SCRIPTURE: LUKE 9
JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE (vs. 1-9)
Jesus called the Twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons, to cure diseases and preach the kingdom of God.
INSTRUCTIONS OF JESUS TO THE TWELVE:
- Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. (v. 3)
- Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. (v. 4)
- If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town as a testimony against them. (v. 5)
JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND (vs. 10-17)
Jesus and his apostles went to a town called Bethsaida. The crowd followed them and Jesus welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God and healed those who need healing. Late in the afternoon, the Twelve told Jesus that the crowd be sent away to find their food and lodging because they were in a remote place. But Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.” (v. 13) They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish”. Jesus said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” (v. 14). Then Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute before the five thousand . They all ate and were satisfied and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
PETER’S CONFESSION OF CHRIST (vs. 18-27)
Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do the crowds say I am” (v. 18). 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). Then Jesus asked Peter, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (v. 20). Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (v. 20) Then Jesus said: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 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. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” (vs. 23-27)
THE TRANSFIGURATION (vs. 28-36)
After eight days, Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went up into a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “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.” While he was peaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “:This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him. When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.
THE HEALING OF A BOY WITH AN EVIL SPIRIT (vs. 37-45)
A man had an only child who was seized by a spirit. He would suddenly scream and throw into convulsions with foams in his mouth. He begged Jesus’ disciples to drive it out but they could not. So when Jesus went there, he asked Jesus to heal him. Jesus told the man to bring his son to him. When the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men” (v. 44) But the disciples did not understand what this meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
WHO WILL BE THE GREATEST? (vs. 46-50)
While the disciples were arguing to which of them would be the greatest, Jesus took a little child and had him stand beside him saying, “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 told Jesus that a man was driving out demons in His name and they tried to stop him because he is not one of them. Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” (v. 50)
SAMARITAN OPPOSITION (vs. 51-56)
When Jesus was setting out for Jerusalem, he sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to get things ready for him. But the people there did not welcome him. So James and John asked Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them>” (v. 54) But Jesus turned and rebuked them and they went to another village.
THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS (vs. 57-62)
A man told Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” (v. 57). Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (v. 58). He said to another man, “Follow me.” but the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” (v. 59) Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” (v. 60). Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but firs let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” (v. 61). Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fir for service in the kingdom of God.” (v. 62)
THOUGHTS:
As Jesus empowered His twelve apostles before sending them out, He will also equip you with what you need if he will send you out to do a task. Trust in Him alone, do His will and you will have His supply and power.
Shaking the dust of unaccepting towns from the disciples feet had deep cultural implications. Pious Jews would do this after passing through Gentile cities to show their separation from Gentile practices. If the disciples shook the dust of a Jewish town from their feet, it would show their separation from Jews who rejected their Messiah. This action showed that the disciples were not responsible for how the people responded to their message. Similarly, we are not responsible if we have carefully and truthfully presented Christ but our message is rejected. We must move on to others whom God desires to reach.
Jesus did not send the crowds away because he is concerned with every aspect of our life – the physical and the spiritual. This teaches us not to ignore both the physical and spiritual needs of people that we are going to minister.
When Jesus will ask you “Who do you say I am?”, what will be your answer?
Peter James and John witnessed the transfiguration with the appearance of Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Moses represents the Law, Elijah represents the Prophets and Jesus represents the Messiah. Jesus fulfills both the Law and the Prophets.
The disciples were not able to cast out the evil spirit because perhaps their faith was faltering. The battle with Satan is a difficult ongoing struggle that can only be overcome through faith in Jesus Christ.
The disciples were arguing about who would be the greatest. God’s measure of greatness is our care for others. How often do you care for those who need your help? Your honest answer to this question will give you a good idea of your real greatness.
When the disciples saw a man who was not one of their group casting out demons, they were jealous and wanted to stop them. But Jesus told the disciples not to stop them. There is no room for jealousy in the spiritual warfare of God’s kingdom. Maintain an open-arms attitude toward Christian workers outside your group.
When James and John were rejected by the Samaritan village, they wanted to retaliate by calling down fire from heaven on the people. But Jesus forbade them to do so. Human nature tends to retaliate when rejected or scorned. But we must remember that judgment belongs to God and we must not use His power to carry out our personal vengeance.
THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS IS “TO DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS”
- To deny himself means to deny his selfish desires in using his time and money in his own way and not to choose his own direction in life without regard to Christ.
- To take up his cross means to bear the pain of trials, suffering, rejection, sacrifice and persecution because of Christ.
- To follow Jesus means total dedication and wholehearted commitment by setting Christ as his first priority in serving Him.
Following Christ is difficult and costly, but in the long run, it is worth the cost and effort.