June 5, 2026
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Chronicles and Luke? Here’s today’s reading:
Luke 9 (NIV)
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3He told them:…..Continue Reading
Jesus acted so simply and yet so complex. We read these accounts knowing the end of the story but for those that were following Him at the time they would see great miracles like feeding 5000 and then hear Him say He was going to die. The awe and confusion must have been a lot to take in. What is so clear to us now about what had to happen and what He was getting them ready for was hard to accept at the time. However, as that was the challenge for their faith, ours is to believe what we read versus what they were able to see firsthand. But the message is forever the same; He came and performed miraculous signs and wonders and despite the power He possessed, humbled Himself and died for us so that we might live with Him for all eternity!
How much Jesus cared for His disciples and sought to grow them in character, faith and strength. He trusts them to send them out but equips and guides them as well. When they question Him about feeding the people, he puts it back on them, most likely to consider how unable they are to feed them with the little they have. But little is much when God is on the scene. Then He asks them directly who they believe He is in reference to what others have said. And after declaring the truth of Him being the Messiah, He lets them know what His end will be…an end where He will unpopular, not popular. Then He is transfigured before a few of them to show exactly who He is. And when they are not able to do what they should have been able to do, He calls them out. Then He predicts His death a second time to make sure they are getting the big picture of why He has come to the earth. Then they start arguing about who is the greatest and He shows them a child and the humble hearts they need as His followers. And when they want to destroy the Samaritans for how they treated Jesus, He rebukes the disciples for their desire for judgment on them. He then closes the chapter by showing the singleminded nature of what it means to follow Jesus. SO I see many ways Jesus is ministering to His disciples in this chapter with lessons that we can internalize as well.
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. That’s not an easy verse to read. To protect ourselves To have safety. Health and the comforts of material things. By contrast. Following Jesus. You may be brought to an uncomfortable place. But as we touched on Wednesday night. Our light and momentary troubles are nothing compared to what we have waiting for us in glory
Luke 9
Luke 9
I liked the encouragement for the disciples in “whoever is not against you is for you”.
Luke 9
Psalm 114; Ezekiel 36; 1 Chronicles 16-18; Luke 8-9
When we find ourselves continuously thinking about material gain, job advancement, people pleasing, and climbing the ladder of success, we must shift our thoughts to what is most important. Keeping our focus on the One who saves us, taking up the cross and following Jesus. For “what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
Luke 9
Jesus predicted His impending death twice here. It makes me think about how our preconceived ideas color our interpretation of the present and the future. The Jews had pre interpreted what the prophets foretold, embracing the conquering King who would free them from the Romans, and rejecting (and thus fulfilling) the suffering servant who would die for the sins of the world.
Luke 9
Mark 8
Mark 9