The Gospel Of Luke
Chapter 9
(V1) Note that Jesus gave the ability to cast out daemons and heal the sick which shows that these two things are different, and not the same like many assume that all illness is a demonic attack.
(V2) This would where the disciples ( followers/ students) would now become apostles(apostello) which is Greek for sent one.
(V3-6) The disciples didn’t need sophisticated equipment to preach a simple message. Too many things would get in the way of their urgent message.
There was a rule among the rabbis of the day that you could not enter the temple area with a staff, shoes, or a moneybag, because you wanted to avoid even the appearance of being engaged in any other business than the service of the Lord.
The disciples were engaged in such holy work of preaching the gospel and bringing God’s healing so didn’t want to give the impression that they have any other motive. Travelling light also kept them dependent upon God. If they did not take much with them, they had to trust the Lord for everything. If the preacher himself doesn’t trust God, how can he tell others to trust.
shake its dust from your feet as you leave – If Jewish people of that time had to go in or through a Gentile area (such as Samaria) , as they left they often shook the dust off their feet as a gesture saying, “We don’t want to take anything from this Gentile place with us”.
(V7-9) Herod wanted to see Jesus, but not as a sincere seeker. He either wanted to indulge his curiosity or to do the same to Jesus as he had done to His cousin John. We will read that Herod did want to kill Jesus in Luke 13, and eventually did get to meet Jesus face to face at His trial where it was Herod that placed the Purple robe upon His shoulders.
(V10) Jesus has a special care to bless and serve those who serve Him, so wanted to bless them privately away for the crowds that were always following them.
(V11) Even when trying to find some quiet time Jesus was followed, Showing His love and patience in three ways He
- He welcomed them – This speaks of His attitude. He didn’t tell them to go away.
- He taught them about the Kingdom of God – The most important emphasis in His work.
- He healed those who were sick – As always Jesus couldn’t help but help.
The Feeding of The 5000
This is unique in that it’s the only miracle recorded in all 4 gospels.
(V12-15) It’s not entirely fair to criticize the disciples for their recommendation to send the crowds away. They probably never even thought that Jesus could miraculously feed the crowd. They felt they were doing good for the crowds by sending them away.
But Jesus said, “You feed them.” Luke doesn’t record the fact that it was peter who was speaking to Jesus but he was from this area and its presumed this was why Jesus told him to feed them.
This request must have sounded shocking. It was obvious to them that they did not have the resources to feed even a fraction of the crowd. With this statement, Jesus challenged both their faith and their compassion.
about 5,000 men – Only the men were recorded but including women and children you could easily double this number.
sit down in groups of about fifty – This command suggests that this was more than just putting food in their stomachs; that could be done standing up. The idea was that there was something like a banquet-like atmosphere of enjoyment.
(V16-17) In 2 Kings 4:42-44, Elijah fed one hundred men with some barley loaves and ears of grain – with some left over. The feeding of the 5,000 shows us that Jesus is greater than Elijah.
When Jesus blessed the meal, He wasn’t blessing the food. He blessed God for supplying it.
The idea of praying before a meal isn’t to bless the food; it is to bless or to thank – God for blessing us with the food.
NOTE- We have no way of knowing what Jesus said in this prayer but the common prayer before a meal in Biblical times was “Blessed is, Jehovah our God, King of the universe, who brings forth the bread from the earth.”
He kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples – This miracle displayed Jesus’ total authority over creation. Yet He insisted on doing this miracle through the hands of the disciples. He could have done it directly, but He wanted to use the disciples.
the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers – Now this wasn’t bits of half eaten fish and bread but full pieces that hadn’t been touched, and the baskets used were very large hamper baskets used in the fishing trade and not a waste paper bin. We know this as it’s the same Greek word used for basket when speaking of the basket used to lower Paul in from the window in Acts 9, so big enough to hold a fully grown man.
(V18-20) This scene began with Jesus praying, and the disciples interrupted His time of prayer.
NOTE- I might be wrong but from studying all the gospels Jesus never prayed with His disciples but always prayed by Himself.
some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah – Both John and Elijah were national reformers who stood against the corrupt rulers of their day, much like what the masses though or wanted Jesus to act like.
“But who do you say I am?”- This is one of the most important questions both from the Bible and for us today! Nearly everyone has heard of Jesus and most will have a opinion of who they think he was, but when we answer we should have the correct answer and that answer should affect how we live our lives.
“But who do you say I am?”- This also starts Jesus on His final journey as He had to know that His own disciples understood exactly who he was.
(V21-22) Jesus was pleased that His disciples were coming to know who He was in truth, but He still didn’t want His identity popularly known before the proper time. The crowds couldn’t understand that Jesus really was the Messiah yet had to suffer – the disciples had to learn this first. Before they could preach that Jesus was the Messiah, they had to learn what that meant.
The Son of Manmust suffer many terrible things –Jesus then told them what He had really come to do. This wasn’t what His disciples or the crowds expected or wanted at all. This was an unbelievable shock to all who expected or hoped that Jesus was the national and political messiah.
must suffer – An important word here is must. This wasn’t just a plan or an idea or a prediction; this was the fulfilment of what was planned before the world began for our salvation. 1 Peter 1:20and Revelation 13:8
(V23) Then he said to the crowd – It was bad enough for the disciples to hear that Jesus would suffer, be rejected, and die on a cross. Now He told them that they must do the same, or at the very least have the same intention.
take up your cross – As Jesus spoke these words, everybody knew what Jesus meant. In the Roman world, before a man died on a cross, he had to carry his cross.
In the real-life crosses of the Roman world, no one took them up (suggesting a voluntary action). Instead, crosses were impressed upon people, quite apart from their willingness. Here Jesus said that those who follow Him must voluntarily take up their cross.
you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me – Jesus made give up your own way equal with take up your cross. The two phrases expressed the same idea. The cross wasn’t a symbol of self-promotion or pride. The person carrying a cross knew they couldn’t save themselves, and that they were destined to die.
give up your own way – means to live as an others-centred person. Jesus was the only person to do this perfectly, but we are to follow in His steps.
take up your cross daily– Jesus made it clear that He spoke spiritually when He added the word daily. No one could be crucified literally every day but Daily they could have the same attitude as Jesus had.
(V24-25) We must follow Jesus this way because it is the only way that we will ever find life. It sounds strange to say, “You will never live until you walk to your death with Jesus,” but that is the idea. You can’t gain resurrection life without dying first.
what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost ? – Jesus Himself had the opportunity to gain the whole world by worshipping Satan but found life and victory in obedience instead.
(V26) It isn’t easy to walk with Jesus. It means that we have to associate ourselves with someone who was and still is despised and executed – but if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us.
(V27) After this extreme call to follow Jesus unto death, He added a promise of significant glory. As many there would be witnesses to see the resurrection of Jesus.
(V28-29) The Transfiguration wasn’t The real miracle. The real miracle was that Jesus, most of the time, could keep from displaying His glory.
(V30-31) Their immediate recognition of these men who appeared in glory without prior introduction gives some evidence that we will also be able to immediately recognize others in heaven. There won’t be a need for nametags.
Many wonder why it was these two particular men from the Old Testament, and not two others. It wasn’t Abraham or David or Joshua or Joseph or Daniel, it was Moses and Elijah. It could be said that they represent the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).
Moses and Elijah also figure together in prophecy, because they are the witnesses in Revelations.
Of all the things they might have discussed, they chose this topic. It seems that Moses and Elijah were interested in the working of God’s plan through Jesus; they spoke to Jesus about what was about to be fulfilled at Jerusalem.
(V32) This leads us to believe that perhaps the disciples saw and heard only a small part of this meeting of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. It perhaps lasted much longer, and they discussed many more things.
(V33-33) Peter said what he said when Moses and Elijah began to leave. Peter didn’t want the scene of glory to stop. Perhaps his thinking went something like this: This is how it should be! Forget this idea of suffering, being rejected, and crucified; let’s build some tabernacles so we can live this way with the glorified Jesus all the time.
Also, in suggesting three tabernacles, Peter made the mistake of putting Jesus on an equal level with Moses and Elijah, with one tabernacle for each of them.
(V34) Peter and the apostles at first felt it’s wonderful for us to be here, but as the glory intensified, it began to create in them the awe and dread that sinners feel in the presence of God.
(V35-36) he voice from the cloud of glory made it clear that Jesus was not on the same level as Moses and Elijah. He is the Chosen One– so Listen to him! They didn’t tell anyone at that time, but they couldn’t keep quiet about it for long. Peter clearly remembered and referred to this event in 2 Peter. And John referrers to it in his gospel. They remembered this powerful experience that showed Jesus in both His glory and His role as Messiah, greater than even Moses and Elijah.
(V37-40) Immediately after the radiant glory of the transfiguration, Jesus and the disciples came down from the mountain and were met by demonic opposition.
The description fits what we would call an epileptic seizure. In this case, Jesus knew that a demonic force brought it on.
The disciples had previously had some success in casting out demons . It may be that this was a stronger or more stubborn case of demonic possession.
There are ranks of demonic powers Ephesians 6 , and evidently, some demons are stronger (more stubborn, resistant) than others. In Matthew 17, 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.
Their failure was in fact good for them as their failure taught them.
- It taught them not to get into a rut of ministry
- It taught them the great superiority of Jesus
- It taught them to come to Jesus with the problem
(V41-42) There is a sense that Jesus was frustrated with His disciples. His season of ministry before the cross was coming to an end, and perhaps He felt frustration that the disciples did not have more faith.
the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion – This was the last, desperate effort of the possessing demon to kill the boy and to cast doubt onto Jesus power.
(V43-45) Jesus had just revealed His glory in two spectacular ways – the transfiguration and the casting out of a difficult demon. Yet, He reminded His disciples that His mission had not changed; He still had come to die on the cross for our sins.
(V46-48) The disciples were often concerned about the question of greatness. They seem to ask this question thinking that Jesus has already chosen one of them as the greatest. You can understand this because Jesus had taken Peter, John, and James up into the mountain top with him and the others were jealous.
The little child was the model of greatness. By this act, Jesus said to the disciples: “If you want to be great, learn something from this little child.” Especially in that culture, children were of little importance, were not threatening, unconcerned for social status, and not jaded by success and ambition. When we most fulfil the humble place a child had in that culture, we are then on our way to greatness.
We know that one Man was actually the greatest among them and among all: Jesus Christ. This means that Jesus Himself was humble like a little child. He wasn’t concerned about his own status. He didn’t have to be the centre of attention. He could not deceive, and He didn’t have an intimidating presence. NOTE – There is a tradition that the child grew to be Ignatius of Antioch, who in later days became a great servant of the Church, a great writer, and finally a martyr for Christ.
(V49-50) This must have been frustrating to the disciples, because it showed that other followers of Jesus were able to cast out demons when they sometimes were not able. No wonder John wanted them to stop.
Jesus taught them to have a more generous spirit. There are many that are wrong in some aspect of their preaching or teaching, yet they still preach Jesus in some manner, so let God deal with them. Those who are not against a Biblical Jesus are still on our side, at least in some way.
(V51-53) This is the beginning of a new section of the Gospel of Luke. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, and to His work on the cross.
Jesus resolutely set out – There are two kinds of courage – the courage of moment, which requires no previous thought, and a planned courage, which sees the difficulty ahead and resolutely marches towards it. Jesus had this kind of courage; He saw the cross on the horizon, but still Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
For Jesus to take that way to Jerusalem was unusual, and because Jesus was going to Jerusalem these particular Samaritans did not welcome Jesus. They didn’t have good relations with the Jews, and were prejudiced against them.
THE SAMARATINS
The origin of the Samaritan people seem to have been the intermarrying of Jews from the Northern Kingdom with imported non-Jewish colonists after the conquest of 722 B.C. 2 Kings 17:24. These mixed Jews-Gentiles developed their own translation of the Pentateuch (Samaritan Pentateuch), built their own temple of worship on Mt. Gerazim see John 4:20, which was later destroyed by John Hyrcanus (128 B.C.), and celebrated their own Passover.
(V54-56) James and John, outraged by the poor reception Jesus received among the Samaritans, offered to destroy the city in spectacular judgment for Jesus’ sake. It’s interesting that James and John were so confident that they could do this, especially after their recent failure with the demon-possessed boy. Their angry reaction shows why Jesus sometimes called them Sons of Thunder.
Their offence – even on behalf of Jesus – was not appreciated. Perhaps they thought they were being like Jesus, or showing the character of God. They were mistaken, and did not represent God and His heart.
(V57-58) Jesus didn’t tell the man “No, you can’t follow Me.” But He told him the truth, without painting a glamorized version of what it was like to follow Him.
(V59-60) Actually, this man did not ask for permission to dig a grave for his deceased father. He wanted to remain in his father’s house and care for him until the father died. This was obviously an indefinite period, which could drag on and on.
Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead- Jesus wasn’t afraid to discourage potential disciples. Jesus pressed the man to follow Him now, and clearly stated the principle that family obligations – or any other obligation – must not be put ahead of following Jesus. Jesus must come first.
(V60-61) The previous man offered to follow Jesus after an indefinite, perhaps long delay. This man offered to follow Jesus after a relatively short delay. Jesus stressed to this man the commitment necessary to follow Him. One must have a similar determination as a farmer ploughing a field, who must do it with all his strength and always looking forward.
NOTE – In ploughing a field in that day, a farmer kept the rows straight by focusing on an object in front and in the distance (such as a tree). If the farmer started to plough and kept looking behind, he would never make straight rows and do a good job ploughing. In following Jesus, we are to keep our eyes on Jesus, and never take our eyes off Him.
AMEN