Luke 9:1-5
Chapter 8 seems to flow right into chapter 9; Jesus called the 12 disciples together. Peter, James and John had just seen Him restore life to a twelve-year-old girl. Jesus told the parents not to tell anyone what happened. The message couldn't be primarily about miracles. The disciple had seen so many miracles, how could it not be about that to some extent. We can see them at times struggle to process what they were experiencing. They had to feel like they were on a winning team, nothing could stop them, great things were happening.
With great knowledge comes great responsibility. Jesus had not called them as just observers, but the witnesses were now called to testify. He gave them His power and authority. With this power, they would cast out demons, cure diseases – but most of all they would preach the kingdom of God.
For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48)
Even possessing much power, there was a balance. What human could possess this power and not allow sin to mess things up? The power would not provide for their being. The power to do miracles was to use to authenticate the message, it wasn't the message. Then when it was time to eat and sleep, they had to rely on God to provide for them through others. Even the clothes on their back were limited to a single change.
The hospitality of others was the primary source of their personal care. Whatever house they enter, they were to stay. It may not be the nicest place, maybe not up to the level they were used to, but they were not to seek out better accommodations. No reservations were to be made. If there was no one who would grant them hospitality, they were to shake the dust off and move on. The shaking off of the dust was a testimony, a warning of impending judgment. If they rejected them, they rejected the message. Shaking off their dust was a shaking off the uncleanness of that place.
Luke 9:6-9
They must have been scared and excited as they first set out. They were fishermen, a tax collector, zealot and more. Normal people with the profound message to tell other normal people. Did they feel adequate. No, I doubt it; even with the power of Jesus they had their fears, I'm sure. Like us, they worried about messing up, saying the wrong thing. They worried about offending someone or scaring someone off. They worried about how they prayed. They were concerned someone would ask a question they didn't know the answer to. They would discover these inadequacies were just what was needed to keep them reliant on Jesus. Humility keeps the word pure and meaningful. To carry a message is one thing, to bring a personal testimony of the effect of that message on your own life is something entirely different. They would say, "Jesus said°" and the tell "One day, He called me and my life has never been the same."
But it was a cold, cruel and wicked world into which they stepped. It would not be all fun and games. They would face more rejection than they could imagine, yet, when they got to take part in seeing a life change by the power of Jesus, the sting of rejection was washed away. Herod heard of all that was going on. He would say it was his job to know what was going on, but in reality, it was the means by which he kept his position. He manipulated, lied and used cruel means to maintain his power. He was no Jew, but he ruled them; he was no Roman but was in league with them. Simply put, Herod was for himself. He had John the Baptist beheaded in what was probably a drunken stupor to appease the women in his life. John scared him. He was a simpleton that held great sway over the people. Now, some were saying John had come back from the dead. Others were saying Elijah appeared. He knew the Jews expected Elijah to come before their messiah. Some were speaking of the prophets of old, as if one of them had come back. All of these were a threat to his authority over the Jews. He needed to know more of what was going on.
Many were asking who this was. The discipled asked that after he stilled the waves and the storm of the sea. No person would do the things He had done. Herod had to know more. What was the source of His power; some potion? Some magic? Herod did get to see Jesus on the way to the cross:
Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him. (Luke 23:8)
Luke 9:10-11
The disciples had graduated. In verse one Jesus called the 12 disciples; meaning pupils, students and followers. He sent them out as students, unsure of themselves, nervous and feeling inadequate. This was the perfect opportunity to trust Him and the power He'd spoken into their life. In verse ten, when they return, they are called the 12 apostles. Being an apostle doesn't mean they no longer learn; they just learn by hands on experience now. An apostle is an envoy, commissioned to go and speak on behalf of Him. They reported to their master and teacher all that had gone on. It was likely a discussion of fears and failures overshadowed by great success. He allowed them to take part in changing lives. What an honor. Who could doubt they asked when they might be able to go again.
Together, they went aside. This was to be a time of rest and recovery. The spiritual warfare involved in what they were doing was taxing, mentally exhausting. The place was near Bethsaida, just a few miles east along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This was going to be some time away from the multitude, but the multitude found them. Jesus received them, preached to them of the kingdom to come and then he healed all who had a need.
Luke 9:12-17
The disciples looked on the multitude and saw their need. It just never occurred to them they were capable of meeting that need. They essentially told Jesus to stop healing them and let them go so they could get food and a roof over their head. These people would have to make their way to a town because they were in the middle of nowhere. Then, out of nowhere, Jesus said, "You give them something to eat."
There were about 5000 men in this multitude; that doesn't count women and children. It would be easy to estimate 7500, although it was probably much larger. I can imagine the twelve looking at each other wondering what Jesus had in mind. Where would they come up with food for so many. Yet, they were thinking within the logic of man, dealing only in the limits of human possibility. Jesus was teaching them. What sounded absurd to them was possible. God could do great things with a meager provision and a willing soul.
The scene begins like the picture of the last supper and then looks a little like the children of Israel gathering manna from heaven. It's John's gospel that tells us the five loaves and 2 fish came from one lad who had the foresight to pack a lunch. Now he had to share it with 7500 of his closest friends. Imagine the conversation with his mother later that day she asked how his picnic lunch was. The meager provision in the hands of Jesus was enough. He took the loaves and fish and gave thanks. The disciples served the multitude from the hand of Jesus All were filled up.
We often read past these moments as if they are insignificant. Jesus was a lone praying which wasn't unusual. The disciples joined Him in the quiet prayer setting. Matthew and Mark both tells us this was when Jesus had come to Caesarea Philippi that this took place. That would put them near the Mt. Hermon. This mountain was significant. It was thought to be the home of the god pan. There were temples to many gods around this side of the mountain as well on every corner of the city of Caesarea Philippi. The people there had many gods.
As a Jew, the crowds associate Jesus with their Jewish traditions and expectations. They were looking for some place, within their understanding of things, to fit Jesus. These Jewish rumors were an attempt to find a place where He fit. But, in reality, He was breaking their system of belief. Because He didn't fit their idea of messiah, He just didn't fit anywhere.
- John the Baptist had played a prominent role in announcing Jesus to the world and calling for the nation to return to God. Herod was scared of John and the people may have been using this fear. John was this mysterious prophet that broke the 400 years of silence. To them, Jesus was also a similar enigma.
- Elijah, the Old Testament prophet also stood against oppressive rule of Israel and was bold in calling people back to Jesus. He was taken to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire drawn by two horses of fire. Later, the prophet Malachi said this:
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5)
- Prophets of old. Certain things Jesus did brought to mind the actions of the prophets of old, leading them to the conclusion Jesus might be one of those prophets returning.
Everyone around Jesus was forced to make a decision. You could not hear and see all that He had done and not ask who He was. Each person had to decide for themselves who he was, and so do you.
Luke 9:21-22
The crux of the conversation though, was not what the world thought about Jesus but what His apostles now understood in their heart. They had gone out and represented Him. Had they come to terms that He truly was their messiah? Luke gives us this line as though Peter never even hesitated. And I believe it; this idea was fixed in His mind. He said and believed even though he couldn't truly grasp all the implications of that belief. He did not yet understand all the costs. Matthew and Mark record Jesus saying this truth wasn't revealed to him by flesh and blood, but by the Father in heaven.
They were to keep this news out of the headlines for now. A day would come when they would be unleashed on the world with the gospel of Jesus. For now, they preached repentance and the Kingdom of God. The disciples had graduated to apostles, envoys of the kingdom. They had come to terms that He was the Christ. It was now time to tell them the rest of the story. This is the first time they heard that he would suffer and be rejected. While Israel longed for a messiah to deliver them, particularly from Rome, it wasn't Rome that rejected Him and moved Him to the cross, it was the Jewish religious authorities. How ironic.
Note: it is here that Matthew records Peter pulling Jesus aside and rebuking Him for talking about death. He would never let that happen. At which Jesus rebukes Peter calling him Satan for not having in mind the things of God.
The apostles had just had a taste of his power and authority. It was immense, amazing; people were being healed; lives changed. They had visions of grandeur – they were on the frontlines of this amazing kingdom. How exciting. Then, the king announced He would suffer and die. The moment was deflated. The mood of the day turned gray. What could He possible mean? Was this some kind of test? A parable? Hidden meaning? He had the power over every disease along with life and death. Nothing could stop Him. And they were right in thinking that. Nothing could stop Him from giving His life, willingly, as an act of obedience to the Father and love for us.
Luke 9:23-27
Luke makes a point of letting us know Jesus is now speaking to all of them, not just Peter. The problem is we don't know if 'all of them' is the other apostles or the rest of His followers or the great multitude. Mark said he 'called all the people to Himself with the disciples."
Regardless of the makeup of the crowd, Jesus made it clear to believer and unbeliever alike that there was a cost to following Him.
- Deny himself. This is to surrender your self-interest to the interest of the Kingdom. It is not becoming a victim, but a servant looking out for the kingdom and its citizens and honoring the King.
- Take up his cross daily. This speaks of the willingness to follow Him every day, no matter where it leads. The cross was not spoken of in polite settings. It was gruesome and shameful and demeaning. To willingly take up a cross was the extent to which one would be called to deny themselves. And this was not going to be a one-time thing, but a daily occurrence in a life that followed Him.
Jesus offered life. Real, eternal, meaningful. Life as our creator intended it to be; in His presence. For there to be new life, one had to be born again. To be born again, one had to first die. The desire to preserve our life was to preserve our self interest and our understanding of what life is. In doing so, we forfeit the life He offers. To lose our life in surrender to Him is no loss at all, but gaining the entire kingdom for all eternity.
There is no profit in possessing life as you outline it and you determine if you are lost in the process. Our sinful ways and sin trained minds believe we know what's best for us and how best to make us happy. Deep down we don't want to trust anyone with that. In doing this, we reject God's way and forfeit our very soul to an eternity apart from our creator.
You can't be ashamed to call yourself by His name, but expect Him to call your name when the He comes in glory.
Luke 9:28-33
It was about 8 days later when Jesus took Peter, John and James up to the mountain for prayer. This probably wasn't anything unusual at all. Matthew and Mark both said it was 6 days later. This appears to have happened on Mt Hermon, however this is disputed by some. The setting is fascinating when considered the Jewish context. Mt Hermon was thought to be the place where the sons of God came down and took the daughters of men, the offspring of which were the Nephilim. Many of the Jews of that day considered this to be an issue as large as the fall of man in the garden. These were part human, part angelic beings, a pollution or defilement of their bloodline. These beinsg rejected the rule of God, they rejected the ways of God.
The city Caesarea Philippi had originally been named Paneas. Herod's son Philip made it the capital and wanted to name it after Caesar to garner favor with Rome. He then attached his name to differentiate it from the other cities named Caesarea. This area had originally been the northernmost boundary of the promised land given to the tribe of Dan, but had become gentile territory. The important question to ponder is, 'Why would Jesus walk 25 miles north into gentile territory to hear Peter's confession and to climb this mountain and show His glory?'
Josephus wrote this in regard to Mount Hermon:
'In the mountains there is a beautiful cave, and below it the earth slopes steeply to a precipitous and inaccessible depth, which is filled with still water, while above it is a very high mountain. Below the cave rise the sources of the River Jordan'
This is an interesting picture when we begin to learn this mountain was significant for its temples and altars to several significant false gods. Mt Hermon was covered with temples and sacred sites of many gods, the primary of which was Pan, the god of nature. Pan was worshiped there; he was half goat, half man – this is in an interesting picture in light of the idea that the fallen angels bred with human women. Pan's hind quarter was goat and his upper body that of a man, except he had the horns of a goat. He is connected to fertility and often associated with sex. It seems most false gods and demons all have some element of sex. Ecco, a mountain nymph associated with the goddess Artemis (Roman equivalent to Diana), was worshiped here. More than twenty different temples were identified on Mount Hermon. Many were open air temples dedicated cult worship of the celestial gods. Some of these dated back a thousand years from Jesus' time. When you speak of this era, we should note that King Jereboam, upon setting up the northern kingdom of Israel, set up a golden calf for worship at Dan. In addition to Mount Hermon itself, there were three temples at Caesarea Philippi. These were dedicated to August, Zeus, and Pan and the Dancing Goats.
As the Lord Jesus entered into fellowship with the father through prayer, he was changed. This is very much like Moses whose face was changed when he stood before God. Who wouldn't be, this is the very idea of prayer? We don't come to the Lord in prayer to change Him but to be changed by Him. It seems Luke is purposely avoiding the word used by Matthew and Mark. The Greek word was 'metamorphose' translated transfigured. This may have been to deliberately separate Jesus from the other gods who had stories of metamorphose. Luke uses the word altered, which is different or somewhat unnatural. However, we can't escape the likeness to that of Moses who shared the glory of God as he came down the mountain (Ex 34). His clothes became white and glistening – the picture is bright like a flash of lighting. There were 4 men present of which one would have passed the story to Luke. It doesn't tell how they knew the additional two men who appeared were Moses and Elijah. Imagine Jesus introducing them; "Moses, Elijah, this is Peter, John and James; gentlemen meet Moses and Elijah." And they all shake hand, "Hi, glad to meet you!" What would you say?
Moses is representative of the law. Elijah representative of the prophet. Both the law and the prophets looked forward prophetically to their messiah, to Jesus. These two men also appeared in glory and they talked with Jesus. This is a fact the other accounts don't mention. What could be the source for this information? They talk about His coming departure when He was in Jerusalem. Of course, we know they are referring to the cross.
The other fact not mentioned in the other gospel accounts is that Peter, John and James were tired, possibly from the trip up the mountain. It seems they woke up, almost missing this amazing moment. Whether it was sleep or the overwhelming light of glory, the conversation of Jesus departure escaped them. As they
were leaving, Peter wanted to the put 3 shelters up for Jesus and His two visitors. These shelters remind us of the booths built to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles. It was a celebration of deliverance that looks toward the end to the final deliverance. Peter wanted to celebrate treating these three men equally. This is the reference to him not knowing what he said.
Luke 9:34-36
A cloud overshadowed them. Peter, John and James were fearful as they entered the cloud. How inadequate they must have felt in sinful human flesh in the presence of the law, the prophets and the fulfillment of God's plan, Jesus. Then, being overshadowed by the author of that plan. Within the cloud of God's glory, they heard His voice. He spoke to them:
"This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"
Then it was over. Just as they were beginning to understand, to appreciate what was really going on, it was over. The cloud was gone. Moses and Elijah gone. Peter, John and James kept quiet for a while. To tell anyone would sound crazy. Maybe they weren't sure if they really experienced it. Quite possibly words were not sufficient. It took time for the glory to fade from the face of Moses. The glory had overwhelmed them to the point of being speechless.
You get a sense of how often and how fast noteworthy things were happening. Luke tells us it was the next day when they had come down from the mountain and stood before the multitude. It was sudden that a man gets the attention of Jesus over the noise of the crowd. He was begging for Jesus to care for his son. It was the cry of a desperate father for his only son. The young man was possessed with a spirit that caused seizures that leave him bruised and battered. This father had already tried the apostles so Jesus was His last hope.
The gospel of Mark lets us know this had gone since he was a baby. This spirit threw him in to the fire and water in an attempt to destroy him. The gospel of Matthew says the boy was 'moonstruck'. It was a condition with epileptic symptoms, linked to darkness – a frightening and inexplicable thing. (The term moonstruck is likely linked to term lunatic).
23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23-24)
This was probably one of the things they intended to talk to Jesus about when they returned, but the debriefing was interrupted by a multitude. That group became the crowd for the feeding of the 4000. Living in the midst of one great moment after another, we can see how something like this could be forgotten about. He had given them power and authority. Had they failed? Had they not wielded this power correctly?
The big question of this passage is who was Jesus talking to when He said they were faithless and perverse? This is an Old Testament rebuke found in Numbers 14:27; Deuteronomy 32:5,30; Isaiah 59:8. The 'generation' could be a reference to the people of that nation at the time, of just people of that day. It was a broad category and likely means Jesus was offering a rebuke to the multitude for being unbelieving and crooked, distorted or corrupt. In asking 'how long' it implies He would not be with them longer nor bear with them much longer.
The demon made a final show as Jesus rebuked it. The young man was returned to his father, whole and healed.
The gospel of Mark offers a few more details.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"
29 So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:28-29)
While Jesus cast this demon out with a word, the disciple needed to know this was of a kind that required prayer and fasting. When the disciples asked why, Matthew records this:
Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:20-21)
If the Lord directed the disciples to move a mountain, they could tell it to move if they could believe it were possible. But that was just a figure of speech, right? Right? After all no one can move a mountain – at least that's what we've come to believe – which is our unbelief. The barrier to deliverance was their own belief. The prayer and fasting wasn't for the boy, or for the benefit of Jesus but for their own need of faith. Matthew and Mark record Jesus' word that this demon was of a 'kind' that would require their fasting and prayer. This kind was of a particular group or type of demon. It may be that it was such a nasty, physical affect on the boy they had trouble believing he could be healed. They were reminded it wasn't their power that delivered, but Gods. Prayer & Fasting was to focus their belief on the source of power. With Him, all things became possible, even moving a mountain.
Luke 9:43-45
Everyone marveled at the majesty of Jesus. This is a fairly rare word used only 2 times in reference to Jesus. Peter used it in saying they didn't follow after cunningly devised fables, but they were eyewitnesses to His majesty. Most believe Peter has the transfiguration in mind when He speaks this. The disciples didn't speak of this for a long time. Then it surfaced in their writings. Luke's reference is of the same majesty but it was the practical working out of that majesty among men. It was His majesty on display when that young man walked away with his father a normal, healthy young man created in the image of God.
My mom often asked my brothers and I if we had stuff in our ears. "Are they plugged up, because you don't seem to be hearing me!" That's kind of what Jesus is saying. Let these words enter your ears and make it to your heart. He was preparing them for His departure. He knew the devastation and loss they would experience. But they still did not understand. It was hidden from them, possibly by Satan or by their own refusal to deal with such a thought. It didn't fit. They were afraid to ask about it, implying the thought registered in their hearing, but was rejected in concept. It was simply unacceptable.
Luke 9:46-50
In Luke's presentation, the argument about who was greatest came on the heals of the humbling lesson of not being able to cast out the demon with the prediction of Jesus' suffering ringing in their ears. Jesus was on the way to the cross; in their mind they were on the way to greatness. Who would be personal secretary to Jesus? Who would be secretary of State? Who would be treasurer? Who would sit in what seat in the cabinet of the King in His palace?
To receive the child was no problem, they could do that. To receive Jesus was to receive the Father in heaven. No problem there. The least in the kingdom would be the greatest. Huh? I can imagine the disciples whispering to each other, "What's that mean?" Children were the least in the culture. In general, to be seen only and not heard. To be raised by their mother until they could do something of value. For men, work with their hands. Use a tool. Fight a war. For young girls, to grow up, have a husband, children and raise them up.
The greatest in the coming kingdom would be the one who rubbed elbows with the least of society, not those who lived in palaces. The child represented the least in their world, offering nothing of value; no fame, fortune or accolades. The best of the child would not change the standing of any of the disciples. Were they willing to do this?
John's answer is interesting. He reports someone doing ministry differently than they. John forbade them to do so since they weren't officially sanctioned by the apostles or Jesus. John's response is similar to what the Pharisees said to them. Jesus told them to leave these folks alone. They were not against them. They were not the enemy. For John, were these the least? Were they people he didn't know, or like and therefore didn't want them associated with Jesus? Did he feel empowered to accept or reject who came into the kingdom?
Jesus was fully aware of what was before Him. He was resolute and steadfast. To have set His face on Jerusalem was to be fixed and determined to do the will of the Father. Nothing would deter Him from going to the cross on our behalf. He sent messengers ahead of Him as advance warning of the multitude that was following Jesus. The messengers went ahead to a Samaritan village and they rejected Him. He was not welcome there. The sons of thunder were offended and ready to call down some Elijah type fire on this city in judgment. These are 2 of the disciples who were stumped at feeding the thousands and couldn't cast out a demon but were sure they could call down fire with the permission of Jesus. What was this spirit? They were forced to ask themselves. Jesus was not offended. He expected rejection. John said, "He came to His own but His own did not receive Him." If His own didn't receive Him it was no surprise that the Samaritans didn't receive Him. They had been rejected and despised by the Jews so long, they couldn't imagine why they would receive this great multitude that otherwise would have nothing to do with them.
John and James stood town, holing their fire. What manner of spirit was this? Why the offense? They may have realized their own rejection of the things of God in their old life. Jesus had come and they followed Him, born again into newness of life. He saved them. Jesus didn't come to destroy lives but to save. Judgment would come some day but Jesus doesn't look forward to judgment to get even. His manner of spirit was looking at the cross to pay for the sin of those Samaritans in hopes they would one day receive it. He paid for your sins also. Have your received that forgiveness by repenting and trusting in that work?
Luke 9:57-62
Matthew tells us it was a certain scribe who was committed to following Jesus wherever He went. They had moved on from one Samaritan village to another, on the way to Jerusalem. It didn't matter where they were going, he said he would follow. The response is to be simply understood that Jesus had no home in this world. This was not His kingdom; He was on His way there though. Thomas would later say, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way? (John 14:6) Jesus is the way.
He told another to follow Him, The commitment was not what it appeared.
- Reservation #1; the first man wanted to first go bury his father. The man didn't want to risk getting too far from home and losing his earthly inheritance when his father passed. It's not that his father was ill and dying. He wanted Jesus, but he also wanted to make sure he had the things of this life.
- Letting the dead bury the dead sounds cold hearted to us. The thought though was an unwavering commitment to Jesus was putting Him above all. The spiritually dead would bury their spiritually dead. The spiritually alive spread life!
- Proper burial was a cultural priority to them. Jesus wasn't saying a disciple couldn't properly bury someone, but that it couldn't not rise in importance above Him.
- Reservation #2; the second man wanted to tell his family farewell and then he would leave. This man had something else first on his list in the place of Jesus.
- A man that was plowing kept one hand on it to keep it in the ground, one hand on the goad to keep the oxen moving in the right direction. This with his eye on the horizon – on a fixed point. This created a straight furrow, efficient work. There was no provision to look back. Looking back caused a crooked (perverse) furrow or the farmer had to stop forward progress altogether.
- Family is important to Jesus. However, family can't rise in importance above Jesus. If this is done, the family will be damaged.
For those truly following Jesus, there was provision for looking back, no longing for the things of the world. There is no following Jesus with limits, no sorta Christian. I was once told to 'turn down my Christianity'. There is no turning it down, only cranking it up. I want to be fit for the kingdom of God. Like Jesus, my face must be set resolutely to the cross, to the resurrection and to His soon return. My kingdom is His kingdom, my thoughts, His thoughts. My manner of spirit, His manner of spirit.
In this chapter we've seen the true glory of God, the transforming and saving power of Jesus and the true cost of discipleship. Jesus was on the way to take up the cross, my cross – your cross. Will you take up your cross and follow Him? It is a crooked and perverse generation that tries to follow Jesus on their terms.
©2020 Doug Ford
[1] Negev, A. (1990). In The Archaeological encyclopedia of the Holy Land (3rd ed.). New York: Prentice Hall Press.
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