Luke 9

LUKE 9 - Sends disciples, 5000, death

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** Jesus sent His disciples to proclaim the gospel, equipping them with the power and authority to drive out demons and cure disease

Luke 9:1-2 NIV

[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.

Luke 9:6 NIV

[6] So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

** Jesus disciples were to rely solely on God on their journeys

Luke 9:3 NIV

[3] He told them: “Take nothing for the journey---no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.

** There comes a time when the Christian needs to stop 'playing nice', especially when they are compromising their witness

• Christians often look to find the 'least offensive way' of communicating God's truth instead of helping others process via critical reasoning <D40>

• Many believe that 'playing nice' is the least offensive approach even though it placates and ends up supporting those opposing God's law

• God's commands do not come with 'extenuating circumstance clauses' -- such as "do this in case you..." which gives people an out from obeying God

• God's commands should be considered red lines that define the behavior of His followers

• In this light, It's never acceptable to compromise God's law for ANY reason!

• Nothing wrong with discussing opposing views but, all too often, people refuse to listen and don't know how to reason through an issue or debate their views

• Too many people simply expect others to automatically compromise their view so they can feel comfortable having more people in their camp

• If others don't automatically join their view, the offended party oftentimes look for justification -- perhaps finding a negative label to identify the other to add pressure on them to concede, or fabricated reason to explain their non-compliance, all in an effort so they feel ok 'unfriending them'

• There comes a point in time when reasoning with another becomes ineffective and futile

• Be prepared to 'shake the dust from your feet' and move on when this happens <E58>

• In time, any love that is constantly rejected must ultimately fail <R1795>

• It’s best to know when to ‘let go’ and use our energies toward more-successful ways

Mark 6:11 NIV [Jesus said]

[11] And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.

Luke 9:5 NIV [Jesus said]

[5] If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.

Luke 21:16-19 NIV

[16] You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. [17] Everyone will hate you because of me. [18] But not a hair of your head will perish. [19] Stand firm, and you will win life.

** Feed the sheep, destroy the wolves: support those who follow Christ but do not put up with those who pretend to care about godly matters and do not genuinely care <D40>

John 21:17 NIV

[17] The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV

[2] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. [3] Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Luke 9:5 NIV

[5] If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

Luke 4:34 NIV

[34] “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are---the Holy One of God!”

** Christ loves this world and its people — after all, He came to die for us — yet even Christ has a point where He says, “It’s time to move on”; we make the final decision whether we completely accept His message or we die in our sin <D40>

Luke 9:5 NIV

[5] If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

Acts 13:51-52 NIV

[51] So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. [52] And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

** People in Jesus day were trying to figure out who He was exactly; Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah

• Peter prepares the reader to think about who Jesus is when he records Herod’s question

• In each gospel, Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah serves as a turning point

• While Jesus had identified Himself as the Messiah by His acts, this is the first time a disciple had referred to Jesus as the Messiah

• Jesus began speaking of His cross from this point on <R1795>

Luke 9:7-9 NIV

[7] Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, [8] others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. [9] But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.

Luke 9:18-20 NIV

[18] Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” [19] 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.” [20] “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

** God's plan for Jesus was to be rejected by the religious authorities, suffer, die and be raised on the third day

• God's will is not always what is most enjoyable, comfortable, meets with our agenda or easy to carry out

• The Christians cross is often not suffering but to do whatever God’s will for us is each day

• God’s will may involve pain, but often involves joy; there may be tears, but our cross also carries shouts and singing

• Our cross calls us to daily choose God’s will in preference to our own, and thus demands the most significant kind of self-denial <R1795>

Luke 9:22-23 NIV

[22] And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” [23] Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

** Rather than trusting in Jesus Christ, the world’s approach is to ‘believe in yourself’ – for if we don’t have a good self-image then the world thinks we need therapy!

Proverbs 3:5 NIV

[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

Luke 9:23-25 NIV

[23] 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. [25] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

Proverbs 19:23 NIV

[23] The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

Proverbs 23:4-5 NIV

[4] Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. [5] Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Proverbs 27:1 NIV

[1] Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

Proverbs 28:26 NIV

[26] Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

** We live in a society where people puff themselves up in their brokenness and victimhood — it’s ’hip’ to be a victim instead of striving to be strong and helping others; shouldn’t our motivation be to emulate Christ, to become stronger and sacrifice for others as Christ did for us?

There are few leaders at every level — from the job site to government — who are willing to buck this societal trend but would rather play in their own sandbox; hence, there are few, if any, leaders we end up respecting

The church has abdicated itself to the welfare system and it’s members don’t need to get involved to help their neighbor — they simply write another check to another charity or figure the government will take care of the situation; hence, helpful relationships are not established and victims end up milking a system without personal accountability <E58>

1 Peter 5:10 NIV

[10] And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 NIV

[9] Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

** God will receive ANYONE who comes to Him in repentance, including the person who has gone against God's design for them because they are confused about their identity <B187>

• God paid for the privilege of our salvation when suffering on the cross

• Those who accept Christ not only receive God's help in this life but are allowed to stand before His holy presence in the next life

• God requires that whoever comes to Him: a) believe in Him, b) acknowledge their sin and Jesus' payment for it by dying on the cross, c) deny themselves the option of living however they want, and d) follow His commands as outlined in His Word

• God designed us from the beginning of time and predestined us to become conformed to His image

• Accepting Christ as Savior means we leave our 'old self' that is comfortable living in sin, and recognize we are a 'new creation' who aims to be the person God calls us to be

No matter what mistakes or bad choices we make, Jesus never turns away from those who repent and truly accept His free gift of salvation. He will see you through the storms in life. That doesn’t mean it’s ok to keep making the same mistakes. Repenting means to change your mind and turn away from sin. Whatever happens in this life, faith in Jesus will bring eternal salvation. <G73>

Ephesians 1:6-7 NIV

[6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

Romans 8:29 NIV

[29] For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

1 John 3:9-10 NIV

[9] No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. [10] This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God's child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

** Whoever wants to be Jesus’ disciples must be willing to give up everything and follow Him

• Giving up everything includes not prioritizing and depending on family above God

• This is difficult to do in the ‘Me Generation’ that redefines truth to suit a person’s individual desires

• Following Christ involves going against cultural trends such as gender selection, abortion, creating individual realities, self promotion, etc

• Note: it is easy to love ourselves which the prosperity gospel promotes but we need to focus on turning our attention to others as Christ commands in His Word <S187>

John 15:12-13 NIV

[12] My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. [13] Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

Luke 9:59-62 NIV

[59] He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” [60] Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” [61] Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” [62] Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Jeremiah 45:5 NIV

[5] Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.' ”

** Notice that Jesus said you must take up your cross daily—not yearly, not annually, and not even monthly or weekly. It’s as simple as reading your Bible when you get up in the morning. That is giving up your own way and taking up the cross daily. It means praying. It means speaking up for Jesus Christ, even when it’s uncomfortable or a bit awkward. Essentially, it means putting God first and yourself second. <L120>

Luke 9:23 NIV

[23] Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

** A quick checklist of what God wants of His followers is found in Micah 6:8... to grow in the grace & knowledge of our Savior and to make decisions that please God based on what He has shown us to be right & wrong in Scripture <G72>

Micah 6:8 NIV

[8] He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

2 Peter 3:18 NIV

[18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Matthew 7:12 NIV

[12] So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Luke 9:23 NIV

[23] Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

** What does it mean to be a Christian?

1. To be a Christian--is to depart from iniquity.

To this, the name obliges us; and without this we have no right to the name. "Let everyone who names the name of Christ, depart from iniquity!" (2 Tim 2:19). That is, let him depart from iniquity, or not even dare to take that sacred name!

Christ was perfectly free from sin. He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners." His followers also shall be perfectly free from sin, in a little time! Before long, they will enter into the pure regions of perfect holiness, and will drop all their sins, along with their mortal bodies--into the grave!

To depart from iniquity, is essential to Christianity--and without it there can be no such thing as a Christian!

There was nothing that Christ was so remote from--as sin! And therefore, for those that indulge themselves in sin--and yet to wear His name, is just as absurd and ridiculous as for an illiterate dunce to call himself a university professor!

Therefore, if you will not renounce iniquity--then renounce the Christian name! You cannot consistently retain both!

2. To be a Christian--is to deny yourselves, and take up the cross, and follow Christ.

These are the terms of discipleship fixed by Christ Himself and is the essential character of every true Christian.

Luke 9:23 NIV

[23] Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

To DENY ourselves, is to abstain from the pleasures of sin, to moderate our sensual appetites, to deny our own interest for the sake of Christ. In short, it is to sacrifice everything inconsistent with our duty to Him, when these come in competition.

To take up our CROSS, is to bear sufferings, to encounter difficulties, and break through them all--in imitation of Jesus Christ, and for His sake.

To FOLLOW Christ, is to trace His steps, and imitate His example--whatever it costs us.

3. To be a Christian--is to be a follower or imitator of Christ.

Paul tells us that believers will be conformed to His image, Romans 8:29; and that the same mind must be in us, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

Christ's heart glowed with love to His Father! He delighted in universal obedience to Him; it was His food and drink to do the Father's will, even in the most painful and self-denying instances! He abounded in devotion, in prayer, meditation and every pious duty.

He was also full of every grace and virtue towards mankind! Towards all, He was:

• Meek and humble

• Kind and benevolent

• Just and charitable

• Merciful and compassionate

Beneficence to the souls and bodies of men was the business of His life, for He went about doing good.

Acts 10:38 NIV

[38] how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

1 Peter 2:21 NIV

[21] To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Does your Christianity, my friends, stand this test? May one know that you belong to Christ--by your living like Him, and manifesting the same temper and spirit?

If you claim the name of Christ, then where is that:

• Ardent devotion

• Affectionate love to God

• Zeal for His glory

• Alacrity in His service

• Resignation to His will

• Generous benevolence to mankind

• Zeal to promote their best interests

• Meekness and forbearance under ill usage

• Unwearied activity in doing good to all

• Self-denial and heavenly-mindedness

which shone so conspicuous in Christ, whose holy name you bear? <D43>

1 John 2:6 NIV

[6] Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

** Striving for success in the world is pointless, for this world is not our home and we can easily forfeit our soul in the process

Luke 9:25 NIV

[25] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

** If you try to be a happy person, you never will be a happy person. Now, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy. Everyone wants to be happy. But if you live to be happy, you never will be.

As philosopher Eric Hoffer pointed out, “The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness.”

Here’s what it comes down to: If you want to be happy, then seek to be holy, and happiness will come as a by-product. Seek to be holy. Seek to be like Christ. But also live wholly for Christ. So, seek to be like Christ and live for Christ. You will be a happy person as a result. <L120>

Luke 9:24-25 NIV

[24] For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. [25] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

** Believers are to be bold in their testimony, not fearful of enemies or ashamed of the cross

Luke 9:26 NIV

[26] 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.

** When we follow the Savior’s footsteps and watch his life story unfold in the Gospels, we discover that prayer saturated everything he did <N156>

Mark 1:35 NIV

[35] Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

• Our Savior prayed in public -- with a crowd of mourners gathered at the opened tomb of Lazarus, we read that Jesus lifted his face and voiced His prayer toward heaven

John 11:41-43 NIV

[41] So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. [42] I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” [43] When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

• Jesus gave thanks and acknowledged God’s provision in prayer -- before the miracle of multiplying the loaves Jesus prayed and more than five thousand men plus women and children ate His gift of bread

Matthew 14:19 NIV

[19] And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

• Jesus gathered people to pray with him - prayer was so important for Jesus that when a major spiritual experience was on the horizon, like when Jesus knew He would soon face the trial and pain of the cross, He asked three friends to pray with Him

Luke 9:28-30 NIV

[28] About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. [29] As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. [30] Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.

• Jesus prayed in the most public of settings and in quiet places as He retreated from the world to seek the face of the Father -- when Jesus was preparing to make a big decision like choosing His closest disciples in ministry, He made space to talk with his Heavenly Father

Luke 6:12-13 NIV

[12] One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. [13] When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

• Jesus prayed continually as He journeyed here on earth and should be our model of all things good and beautiful

** Jesus was praying as He was baptized and as the Spirit descended from heaven <R1795>

• Luke is the only one of the gospel writers to tell us that Jesus was praying while He was being baptized

• Only Luke tells us Christ also prayed before choosing the twelve (Luke 6:12) and on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:29)

• Christ’s reliance on prayer reminds us how much we need to communicate with our Heavenly Father

Luke 3:21-22 NIV

[21] When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened [22] and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Luke 6:12-13 NIV

Luke 9:28-29 NIV

** Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus with Moses and Elijah before God audibly voiced His approval of Jesus

Luke 9:29-30,34-35 NIV

[29] As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. [30] Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. [34] While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. [35] A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

** Evil spirits sometimes hide themselves in the cloak of what many might call 'natural disease' such as lunacy, epilepsy and convulsions; the man in this incident recognized that a spirit had seized his son

Luke 9:38-39 NIV

[38] A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. [39] A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.

** Jesus used a little child to illustrate how we should humbly approach each other; Jesus destroyed the hierarchical status people adhere to in society

Luke 9:46-48 NIV

[46] An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. [47] Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. [48] Then he said to them, “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.”

** So sure was Jesus of the Lord God’s help that He resolutely determined to remain unswayed by whatever hardship awaited Him; Jesus demonstrated this determination in setting His face to go to Jerusalem to be crucified <M130>

Isaiah 50:7 NIV

[7] Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

Ezekiel 3:8-9 NIV

[8] But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. [9] I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. ”

Luke 9:51 NIV

[51] As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

** Jesus was rejected and despised His whole earthly life because He challenged those around Him with truth; even His brothers rejected Him and Jesus found He had no home to go to <M130>

John 7:53-8:1 NIV

[53] Then they all went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

Luke 9:58 NIV

[58] Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

John 15:18 NIV

[18] “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

Luke 9.

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