Luke 9 - More Than A Prophet!

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve 

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"When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." Luke 9-12

What do you notice about these words? Jesus was now sending the 12 apostles out to do the SAME things that he had done. The big three are: proclaiming the Kingdom of God, driving out demons, and curing all sicknesses and diseases.  Notice Jesus gave them BOTH power and authority. This was the same authority and power God the Father had given God the Son. 

Jesus gives us a great training model. I do and you watch. You do and I watch. You do and someone else watches. This is the model that the early church used and we should use today. We often complicate strategies in the church rather than employing the simple strategies Jesus used. Jesus did not need to have spreadsheets or complex strategic planning tools. And by the way, this strategy changed the world one person at a time. 

As they left on the journey, he told them to "travel lightly". They were to rely on the provision and hospitality other people would provide on the way. This was another aspect of trusting in Him. Today many missionaries rely on the generosity of others to do their work. And, in a sense, anyone who earns a living in full time ministry relies on the generosity of others. 

Meanwhile King Herod is still worried that John the Baptist might have risen from the dead in the person of Jesus. Obviously, he still lived with a stricken conscience. 

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Jesus begins to hand off the ministry to them as they traveled on to Bethsaida.

 Bethsaida was the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. 

Many people followed Jesus, as he preached about the kingdom of God and healed all who needed healing. Later in the afternoon the disciples suggested Jesus send the people to a nearby town so they could get something to eat. To which Jesus responds, 

"You give them something to eat.”

The disciples do a "double take" and then inform Jesus they only have five loaves of bread and two fish and there were around 5,000 people. One can only imagine the look on their faces. But Jesus had a plan, as he asked them to sit people on the grass in groups of 50. This would mean there were 100 groups. That's quite a picnic. 

Jesus took the fish and loaves, looked up to heaven, gave thanks, and broke them. Then he distributed them to the disciples, who distributed them to the people.  How the miracle of multiplication happened so that the five loaves and two fish fed 5,000 people we will never know. This is why we call it a miracle. Or in Jesus' case it was a sign of the kingdom coming to earth as it is in heaven. In heaven there is no sickness or hunger. Jesus brought heaven to earth and the disciples helped him to do it. 

The verse I love the most is when the story ends with, 

"They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." Luke 9:17

When God provides, it is so abundant there is even leftovers. We need to have an abundance mentality when it comes to God. There is always enough in God's economy as we trust and ask him to provide. 

Jesus took the little that they had (first mentioned in Luke 9:13) and He thanked God for it. It would be easy to think that such a small amount of food was worthless to feed such a large crowd, but Jesus used what He had at hand. - Guzik

The assurance that Jesus can provide – even miraculously – for all of our needs should be precious to us; it was to the earliest Christians. On the walls of the catacombs, and other places of early Christian art, loaves and fishes are common pictures.

What we have in ourselves to give others is insignificant, but when we put it in Jesus’ hands, He can do great things with our gifts and talents to touch the lives of others.

What can you give Jesus? Even if you think it is only a little, he can multiply it greatly!

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

It was time for Jesus to check in with the disciples to see if they had come to the realization of who he was. So he asks them, “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” He had first asked them who other people thought he was? They answered, "John the Baptist, Elijah, or a prophet from old!"

This is much like today as many acknowledge Jesus as a great moral teacher or even a prophet. But Jesus wanted to know who they thought He was. Peter says correctly, 

“God’s Messiah.” Luke 9:20 

As much "flack" as Peter gets, today he gets it right! 

"Peter knew Jesus better than the crowds did. He knew that Jesus is the Christ of God, God’s Messiah, the promised redeemer from the Old Testament, the Messiah from the heart of God, not the Messiah from the desire of man." - Guzik

"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 

The Transfiguration

Jesus had an inner circle of three, Peter, James, and John. He chose to reveal things to them on special occasions. On this occasion he took them up on a mountain, where he was transfigured. These three were able to see Jesus in a glorified state. Moses and Elijah showed up too, representing the Law and the Prophets. They spoke with Jesus about his upcoming departure. 

Once again Peter was the first to say something. He said, 

Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 9:33

You can't blame Peter. After all, this was a pretty cool scene. But it was only to give them a glimpse of what heaven would be like. It also reaffirmed who Jesus was. They would need this experience to tap into with the events that were on the horizon. 

If seeing Jesus with Moses and Elijah was not enough, God the Father came down in a cloud and spoke from it saying, 

“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 9:35

This was what Jesus' Father said at his baptism, and it is repeated now to give the disciples further reaffirmation of their faith. After the voice had spoken, the disciples and Jesus were all alone. It was time to go back down the mountain, but they were never the same. 

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

When they came down the mountain, the crowds were waiting for them. The spiritual retreat was over, and they dove right back into ministry with Jesus. Jesus met a man whose son was having violent seizures that threw him on the ground. Of course epilepsy is a medical condition (which I have), and having seizures doesn't mean one is demon possessed. 

But in this case the devil was either causing the boy's seizure disorder, or at the very least wreaking havoc in the boy's life through it. The man begged the disciples to help, but they could not cast out the demon. Jesus explained this by saying, 

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?" 9:41

It's hard to know if Jesus is referring to the lack of faith on behalf of the disciples, or the boy's father. My guess is that it is the disciples' lack of faith. After all, the man went to the disciples expecting they could heal him just as Jesus had done for others. 

The disciples had previously had some success in casting out demons (Luke 9:1). It may be that this was a stronger or more stubborn case of demonic possession. - Guzik

There are ranks of demonic powers (Ephesians 6:12), and evidently, some demons are stronger (more stubborn, resistant) than others. In Matthew 17:21, Jesus said that their failure was due to a lack of prayer and fasting. It isn’t that prayer and fasting make us worthier to cast out demons. The idea is that prayer and fasting draw us closer to the heart of God and put us more in line with His power. - Guzik

Even though Jesus had given them power and authority to cast out demons, the disciples were still a work in progress, just like we are today. As we practice ministry, we learn how to do it. This is true with any ministry. Teaching, preaching, healing, serving, and deliverance. These are all empowered by the Holy Spirit, as we learn how to harness the Holy Spirit's power. 

When the demon caused the next seizure, 

Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 9:42

Jesus used his power and authority, which was greater than the demons' to cast him out of the boy. Then Jesus gave the boy back to the father. I can only imagine how thankful dad and his son were that day!

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

If anyone doubts that Jesus knew he was going to die, this was the second time he told the disciples about his impending death. Jesus even explained how it was going to happen at the hands of men, but the disciples were kept from understanding what he meant. 

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

It is kind of crazy that right after Jesus drops this on them, they start a conversation about who is the greatest. Really?

Jesus turns the tables on them and equates welcoming little children with being truly great. Jesus frequently lifted up children as the model of what adults should be like. He recognized humility and faith in them., In Jesus' time children were to be seen but not heard. 

The disciples then ask Jesus about someone who was driving out demons in Jesus' name, though he was not one of the disciples. Jesus says something interesting, 

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” 9:50

Jesus taught them to have a more generous spirit. There are many that are wrong in some aspect of their presentation or teaching, yet they still set forth Jesus in some manner. Let God deal with them. Those who are not against a Biblical Jesus are still on our side, at least in some way.

Paul saw many men preaching Christ from many motives, some of them evil motives – yet he could rejoice that Christ was being preached (Philippians 1:15-18).

This is a challenge for those who wear a badge on their chest for being "doctrinally pure". Of course doctrine is important. but the apostle Paul says, "Knowledge puffs up but love builds up!"