The Way - Day 009 (Luke 9)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Luke 9:1-17
Jesus gathered His twelve disciples together and "...gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick" (9:1-2). Their ability to heal would authenticate their message, since only God could give the power to heal. As they traveled around preaching, Jesus instructed the twelve not to take anything with them but to depend on the hospitality of those in the cities they entered (9:3-4). If they did enter a city where they were not well received, Jesus commanded them to "...shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them" (9:5), which was a sign of rejection of those who did not listen to their message. After receiving Jesus' instructions, the twelve went to many towns "preaching the gospel and healing" (9:6); however, Herod (high government official in Galilee) heard of all the miracles being performed by Jesus, but became confused because some said that "...John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again" (9:7-8). Herod then reacted to the reports of others concerning Jesus' identity by asking, "John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things? (9:9a) So from this time forward, Herod decided to go and see for himself (9:9b).

In this time of the narrative, Luke writes that the apostles returned from preaching and healing in order to report to Jesus all the things they had accomplished, so Jesus took them away to a secluded place in Bethsaida (9:10). When the multitudes discovered the location of Jesus and His disciples, "... they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing" (9:11). The hour was getting late and the disciples were concerned about the people eating so they told Jesus to send away the crowd in order to allow them to "lodge and get provisions [food]; for we are in a deserted place here" (9:12). Instead of sending the multitude away, Jesus said to His disciples "You give them something to eat" but the disciples reacted to His command saying, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people" (9:13). Luke then inserts that the size of the crowd was 5,000 men, meaning that the crowd probably numbered close to 20,000 people (9:14). The disciples, understandably, were frustrated by Jesus' demand for them to feed a crowd of 20,000 people, but they failed to recognize that Jesus could do all things. The crowd sat down in groups of fifty and Jesus "...took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them" (9:15-17). Not only did Jesus perform a supernatural work by feeding these people, but He also sent a message to His disciples that nothing is impossible with God. The feeding of the 5,000 must be an important lesson for all of us to learn because it is the only miracle (besides Jesus' resurrection) which was recorded by all four gospel writers.

Luke 9:18-26
Luke writes that Jesus was alone praying and according to the gospel of Matthew (16:13), He was in the region of Caesarea Philippi for some time away from the crowds. When His disciples joined Him there, He asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" (9:18) Earlier in Luke 9, even Herod was having a hard time discerning the true identity of Jesus because some said He was John the Baptist risen from the dead while others said He was Elijah or a resurrected prophet (9:7-9). The disciples responded saying, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again" (9:19). Turning His attention from the opinion of the crowds, Jesus wanted to know the perspective of His own disciples (9:20a). Peter, who was probably answering for the entire group, quickly speaks up saying, "You are the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16, 9:20b). This statement was Peter's confession of faith in Jesus as the One God promised in times past to be the Savior of the world (Genesis 3:15). Immediately following Peter's confession of faith, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone because "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day" (9:21-22). The revelation of His suffering, death, and resurrection to the disciples marked a major transition in the life and ministry of Jesus because He would now begin preparing them for His death.

Jesus then began to teach His disciples concerning the cost of following Him saying, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (9:23). First of all, following Jesus would require a man to abandon his own plans in order to obey the ways of God. Secondly, while following God's ways a man must be prepared to suffer or even die for the cause of Christ. Jesus supports His first statement by another powerful statement saying, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?" (9:24-25) Those who selfishly live for themselves in this life will ultimately experience eternal judgment in hell; however, those who deny themselves in this life and endure suffering for their obedience to God, will experience the joy of eternal life in the presence of God. Furthermore, Jesus adds, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels" (9:26, see also 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). When Jesus returns, those who have failed to believe and follow Him will receive everlasting punishment in hell. Following Jesus in this life may cost men and women their rights and cause them to abandon their selfish desires, but the future reward makes living this life for Jesus worth it.
 
Luke 9:27-36
Jesus had just revealed to His disciples that He would soon "...suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day" (9:22). Although the disciples did not fully understand what this meant, Jesus told them if they wanted to follow Him that they must deny themselves and be ready to suffer for His sake, even unto death (9:23-25); however, those who chose not to follow Jesus with their lives will one day be punished when He returns to earth. Having spoken about the possible death of His followers and His return for them in the future, Jesus says, "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God" (9:27). In this statement, Jesus was promising the future establishment of His kingdom here on earth and that some who were near Him now (Peter, James, and John) would not die before seeing this kingdom established; of course, most of the disciples thought that Jesus would be setting up the kingdom in their lifetime but Jesus was referring to an event which was about to transpire.

About eight days following Jesus' conversation with the disciples, Luke writes that Jesus "...took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening" (9:28-29). Along with Jesus' appearance being altered, Moses and Elijah were there talking to Jesus concerning His soon coming death in Jerusalem (9:30-31). Luke mentions that Peter, James, and John "were heavy with sleep" but were soon fully awake and "they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, 'Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah'--not knowing what he said" (9:32-33). Having realized that he was experiencing the setting of the future kingdom, Peter expresses a desire to build permanent places for them to stay so that this moment can continue forever, but Luke writes that Peter did not know what he was saying. Luke was not declaring that Peter was confused, but that he had forgotten Jesus' words that He must suffer before the kingdom is established (9:21-22). While Peter was speaking these words, a cloud overshadows them and God the Father speaks saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" (9:34-35). After God had spoken, Jesus was then alone but the disciples did not tell anyone about what they had seen (9:36). Because of this event (called the Transfiguration), Peter, James, and John had caught a glimpse of the future kingdom, as Jesus had predicted in Luke 9:27. One day Jesus will return to earth as he has promised and He will establish His kingdom and rule in righteousness and goodness. All those who believe in Jesus should look forward to this future kingdom on earth where Jesus will be king and His followers will rule with Him (Revelation 20:1-6).
 
Luke 9:37-50
Peter, James, and John had just experienced a taste of Jesus' future kingdom here on earth, an event referred to as the transfiguration (9:27-36). The next day following this supernatural occurrence, a very large crowd of people surrounded Jesus when suddenly a man amongst them cried out requesting that Jesus heal his demon possessed son (9:37-39). Luke writes that the father had already asked Jesus' disciples to cast out the demon, but they could not perform the miracle (9:40). Jesus responds to the words of the father saying, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here" (9:41). These words were not in reference to the father, but the lack of faith of His disciples. Jesus then healed the demon possessed child (9:42) and Matthew writes concerning the conversation which followed Jesus' miracle, "Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, 'Why could we not cast it out?'" (Matthew 17:19) Jesus answers their question saying, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:20-21). Although we cannot be certain of the circumstances surrounding the disciples' failure to cast out the demon, Jesus assures the reader that they ultimately failed because God was not the object of their faith. Following Jesus' healing of the demon possessed child, Jesus again prophesies concerning His upcoming death, but the disciples did not understand His teaching (9:43-45). It may be that they could not understand how that someone, like Jesus, could be so powerful and popular with the people, yet experience suffering and death.

Luke then writes that a "dispute" came up between the disciples concerning which one of them would be the greatest in Christ's kingdom (9:46); of course, this argument was based on pride and selfishness amongst the disciples. Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, "took a little child and set him by them saying, 'Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great'" (9:47-48). The key to greatness is not found in desiring to be recognized by others, but instead by serving one another in humility and self sacrifice. Within the framework of this conversation John says, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us" (9:49). Even though this man who had cast out demons appeared to be accurately representing the work of God, John thought that only those closely connected with Jesus were permitted to perform these works; however, Jesus quickly spoke up saying, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side" (9:50). The disciples did not have exclusive rights on doing the works of God; in fact, God has obviously entrusted His work to others besides His immediate disciples in order to spread the message of hope and salvation throughout the world.

Luke 9:51-62
 At this point in his writing, Luke's gospel makes a major shift and now centers on Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem before He would be put to death (9:51-19:27). Luke writes, "Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem..." (9:51). Christ's focus would now be on completing His earthly mission to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. On His way to Jerusalem, Jesus first passed through Samaria where the people did not receive Him so the disciples inquired whether they should "command fire to come down from heaven and consume them..." (9:52-54); however, Jesus rebuked them saying, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them" (9:55-56). Even though the Samaritans worshipped false gods and were deserving of God's wrath, Jesus showed mercy by restraining His disciples and revealing that He had not come to bring condemnation upon sinners. In fact, the apostle John recorded Jesus' words concerning His mission on earth, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17).

Since the Samaritans rejected Jesus, He took His disciples and travelled to another village and on the road they encountered a man who said, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go" (9:57). Jesus responded saying, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" (9:58). Jesus was declaring that those who follow Him must be ready to give up everything for the sake of the gospel. Neither Jesus nor His disciples had homes and probably possessed very few things. After speaking to this man Jesus called someone else to follow Him, but he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father" (9:59). Jesus quickly responded, "Let the [spiritually] dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God" (9:60). It is likely that this man's father was close to death, as opposed to already dead, and Jesus was stating that preaching the gospel could not wait until this man's father had died. Spreading the message of hope and salvation was an urgent matter. Another man had received Jesus' call to follow Him but he said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house" (9:61). Again Jesus implies that that His message could not wait for this man to return home and say good-by to his family, so Jesus says, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit [usable] for the kingdom of God" (9:62). A plowman looking back showed divided interests because he could not plow straight lines while also looking behind him. In the same way, a man who was focused on proclaiming the gospel could not also be consumed with other things. All three of these men with whom Jesus spoke were ready to serve in the kingdom of God. The first man did not understand what it would take to serve. The second man was not ready because he did not see the message as urgent. The third man was not ready because he had other interests along with the kingdom. Following Jesus is not an easy calling because it requires giving up all things for the sake of serving others and obeying God.

Dear God, give me the passion to follow You no matter the cost.