November 3, 2021
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 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. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt............Continue Reading
Imagine the apostles receiving power to heal the sick and to drive our demons. When they return to Jesus in another account, Jesus says don’t be so excited about that. But that your name is written in heaven. Jesus feeds five thousand people. After sharing the kingdom of God with them, He is concerned for their physical needs. Great picture of God. I would have sent them back home. Imagine the apostles hearing that Jesus is going to suffer and be killed. Verse 21. Not only did they not understand. They didn’t ever want to believe that! Pick up your cross and follow daily. For the apostles that might mean literally. Later in their lives. For us. Doing Gods will. Can’t imagine seeing the transfiguration That would take any doubt of who Jesus was away. And hearing Gods voice. Don’t know if I would survive that. It certainly leaves us knowing that the Bible is the inspired God breathed word of God. And that there is absolutely no doubt who Jesus was and is now. Why couldn’t the apostles drive out this demon. They had done it before? Their faith has wavered a little. ??? Any thoughts?? The end of this chapter is sobering. The answers Jesus gives to these men who ask to follow him. Tough answers. Verse 62. Jesus wants all of us. Not half hearted. Hard to do. I’m the first to admit. I’m not always focused on Jesus
I agree Mark that the chapter ends with a frank look at our priorities and where Jesus falls on our list! Even when things like family or even our own service in church is not reflective of a heart for God we are putting things before Him.
Jesus asks the “Who do you say I am” and that is a question we should all ask ourselves…who is He to us and where in our life is He on our priority list because when He is first we have the same access as the apostles to have His power work through us to heal the sick and drive out demons!
He has to be first!
It must have been pretty exciting for Jesus’ disciples to be empowered in this way and see how God provided for them in every place they went. It is exciting for us as well as God provides for our lives and ministries as well. And as if Jesus hasn’t done enough in the meter variety of miracles, add feeding 5,000 plus with a few loaves and fishes to the repertoire! All that He has been, done and taught makes Peter’s confession of Him a little easier, but he probably had some help from God to come up with this as Matthew tells us. And it is also an important question for all of us to answer….who do you say that I am? And yet following Him will not be easy. Jesus was always up front with what it would take to live the Christina life. And this singleminded and sacrificial commitment is the only way it works. It is not only what God deserves, but it is also what is required when we consider the forces against us: satan, sin and the world. If we give them an inch, they WILL take a mile. SO Jesus makes it clear, don’t give them an inch.
And isn’t it interesting that God gives them such a powerful revelation of who Jesus is after the description of the sacrificial nature of following Him. Yes this is who He is just in case you didn’t get it before. If anything would further convince them of what Peter affirmed just before or the reality of who He is, this is it. And yet after all that Jesus has done, the apostles argue about who is greatest. How easy it is for us to slip into the flesh and start defining life according to earthly dynamics rather than spiritual ones.
And in these final verses Jesus is just referring to the singularity of focus that following Him involves. You can’t serve 2 masters. We should be willing to give up anything and anyone for the sake of Christ. So if saying goodbye to your family reflects you struggling with priorities and not being dedicated to Jesus, the you shouldn’t do it. So it is the heart that Jesus is addressing as opposed to not allowing the polite act of saying good-bye.
Luke 9
The twelve were given power to cast out demons, heal, and preach the Kingdom of God. It also says, to preach the gospel. I wonder what the gospel was before Christ died? I guess it was the person of Jesus and following Him, before the shedding of His blood and resurrection. Jesus continually tells His disciples that this will happen…has to happen, but they are in denial. Can’t say that I wouldn’t be too!
In the transfiguration, Jesus converses with Moses and Elijah about his decease/departure. I wish the apostles were paying closer attention, I would really like to know more about that conversation! Peter seeks to set up earthly tabernacles for the three, but God quickly corrects him. “While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 36 When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.”