[:en]Our Daily Scripture – 3/18/22[:]

[:en]SCRIPTURE:  LUKE 9

Bible Verses:

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ” (Luke 9:23-24)

“25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ” (Luke 9:25)

“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)

“A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” (Luke 9:35)

“Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” (Luke 9:48)

“Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58)

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE (VS. 1-9)

Jesus called his 12 disciples giving them power and authority to drive out demons and cure diseases.  He told them to take nothing and go to preach the Kingdom of God.

JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND (vs. 10-17)

The crowds followed Jesus, listening to him speaking about the Kingdom of God and healing their diseases.  Late in the afternoon, the disciples wanted to send the crowd away but Jesus told his disciples to give them something to eat.  With only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, Jesus multiplied it to satisfy 5000 people with 12 basketfuls of leftover.

PETER’S CONFESSION OF CHRIST (vs. 18-27)

When Jesus asked his disciples who he is, they replied:  “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life (v. 19).  But Peter answered:  The Christ of God”.

TEACHINGS OF JESUS:

  1.  Anyone who would come after me must deny self, take up his cross and follow me. (v. 23)
  2. Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. (v. 24)
  3. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self? (v. 25)
  4. If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (v. 26).

THE TRANSFIGURATION (vs. 28-36)

Jesus took Peter, John and James to a mountain to pray.  Elijah appeared in glorious splendor, talking with jesus.  Then a heaven’s voice from the clouds said: “This is my Son whom I have chosen, listen to him: (v. 35)

THE HEALING OF A BOY WITH AN EVIL SPIRIT (vs. 37-44)

A man had an only child who was possessed by an evil spirit.  He would scream and foam at his mouth and thrown into convulsion.  His disciples were not able to drive it out.  But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy.

WHO WILL BE THE GREATEST (vs. 46-50)

While the disciples were arguing which of them would be the greatest, Jesus took a little boy and said: “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me.  And whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.  For he who is least among you all, he is the greatest” (v. 48).

John tried to stop a man who does not belong to their group driving out demons in Jesus’ name.  But Jesus said: “Do not stop him.  For whoever is not against you is for you” (v. 50)

SAMARITAN OPPOSITION (vs. 51-56)

While Jesus together with James and Honb were going to a Samaritan, the people did not welcome them.  James and JOhn wanted to call fire down from heaven to destroy them but Jesus forbid them and went to another village.

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS (vs. 57-62)

When Jesus asked men to follow him, they gave reasons and excuses to follow him later.  Jesus replied: “No one who puts his hand for the  plow and look back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God” (v. 62)

LESSONS LEARNED:

  1.  When God sends us to do a task for him, he will supply what we need.
  2. When God was able to feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish and having 12 basketful of leftovers, he can fill our empty hands with blessings.
  3. Following Christ demands our joyful obedience in order to experience His glory.
  4. The nine disciples were not able to drive out demons because they had stopped praying and fasting.  We must constantly be connected to the Lord before we can claim the promises of victory Jesus had given us.
  5. The disciples argued among themselves over who was the greatest.  We must learn to humble ourselves and love one another if we want to serve the Lord effectively.
  6. When the Samaritans refused to welcome them, James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven.  But Jesus rebuked them because he wanted to teach them the lesson of “Love your enemies”.
  7. Discipleship means denying self, take up cross and follow him.  That means we must put “God first” and not “me first”.

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