, in a similar way a man asks Jesus to say goodbye to his family. Jesus tells him he is not fit for service in the kingdom of God. 

Clearly these last two instances show that these men weren't really serious about following Jesus. They talked a good game but when it came down to it, they didn't follow through. 

I see today a lot of people talking about Jesus, or saying they are a follower of Jesus, but often you wonder when you see them living their lives. If we are going to declare publicly our allegiance to Jesus, our the words from our lips better be backed up by our lives!