Dig In:
Passage: Luke 9
Dig Deeper:
Chapter Summary
v1-17 - The relationship between Jesus and His 12 disciples grows, sending them out to help bolster His mission of "proclaiming the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick (v2). In v10, Luke refers to these 12 as apostles, meaning one who is sent. As they return, the apostles witness the feeding of the five thousand. The feeding prompts a major development in their understanding of Jesus’ identity in the following passage.
v18-27 - Peter's confession of who Jesus is plays a major role in the three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke present a synopsis of Jesus' life). From this point forward, the disciples have a much deeper understanding that Jesus is the Messiah. Upon this discovery, Jesus once again predicts His death, and lays out the cost of being His disciple:
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow me (v23).
v28-36 - After Peter recognizes that Jesus is the Christ, God the Father puts an exclamation point on this fact on the Mount of Transfiguration.
v37-50 - After casting out a demon that His disciples were unable to, Jesus once again predicts His death, but the stubborn disciples still don't get it. Instead, they start bickering about which of them will be the greatest.
v51-62 - Luke describes Jesus "resolutely setting out for Jerusalem" where He would pay the price for your sin with His life (literally, he 'strengthened His face' to go to His death). It's important for you to be reminded that Jesus did not go to His death as a victim, but as a conqueror who never ceded control. He's rejected by the Samaritans, and then one more time Jesus spells out the enormous cost of following Him.
Old Testament Reference -
Exodus 24:15-18 describe the cloud of God's presence descending upon Moses on a mountain in a very similar way to the transfiguration.
Discuss:
Use the comment box below to discuss one or more of these questions.
How is the purpose of Jesus demonstrated in this chapter?
How would you summarize what it means to follow Jesus after reading this chapter?
How would you explain Jesus' harsh sounding responses to those who wanted to follow Him after they took care of family needs (v59-62)?
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: God is the King
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me (v23).
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Communion Preparation for Good Friday:
Those who come to the Lord's Table must be conversion-minded. As we prepare for Friday, we'll be reminded what this means from Lord's Day 32-33 of the Heidelberg Catechism:
MONDAY: Can un-converted people who do not turn to God from their ungrateful and impenitent ways be saved?
By no means. Scripture tells us that no unchaste person, no idolater, adulterer, thief, no covetous person, no drunkard, slanderer, robber, or the like will inherit the kingdom of God.
TUESDAY: What is involved in genuine repentance or conversion?
Two things: the dying-away of the old self, and the rising-to-life of the new.
WEDNESDAY: What is the dying-away of the old self?
It is to be genuinely sorry for sin and more and more to hate and run away from it.
THURSDAY: What is the rising-to-life of the new self?
It is wholehearted joy in God through Christ and a love and delight to live according to the will of God by doing every kind of good work.
FRIDAY: What are good works?
Only those which are done out of true faith, conform to God’s law, and are done for God’s glory; and not those based on our own opinion or human tradition.
