LUKE CHAPTER 9
LUKE CHAPTER 9
SCRIPTURE
Today I will summarize Luke chapter 9 where Luke wrote about the transfiguration of Jesus. Where Jesus feeds 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Where Jesus talked about discipleship. Peter’s declaration about Jesus. Jesus speaks about his suffering and death. Jesus heals a boy with an evil spirit. Jesus talks about who is the greatest. And a Samaritan village refuses to receive Jesus. Jesus was teaching the people and it was getting late in the day. Jesus’ disciples told him we should probably send the people away so that they can get something to eat and find lodging for the night. Jesus told them you give them something to eat. This startled the disciples. They asked Jesus if should we go buy some food for all of these people because we have no more than five loaves of bread and two fish between all of us. Jesus smiled and said have the people sit down in groups of fifty each. So, the disciples instructed all the people to sit down. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to all the people. They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets of what was left over. Later on, when Jesus was alone with his disciples, he began to teach them, and ask them questions.
He asked whom people say I am. They answered some say that you are John the Baptist who has been raised from the dead. Some say you are Elijah and others say that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life. Jesus asked them another question. Whom do you say I am? Peter answered and said, “ I believe you are the Christ of God, the Messiah. Jesus told him don’t tell anyone this just yet. I must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests. I will be killed, but I will be resurrected on the third day. Jesus continued if anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.
Whoever wants to save his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What will the man profit if he gains the whole world but loses his soul? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this wicked world. I will be ashamed of him when I come in my glory and the glory of the father. Speaking of my glory, some people here will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God. About a week after he had said these things, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a hill to pray, While Jesus was praying his face changed its appearance, and his clothes became dazzling white. Two men appeared with Jesus in glory. Moses and Elijah began speaking about how he would soon fulfil God’s purpose through his crucifixion and resurrection. Peter, James, and John saw this and became speechless. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Lord it is good that we are here. We will make holy tents for you and Moses and Elijah. But he didn’t realize what was happening or what he was saying. Just then a bright cloud covered them with its shadow.
A voice came from heaven out of the cloud and said,” This is my son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him.” They were afraid of the voice. When the voice stopped, there was Jesus alone with the disciples. The disciples kept quiet about all this and told no one at that time what they had witnessed. They went down the hill and saw people who are waiting for them to return to them.
A man rushed up to Jesus and said,” My boy is demon-possessed. A spirit attacks him with a sudden shout and throws him into a fit so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps on hurting him and will hardly let him go. I begged your disciples to drive him out but they couldn’t. Jesus replied,” How unbelieving and wrong you people are! How long must I stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here. Jesus cast out the demon. All the people were amazed at the mighty power of God. Again, Jesus began teaching his disciples and said,” Let me tell you this again and let it sink deep into your ears I am going to be handed over to the wicked men and I will be killed. I will rise again on the third day. They all thought Jesus was going to be a military leader to crush the Roman Government and free them from political oppression. They could not understand what Jesus was saying.
They were bickering among themselves about who would be the greatest in the kingdom Jesus set up. While they bickered, Jesus brought a child over to them. He said,” Whoever welcomes the child in my name, welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me, also welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you, all is the greatest in my kingdom. A few days later Jesus started on his final trip traveling to Jerusalem. On the way, he neared a Samaritan town. They did not like the Jews and most Jews did not like the Samaritans. People in the Samaritan town did not allow Jesus or his disciples to stay there. James and John saw this and spoke up. They asked Jesus,” Lord do you think we should command fire to come down from heaven and consume these people just like Elijah did? Jesus rebuked them. Jesus and his disciples left and went to another village. As they walked along someone saw Jesus and said,” I will follow you where ever you go. Jesus replied to him,” Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lie down and rest.
Jesus saw another man and said,” Follow me.” But the man replied,” Sir, first let me go back and bury my father.” Jesus answered,” Let the dead bury their dead. You go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Hearing this, another man replied,” I will follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” Jesus said to him, “Anyone who starts to plough and then keeps looking back is of no use to the kingdom of God. Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave them the power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. Then he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He also instructed them o take nothing for themselves for the journey, no stick, no beggar’s bag, no food, no money, not even an extra shirt. He said to them, “wherever you are welcomed, stay in the same house until you leave that town. Wherever people don’t welcome you, leave that town and shake the dust off your feet as a warning to them. The disciples did as they were told.
OBSERVATION
The thing I think the Lord wants us to understand after reading this chapter is that Jesus fed many thousands of people by miraculously causing food to multiply when food was scarce. God wants us to see that Jesus asked each one of us individually whom we think he is. We must all make a choice. God wants us to see that Jesus met with Elijah and Moses in a glorifying state called the transfiguration. The father in heaven specified that Jesus is his beloved son and commanded all people to listen to him even while Moses represented the law and Elijah represented the prophet or in his presence. God wants us to see that the scriptures specifically state that Jesus came to save people’s lives not to destroy them. God wants us to see that Jesus can see the motives of people’s hearts. One person wanted to follow Jesus for what he can get out of it. One person refused to follow Jesus because of his family ties and one person refused to follow Jesus because he saw what he would have to give up and he was unwilling to do so. Whom do you say that Jesus is? Is he a prophet or a great teacher? Or do you say that he is the Messiah the only begotten son of God? Jesus is asking you too directly and pointedly even right now. He wants to know from the bottom of your heart whom you think he is. What does your heart say? This is the most important question that will ever be asked. Come let us confess him as Lord. Come let us turn from our sins and repent at the same time forgive one another because no one is perfect except that see a sudden peace in your heart and mind.
PRAYER
Our father, we bow before you and ask that, by your spirit, you will bring us to the place where we are truly able to pray from the heart. “Your will be Done.”
You know how hard we find it to submit to your way for our lives. Lord, strengthen us to desire and do your will. Help us to trust you when it is hard to understand what you are doing and believe in you and know that you reign supreme in all things including the things we do not understand. Father help us to grow in discernment. Lead us on the path of wisdom and guard us against making foolish decisions. Help us to think clearly and correctly. Give us the humility that seeks and hears the wise counsel of others. Help us to be vigorous in ruling out what you forbid and ruling in what you command. Father, we thank you that our saviour knows the intensity of our struggle when your will conflicts with our desires. Give us the strength to believe your promises embrace your commands and bear the burdens you call us to carry. Help us to love you with all our hearts, mind and soul, and strength. Help us to love our neighbours as ourselves. Help us to make disciples of people from every background, and to seek the good of people from every race. Deliver us from the sinful habit of the complaint. Help us to rejoice in you and be constant in prayer, and to give thanks in all circumstances. Save us from thinking of prayer as means by which we can get you o do our will. Make us more like Jesus. Teach us to say,” Your will be done and not mine through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
