Chapter 9 Luke 9
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples (vv. 1-9)
1 Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick, 3 after saying to them, “Take nothing a with you for the trip: no walking stick, no beggar’s bag, b no food, no money, not even an extra shirt. 4 Wherever you are welcomed, stay in the same house c until you leave that town; 5 wherever people don’t welcome you, leave that town and shake the dust off your feet d as a warning to them.”
6 The disciples left and travelled through all the villages, preaching the Good News and healing people everywhere.
7 When Herod, e the ruler of Galilee, heard about all the things that were happening, he was very confused, because some people were saying that John the Baptist had come back to life. 8 Others were saying that Elijah had appeared, f and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 9 Herod said, “I had John’s head cut off; but who is this man I hear these things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.
Interesting Stuff:
a They were asked not to take any excess baggage that would hinder their travel, not even the usual provisions. They were to depend entirely on the people who would open up their homes to them. Mk 6:7 says they were sent out in pairs.
b This was a bag used for carrying provisions and other necessities for a journey.
c The disciples were told to receive hospitality graciously. Hospitality was important as well as necessary in those days of difficult travel conditions and poor accommodations at the inns. Whenever they accepted the hospitality of a home, they were to stay there until they left the town, even if more comfortable or attractive lodgings were offered them.
d Jesus also knew that their mission would not always be accepted. So he instructed them how to act in such circumstances. Shaking off the dust from the feet was a rabbinic idea that the dust of Gentile lands could defile them. Thus strict Jews were said to remove the dust from their shoes whenever they return to Palestine from abroad. The disciples’ shaking off the dust from their feet was a testimony against the people. It was a sign to declare that those who reject God’s message would be regarded as though they were outside the Kingdom of God.
e This was Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great (refer to chap 3, note c). He was the ruler of the territory Galilee in which Jesus had done most of his work. Herod was interested in the reports that reached him. But he was confused as to who Jesus was.
f Some Jews were expecting that the prophet Elijah would come before the Messiah to prepare the way for him (see Mal 4:5). Others thought that other prophets would also come first.
Questions:
- Why did Jesus call together the 12 disciples (vv. 1-2)?
2. What instructions did he give them for their mission (vv. 3-5)?
3. What did the disciples do as they travelled through all the villages (v. 6)?
4. Why was Herod confused about all the things he was hearing (vv. 7-9)?
Summary of Section
- Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and cure diseases.
- Then he sent them out to preach the Good News about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
- Before they went, Jesus gave them certain instructions:
a) They were not to take anything with them: no walking stick, bag, food, money, and not even an extra shirt.
b) They were to stay in the same house that welcomed them until they left that town.
c) Wherever they were not welcomed, they were to leave that town and shake the dust off their feet as a warning to them. - The disciples travelled through all the villages, preaching the Good News and healing people everywhere they went.
- When Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard about all the things that were happening concerning Jesus and his disciples, he became confused as to who Jesus was. Some were saying that John the Baptist whose head Herod had cut off had come back to life; others that Elijah or one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.
- Herod kept trying to see Jesus but did not succeed.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- This was the third tour of Galilee by Jesus and his disciples.
- A new phase of Jesus’ ministry had begun. His disciples had been with him for a while and had observed him preaching, teaching, healing and exorcising demons. Now he was sending them out and empowering them to do all that they had seen him do, especially to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick and the demonised.
- They were not to take any excess baggage or provisions because that might hinder them in their travel. In this way, they had to put their faith into action and learn to depend on God to provide them with all they would need. Jesus also warned them of the possibility of rejection which he himself had experienced and taught them how to respond when they were refused hospitality.
- The report Herod heard would probably be about the extension of Jesus’ ministry through his 12 apostles. The success of their ministry must have created much excitement amongst the people in Galilee, causing Herod to be greatly curious about who this Jesus was.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Men (vv. 10-17)
10 The apostles came back and told Jesus everything they had done. He took them with him, and they went off by themselves to a town named Bethsaida. g 11 When the crowds heard about it, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and healed those who needed it.
12 When the sun was beginning to set, the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the people away so that they can go to the villages and farms around here and find food and lodging, because this is a lonely place.”
13 But Jesus said to them, “You yourselves give them something to eat.”
They answered, “All we have are five loaves and two fish. Do you want us to go and buy food for this whole crowd?” 14 (There were about five thousand men h there.)
Jesus said to his disciples, “Make the people sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
15 After the disciples had done so, 16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets i of what was left over.
Interesting Stuff:
g There were two Bethsaidas mentioned in the Bible. One was a village in Galilee, on the Sea of Gaililee, the home of Philip, Andrew and Peter (Jn 1:44). The other Bethsaida, as referred to here, was on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, outside Galilee.
h The crowd was much greater than 5,000 since the women and children were not included in the count.
i These were small baskets in which the Jews carried their day’s food.
Questions:
- Where did Jesus take his apostles after they came back from their preaching tour (v. 10)?
2. How did Jesus react to the crowd who followed him even though he had wanted to be alone with his disciples (v. 11)?
3. What did the disciples ask Jesus to do when evening came (v. 12)?
What was Jesus’ response to them?
4. How did they react to Jesus’ response (v. 13)?
5. How many men were there that day (v. 14)?
6. Describe how Jesus solved the problem of not having enough food (vv. 13-16).
7. What was the other miracle that took place after what Jesus did (v. 17)?
8. What did this incident reveal to the disciples concerning Jesus’ ministry?
Mention two other miracles that Jesus performed to show his power over nature (5:5-7; 8:24).
Summary of Section
- The 12 came back and told Jesus everything they had done. Then Jesus took them with him to a town called Bethsaida to be by themselves.
- But when the crowds heard about it, they followed him. Although Jesus had wanted to get away from the crowds, he still welcomed them, and taught them about the Kingdom of God and healed those with diseases.
- At sunset, the 12 disciples came to Jesus to ask him to send the people away so that they could go to the villages and farms around to find food and lodging.
- Jesus, however, asked them to give the crowd of about five thousand men something to eat. They answered that they only had five loaves and two fish with them.
- Then Jesus told them to have the people sit down in groups of about fifty each.
- Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for them, broke them, and gave to the disciples to distribute to the people.
- When everyone had eaten, the disciples gathered what was not finished and had 12 baskets of food left over.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- This is the only miracle other than the resurrection that is recorded in all the four Gospels, indicating that it was a very important event in the eyes of all the Gospel writers.
- Although the crowds disrupted Jesus’ plans for rest and prayer, he still welcomed them because he had compassion on them. He was concerned not only for the spiritual needs of the people but also for their physical needs. He taught them God’s word, healed them from demons and diseases, and provided for their daily needs.
- The disciples’ request to send away the crowds revealed their lack of faith in Jesus to provide for their needs. Despite having seen God’s power at work in Jesus’ ministry and the ministry from which they had just returned, they were still not able to respond in faith to Jesus’ request for them to provide for the crowd’s needs.
- Jesus thus provided for the people and to such an extent that they had an overabundance – 12 baskets of leftovers. It is probable that this was a message for the 12 apostles of what God can provide for them.
Peter Confesses Who Jesus Is (vv. 18-27)
18 One day when Jesus was praying alone, the disciples came to him. “Who do the crowds say I am?” he asked them.
19 “Some say that you are John the Baptist,” j they answered. “Others say that you are Elijah, k while others say that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
20 “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are God’s Messiah.” l
21 Then Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell this to anyone. m 22 He also told them, “The Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected by the elders, n the chief priests, o and the teachers of the Law. p He will be put to death, but three days later he will be raised to life.” q
23 And he said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget himself, take up his cross r every day, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his own life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 Will a person gain anything if he wins the whole world but is himself lost or defeated? Of course not! 26 If a person is ashamed of me and of my teaching, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 I assure you that there are some here who will not die until they have seen the Kingdom of God.”
Interesting Stuff:
j The report brought by the disciples was the same as the one that reached Herod (see vv. 7-8).
k See note f.
l Peter was the spokesman for the disciples. In some versions, it says ‘the Christ of God’. This was the predicted Deliverer who had been awaited for centuries by the Jews. He would restore the kingdom of David and chase out their conquerors, the Romans. The word “God’s” emphasises Jesus’ divine commission, i.e., he was sent by God.
m The people had the wrong ideas about the Messiah and needed to be taught further before Jesus identified himself to them publicly. Jesus had a crucial schedule to keep and could not be interrupted by the wrong response.
n These were the lay members of the Sanhedrin, the high court of the Jews (refer to ‘The Sanhedrin’, p. xii). They came from the more influential families of Jerusalem, mainly the tribal and family heads of the people and the priesthood. They were all, like the chief priests, mainly Sadducees.
o The chief priests would refer to the ruling high priest, those who had been high priests and members of the privileged families from which the high priests were taken. The priestly aristocracy comprised the leading persons in the community, and they were the chief members of the Sanhedrin. The high priest would be the one presiding over the Sanhedrin. They were in charge of worship at the Temple in Jerusalem (refer to ‘The Sadducees’, p. xiii). They were all Sadducees.
p These three groups, the elders, chief priests and teachers of the Law comprised the Sanhedrin which represented the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem.
q Now that they had acknowledged him as the Christ, Jesus went on to tell them about the sufferings he would be going through. They had to learn that he was a ‘suffering’ and not a ‘conquering’ Messiah. This was the first time (out of four times) that Jesus talked clearly about his predicted suffering and death – what is commonly termed ‘the Passion of Christ’.
r The Jews knew what the cross meant for most of them would have witnessed the crucifixion of many of their fellow Jews by the Romans. Those from Galilee had witnessed the execution of hundreds of men by this means in their region. The Romans compelled those who were to be crucified to carry their cross to the place of execution. To take up the cross daily meant to die to self daily and to live one’s life for Christ instead.
Questions:
- What was Jesus doing before his disciples came to him (v. 18)?
2. What question did Jesus ask his disciples (v. 18)?
3. How did the disciples respond (v. 19)?
4. What did Peter say when Jesus asked the question of the disciples themselves (v. 20)?
5. What was Jesus’ response to Peter’s statement (vv. 21-22)?
6. What is the significance of this incident?
7. What did Jesus then teach them regarding the requirements of following after him (vv. 23-26)?
Summary of Section
- One day when Jesus was praying alone, his disciples came to him. Jesus asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
- They replied that some said that he was John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets of long ago who had come back to life.
- Jesus asked them what they thought. And Peter answered that he was God’s Messiah.
- Then Jesus began to tell them about his mission as the suffering Messiah and warned them not to tell this to anyone. As the Messiah, the Son of Man, he must suffer and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. He would be put to death but three days later, he would be raised to life.
- Then he shared with them the cost of following him. He told them that if anyone wants to come with him, he must forget himself, take up his cross daily, and follow him. For everyone who wants to save his own life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Jesus’ sake will save it.
- He said that if a person is ashamed of him and his teaching, then when he comes in his glory and in the glory of his Father and the angels, he will be ashamed of that person.
- He added that there would be some of them who would not die until they had seen the Kingdom of God.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Again Luke portrays Jesus in prayer before the questions concerning who he is came out. This was the first time a human being recognises Jesus as the Messiah. Immediately afterwards, Jesus went on to explain the nature of his messiahship, and later the nature of their discipleship.
- He began to share with his disciples what being the Messiah meant. The Jews were looking for a Messiah who would overthrow the Romans and set up a kingdom like that of their ancestor King David. But his messiahship meant suffering, rejection and death. Those responsible for his suffering and rejection were not the Jews in general but the elders, chief priests and scribes, i.e., the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem.
- This was the first time Jesus talked about his death and resurrection as well.
- From a description of his own fate, Jesus moves directly to the life of the disciple who follows after him. This is the first section in this chapter that talks about the cost of discipleship. Here Jesus was not talking only to his 12 disciples but to a wider audience. Following Jesus did not mean glory and positions of power. Following Jesus meant self-denial, daily cross-bearing and a willing obedience to live and suffer like him.
- The daily cross-bearing means that one is to live on a daily basis as though one had been sentenced to death by crucifixion. Thus if the disciple is dead to a world that opposes the purposes of God, he is free to live according to the values of the Kingdom of God.
- So those who refuse to identify with Jesus in the present, would have no share in his glory when he comes in the future.
The Transfiguration of Jesus (vv. 28-36)
28 About a week after he had said these things, s Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him t and went up a hill u to pray. 29 While he was praying, his face changed its appearance, and his clothes became dazzling white. v 30 Suddenly two men were there talking with him. They were Moses and Elijah, w 31 who appeared in heavenly glory and talked with Jesus about the way in which he would soon fulfil God’s purpose by dying in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were sound asleep, but they woke up and saw Jesus’ glory and the two men who were standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, how good it is that we are here! We will make three tents, x one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not really know what he was saying.)
34 While he was still speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow; and the disciples were afraid as the cloud came over them. 35 A voice said from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen – listen to him!”
36 When the voice stopped, there was Jesus all alone. The disciples kept quiet about all this and told no one at that time anything they had seen.
Interesting Stuff:
s Luke emphasises the importance of Jesus’ words and indicates that the scene now unfolding somehow builds up on Jesus’ teaching about his mission and destiny as the suffering Messiah.
t These three disciples were also with Jesus at the healing of Jairus’ daughter (see 8:51)
u Luke does not name the hill (or mountain as in some versions) although some scholars believe it was probably Mount Hermon in Syria. What is more important is the fact that mountains are often associated with God meeting with individuals or revealing His purposes to His people. Note too, the reference to Jesus praying before God reveals Himself.
v The dazzling whiteness of the clothes symbolises heavenly glory. w Moses was the great Lawgiver and Elijah the great prophet. Both appeared as representatives of the Law and the Prophets, the old covenant of God. Jesus’ talking with them indicates the continuity between their work for God in the past and Jesus’ mission for God in the present and the future.
x Other versions have the word ‘booths’. These refer to leafy shelters or huts of a temporary kind, like the ones built during the Feast of Tabernacles. Peter’s suggestion was to prolong the stay of the two figures.
Questions:
- What was Jesus’ purpose in going up the hill (v. 28)?
Who did he take with him?
2. How was Jesus’ glory shown (v. 29)?
3. Who were the two men who appeared (vv. 30-31)?
What was the significance of their presence with Jesus?
4. What did they speak to Jesus about (v. 31)?
5. What did Peter say to Jesus when he saw the two men (v. 33)?
6. How did God show Peter that what he said to Jesus was not necessary (vv. 34-35)?
7. On what other occasion did a voice speak from heaven using similar words as in this incident (v. 35)?
Summary of Section
- About a week after Jesus had talked to them about his suffering and death, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up a hill to pray.
- While Jesus was praying, he was transfigured: his face changed its appearance, and his clothes became dazzling white.
- Two men Moses and Elijah appeared in heavenly glory, talking with Jesus. They talked with Jesus about the way in which he would soon fulfil God’s purpose by dying in Jerusalem.
- The three disciples were sound asleep but when they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him.
- As the men were leaving, Peter spoke to Jesus and suggested making three tents for him, Moses and Elijah. He was so overwhelmed by his experience that he did not really know what he was saying.
- While Peter was still speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow. The disciples became afraid as the cloud came over them.
- Then a voice spoke from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen – listen to him!”
- When the voice stopped, there was Jesus all alone. The three of them kept quiet about what they saw and they did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- The glorious transformation or transfiguration of the appearance of Christ is the most significant event between his birth and his death. Both the transfiguration and the voice speaking from heaven affirm Jesus’ identity and mission as the Son of God who had been sent by Him.
- Note that this incident took place after Jesus had explained to them who he was and had spoken to them about his death and suffering. In Jesus’ meeting with Elijah and Moses, their talk also centred on his coming death in Jerusalem. The final revelation of God from the cloud set the divine seal of approval on the step that Jesus was about to take.
- Luke emphasises that it was prayer that set the scene for God’s revelation. It was while Jesus was praying that he was transfigured. It was the same with Jesus’ baptism. It was while Jesus was praying that heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended and the voice spoke from heaven (3:21-22).
- In OT and Jewish tradition, one’s countenance or facial appearance is a mirror of one’s heart and a manifestation of one’s relationship to God. The dazzling clothes denotes heavenly glory. Jesus’ transfiguration thus unveiled his glory for that moment to his disciples.
- God Himself now spoke to Jesus’ disciples about who he was. They were called to listen to Jesus because God Himself had revealed and sanctioned his status and mission, that he was not only the Son of God but that he was also the Messiah chosen by God.
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy (vv. 37-45)
37 The next day Jesus and the three disciples went down from the hill, and a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man shouted from the crowd, “Teacher! I beg you, look at my son – my only son! 39 A spirit attacks him with a sudden shout and throws him into a fit, so that he foams at the mouth; y it keeps on hurting him and will hardly let him go! 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
41 Jesus answered, “How unbelieving and wrong you people are! How long must I stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.”
42 As the boy was coming, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a fit. Jesus gave a command to the evil spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 All the people were amazed at the mighty power of God.
The people were still marvelling at everything Jesus was doing, when he said to his disciples, 44 “Don’t forget what I am about to tell you! The Son of Man is going to be handed over to the power of men.” 45 But the disciples did not know what this meant. It had been hidden from them so that they could not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about the matter.
Interesting Stuff:
y The physical symptoms are similar to those of the disease called epilepsy. This does not, however, imply that epilepsy is caused by demon possession.
Questions:
- What happened when Jesus went down from the hill the next day (vv. 37-40)?
2. What was Jesus’ reaction to what the man said (v. 41)?
3. How did Jesus heal the boy (vv. 41-42)?
4. How did the people react to Jesus’ healing the boy (v. 43)?
5. What did Jesus tell his disciples after the healing of the boy (v. 44)?
6. How did Jesus’ disciples respond to what Jesus said (v. 45)?
7. Mention two other occasions when Jesus performed similar miracles (4:31-35; 8:26-33).
Summary of Section
- The next day when Jesus and his three disciples went down from the hill, a large crowd met them.
- A man shouted from the crowd to Jesus, asking him to look at his only son who was possessed by an evil spirit. The spirit would attack him with a sudden shout, and throw him into a fit and he would foam at the mouth. It had kept on hurting the boy and would not let him go.
- The man said that he had begged Jesus’ disciples to drive the spirit out but they could not.
- Jesus responded by calling his disciples faithless and unbelieving. He despaired of how long he had to stay with them and put up with their slowness to believe.
- Then he told the man to bring his son to him. As the boy was coming, the spirit knocked him to the ground and threw him into a fit. Jesus rebuked the spirit, healed the boy and handed him back to his father.
- All the people who saw this were amazed at God’s power shown through Jesus.
- Jesus turned his disciples’ attention from the crowd’s marvelling at his miracles to his suffering and death again. He reminded them that he was going to be handed over to the power of men.
- However, they did not understand his words about his suffering and death and were afraid to ask him.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Jesus rebuked his disciples for their faithlessness because they had been given power and authority over all demons (9:1) but they were incapable of casting this one out. He was already anticipating his death, after which his disciples were to carry on his mission. This incident showed that they were still not ready.
- Jesus’ ultimate purpose went beyond just doing miracles. So while the crowd was marvelling at his miracle, he was quick to remind his disciples that his mission was to suffer and to die at the hands of his own people.
- However, his disciples still could not understand his words about suffering and therefore they could not understand the nature of their own discipleship. They were still thinking of the Messiah in terms of victory and therefore to them, their rank in this new kingdom was important. This was what led to the argument that followed in the next section.
The Disciples Argue amongst Themselves (vv. 46-50)
46 An argument broke out among the disciples z as to which one of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he took a child, stood him by his side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, also welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the greatest.”
49 John spoke up, “Master, we saw a man driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop, because he doesn’t belong to our group.”
50 “Do not try to stop him,” Jesus said to him and to the other disciples, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”
Interesting Stuff:
z The disciples were still thinking in terms of an earthly Messianic kingdom and the importance of status and position in it. This subject about who was the greatest arose on a number of occasions.
Questions:
- What were the disciples arguing about (v. 46)?
2. How did Jesus handle their argument (vv. 47-48)?
3. How did Jesus respond when John stopped a man who was not Jesus’ follower from driving out demons in Jesus’ name (v. 50)?
Summary of Section
- Because the disciples had not understood Jesus’ role as a suffering Messiah, they did not understand the nature of their own discipleship. So they had an argument as to which one of them was the greatest.
- Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he provided an object lesson. He took a child and stood him by his side.
- Then he told his disciples that whoever welcomed the child in his name would welcome him. And whoever welcomed him, would welcome the one who sent him. For he who was least among them all was the greatest.
- John spoke up and told Jesus that they saw a man driving out demons in his name. They had told him to stop because he did not belong to their group.
- Jesus told him not to stop the man just because the man was not part of their group. Whoever opposed demons in his name was to be welcomed because the person was on the same side as them, regardless of whether he was in their select group or not.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- Rather than dismissing his disciples in frustration, Jesus provided them with an object lesson, a child, to emphasise what he had been teaching them all along about the different values of the Kingdom of God.
- To welcome people in the Roman world and in their Jewish culture was to extend the honour of hospitality and to regard them as guests. However, people would only honour those who were socially equal or of greater status than themselves. Children were at the bottom of the ladder of respect and would never be honoured.
- Jesus was therefore calling his disciples to welcome those of the lowest status in his name, in a way consistent with what he would do. Jesus was saying that instead of seeking honour for themselves, they should welcome, i.e., give honour to, those who are unimportant and of the lowest status as represented by the child. By ministering to a child, or one of no importance in the eyes of the world, they were ministering to Christ himself. Such are God’s ways and in God’s eyes, a truly great person is one who does not honour himself but others.
- John showed that he had not fully grasped that Jesus’ ministry of God’s grace extended beyond their inner circle of followers. Since that man did not belong to the community around Jesus, John forbade him from ministering in Jesus’ name even though the man had faith that showed itself in the fruitfulness of his ministry.
A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus (vv. 51-56)
51 As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind and set out on his way to Jerusalem. a’ 52 He sent messengers ahead of him, who went into a village in Samaria b’ to get everything ready for him. 53 But the people there would not receive him, because it was clear that he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
55 Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then Jesus and his disciples went on to another village.
Interesting Stuff:
a’ Luke emphasises Jesus’ determination to complete his mission. This journey to Jerusalem was not the one that led to his crucifixion. This marked the beginning of a period of ministry in Judea, of which Jerusalem was the central city. Jesus was no longer committed to his former ministry around Galilee but was now looking toward Jerusalem and the cross.
b’ Samaritans were particularly hostile to Jews who were on their way to observe religious festivals in Jerusalem. It was at least a three-day journey from Galilee to Jerusalem through Samaria, and Samaritans refused overnight shelter for the pilgrims. This was because they refused to acknowledge Jerusalem as the valid centre for the worship of God. Because of this, Jews often went on the east side of the Jordan River instead.
Questions:
- What did Jesus do as the time grew near when he would be taken up to heaven (vv. 51-52)?
2. Why did the Samaritans not receive Jesus (vv. 52-53)?
3. Why did James and John react with anger towards the Samaritans (vv. 52-53)?
4. What did they want to do to the Samaritans (v. 54)?
5. How did Jesus react to what James and John suggested (v. 55)?
Why do you think Jesus reacted in this way?
Summary of Section
- As the time approached for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he set out determinedly for Jerusalem.
- He sent messengers ahead to get everything ready for him. They went into a village in Samaria but the people there would not receive Jesus. They were hostile to people going to Jerusalem to worship because they did not accept Jerusalem as the centre for the worship of God.
- When James and John saw this, they asked Jesus whether he wanted them to call fire down from heaven to destroy the village.
- Jesus rebuked them. Then he left with his disciples for another village.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- This marks the beginning of a new section where Jesus moved out of Galilee and deliberately set out for Jerusalem.
- Just as John the Baptist had prepared the way for the public ministry of Jesus, so now Jesus’ disciples were sent to perform this function of preparing the way for him.
- Earlier Jesus had instructed his disciples on how to respond in the face of inhospitality and rejection (9:5) but again his disciples failed to follow his example. Probably filled with their own importance as the Messiah’s followers, they assumed that their exercise of power would include the capacity to judge others by commanding fire from heaven to destroy them. Thus they were rebuked by Jesus. These two had been on the mountain with him but had failed to really listen to him.
The Cost of Following Jesus (vv. 57-62)
57 As they went on their way, a man said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest.”
59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But that man said, “Sir, first let me go back and bury my father.”
60 Jesus answered, “Let the dead c’ bury their own dead. You go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”
61 Another man said, “I will follow you, sir; but first let me go and say good-bye to my family.”
62 Jesus said to him, “Anyone who starts to plow d’ and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God.”
Interesting Stuff:
c’ This refers to the ‘spiritually dead’ burying the physically dead. This does not mean that the father was already dead, for then he would already be at his home helping with the burial preparations. He probably meant that his father was already old or ill and he wanted to wait until after his father’s death, which might be years away. Jesus was saying that the spiritually alive should be busy proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
d’ It was important for a farmer plowing the field to concentrate on the furrow before him. He had to guide the plow with his left hand while goading the oxen with his right. Looking away would result in a crooked furrow.
Questions:
- How did Jesus answer the man who said that he would follow Jesus wherever Jesus went (v. 58)?
2. What excuses did the two other would-be followers give to Jesus for not following him immediately (vv. 59, 61)?
3. How did Jesus respond to their excuses (vv. 60, 62)?
4. What do these sayings tell us about what is involved in being a disciple of Jesus?
Summary of Section
- As they went on their way to Jerusalem, a man told Jesus that he would follow Jesus wherever Jesus went.
- Jesus responded by saying that animals like foxes and birds have holes and nests respectively, but he had no place to lie down and rest.
- Jesus told another man to follow him. But the man asked Jesus to first let him go back and bury his father. Jesus told him to let the dead bury their own dead. His priority was to go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.
- Another man told Jesus that he would follow him but he wanted to go back and say goodbye to his family. Jesus told him that anyone who starts to plow and then keeps looking back is of no use for the Kingdom of God.
Nuggets of Wisdom
- This is the second major section dealing with the nature of discipleship (see vv. 23-25 for the first section).
- Jesus pointed out that all who follow him would be living a life that is different from what is accepted by the world. The lot of Jesus is rejection and homelessness, being dependent on the hospitality of others wherever he travels.
- Following him would demand a shift in one’s loyalties and relationships. One might thus be called to behave in ways that go against what is normally accepted if one wants to really live in obedience to God. The two men referred to Jesus as ‘Lord’ (in other translations) but their conduct did not show the seriousness of their commitment because they wanted to delay obedience for the sake of family commitments.
- Jesus said that those who follow him must match their determination to serve God with their actions even if it leads them to rejection and suffering.
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