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The Gospel of Luke Chapter 9:1-36 Sending out the Twelve Disciples 9:1-2 After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Jesus called his twelve disciples to Him and gave to them miraculous power to heal the sick of every kind of disease and delegated his divine authority to cast demons out of those who were possessed. With this equipment—and not without this equipment—he sent them out to preach gospel of the Kingdom of God. Notice that their proclamation was therefore in both word and power. 9:3-4 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey — no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave the area. Jesus gave his apostles specific instructions to travel with the least possible amount of luggage and provision. Indeed, they were to go only with the clothes they were wearing, and take no walking stick, no traveller’s bag, food, money or even a change of clothes. Instead, in each town they entered, they were to accept the hospitality of anyone who was prepared to give it, remaining in that person’s home until they were ready to leave that town. 9:5 Wherever they do not receive you, as you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. This verse would seem to apply to those towns where no one was willing to receive or welcome them – a place where they would not find lodging. However, Paul and Barnabas apply this teaching of Jesus to a situation where in Pisidian Antioch although some individuals had believed, the town as a whole had rejected the gospel (Acts 13:43-52). The apostles to shake the dust off their feet as a witness against those who had despised and rejected the gospel message and leave them to their fate. 9:6 Then they departed and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. When the apostles departed to do as Jesus had instructed, preaching the gospel in all the surrounding villages, the Lord’s word held true, and they were able to heal the sick in Jesus’ name.
Herod's Perplexity 9:7-8 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead. While others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. King Herod the tetrarch of Galilee (that is one of four rulers that governed different parts of Palestine), when he heard about the miracles that Jesus was doing, was confounded. Even though he had killed John, he was not able to stop the miraculous work of God. Indeed, so great were the miracles that some of the people were associating Jesus’ ministry with that of a resurrected John the Baptist; whilst others could only suppose that a great prophet of the past (perhaps Elijah) had returned—they seemed unable to grasp how God might be at work among them in the present. 9:9 Herod said, "I had John beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus. Herod evidently linked the miracles of Jesus with the testimony of John, whom he had beheaded. His conscience bothered him, and he recognised the voice of God had not fallen silent. John had been a prophet, but what kind of man was this, of whom Herod heard he could perform miracles? He wanted to see Jesus for himself, at least to satisfy his curiosity.
Feeding the Five Thousand 9:10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida. When the twelve apostles returned from their evangelistic tour they reported their success to Jesus: the healings, the demons cast out and the response to the gospel message. As if aware of the dangers inherent in success, Jesus took them away to rest (and no doubt to continue teaching them) in a quiet place just outside Bethsaida. 9:11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing. However, Jesus’ movements were difficult to keep secret - the multitudes discovered his plans and followed him there. Jesus did not turn them away, but welcomed and taught them about the kingdom of God, healing all those who were sick. 9:12 Now the day began to draw to a close, so the twelve came and said to Jesus, "Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and food, because we are in an isolated place." Late in the afternoon the twelve came to Jesus, asking him to send the crowds away to find food and lodging in the nearby farms and villages. The place where they were staying was isolated; perhaps the disciples feared trouble with the people coming to them for help, when they had none to give. This possibility adds weight to Jesus’ next statement. 9.13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They replied, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish — unless we go and buy food for all these people." Jesus astounded his disciples by telling them to feed the multitude. Of course, the disciples began to ponder the task in human terms: all they had was five loaves of bread and two fish – not enough for themselves. The
idea of buying food for such a large crowd was clearly ridiculous. Only Jesus had trusting the power and ability of God in his mind, an idea which did not for a moment occur to the disciples. 9:14-15 (Now about five thousand men were there.) Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." So they did as Jesus directed, and the people all sat down. There were about five thousand men present—a substantial crowd—besides the women and children. Jesus told the disciples to organise them into groups of roughly fifty and to have them sit down. Although Jesus would employ a miracle, order was still necessary for the distribution of so much food to so many. All the people did as they had been directed. 9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. Taking the five loaves and two fish, Jesus lifted His eyes up to heaven in a prayer of blessing, then broke them gave them to his disciples to give to the crowds. 9:17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up — twelve baskets of broken pieces. Everyone ate as much as they needed; and when the left-overs were gathered up, the broken pieces filled twelve baskets!
Peter Declares his Belief in Jesus 9:18 Once when Jesus was praying by himself, and his disciples were nearby, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" It is fitting that Luke places this incident immediately after the feeding of the 5,000, where Jesus had performed the kind of miracle which had not been seen since the time of Moses. His fame must have spread so that all the people were talking about him. Once when he had finished his private prayers, he asked his disciples who the people thought he was (no doubt as a prelude to his later question, ‘who do you say I am?’). 9:19 They answered, "John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen." The disciples simply reported what they had heard, the superstitions among the people John the Baptist, Elijah, or some other prophet of long ago had risen from the dead. 9:20-21 Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." But he forcefully commanded them not to tell this to anyone. Testing them with his question, Jesus wanted to know if his teaching had yet achieved its desired effect. Peter’s reply showed that it had, by revelation of God. ‘You are the Christ of God’, says Peter, the Messiah or Anointed One (see John 6:67-69). But having established that the twelve were clear on this point, he gave them the strictest instructions not to tell anyone else who he was (at that time). 9:22 Saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." If they had done so, they may have hindered the divine program: that the Christ (Jesus terms himself the Son of Man) must suffer many things, be rejected by the religious leaders and handed over to be killed. Nevertheless, Jesus confidently predicts that on the third day He would be raised from the dead. Glory awaited the Messiah, but not before his suffering.
The Cost of Following Jesus 9:23 Then he said to them all, "If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. Following Jesus’ private explanation of the necessity of his own death, he turned his attention to all who were present, making clear what he considered to be the requirements of true discipleship. To be a disciple or follower of Jesus involves renouncing the right to do as one pleases and instead accept the cross, which works to separate from the world and sanctify to God. This necessarily will mean submitting to God's will and being prepared to sacrifice in order to follow the footsteps of Jesus, who himself has given the pattern of selfsacrifice and suffering. 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Those who choose their own path, and live only for themselves, will find that the path to eternal life will allude them. Only those who are prepared to lay down their lives on the altar for the sake of Jesus Christ will save them (see 1 Cor. 15:30-31). 9:25 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? Jesus asks what a person will benefit if by gaining all the world has to offer if they should lose their own soul or be destroyed. Clearly humanity is so created that the things which are spiritual and eternal outweigh those things which are material and temporal; and it is the highest wisdom to appreciate this fact. 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. If anyone is ashamed of owning Jesus Christ as their Lord, or of the gospel message he brought concerning his being the means of our salvation and forgiveness, then when He comes again accompanied by the angels— being revealed in the glory which he shares with the Father--he will disown them. 9:27 But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God. As he finishes his discourse, Jesus reveals that there were those present who would live to see many entering into the kingdom of God through the proclamation of Jesus as Lord and Saviour; this betrays Jesus’ awareness of what would happen from Pentecost onwards.
Jesus Transfigured 9:28-31 Now about eight days after these sayings, Jesus took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white. Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him. They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem. Just over a week after Jesus had said these things he took three of his disciples—Peter, James and John—with Him up a mountain to pray, and as he did so, the appearance of his face changed, as a glorious light shone out even penetrating his clothes and making them appear dazzling white. At the same time two men, Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. The topic of their conversation was Jesus’ exodus, his departure from earth to return to his glory with the Father. Just as Jesus had told his disciples, it is reiterated that this was about to accomplished in Jerusalem.
9:32 Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy, but as they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men Standing with him. Peter and the other two disciples had fallen asleep as Jesus was praying, just as they did later in the garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 14:37). On awakening they saw the glory of the Lord with Moses and Elijah standing by him. 9:33 Then as the men were starting to leave, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah" — not knowing what he was saying. As Moses and Elijah were leaving (which possibly means that the vision of them was fading), Peter realised the significance of what they had seen. Luke is clear that his idea to make three tabernacles, one for Jesus and the others for the two prophets was simply for the sake of saying something, not knowing what to say. The implication picked up by most commentators is that Peter was placing Moses and Elijah on the same level as Jesus, even though he had earlier acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God (see verse 20). 9:34-35 As he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!" Even as these words were leaving Peter’s mouth, a cloud of glory appeared and covered them, making them afraid. The voice of God spoke to them directly from the cloud saying "this is My Son, the Chosen One; listen to Him" (HCSB). 9:36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So they kept silent and told no one at that time anything of what they had seen. After God had spoken, Jesus was there alone with his disciples; at that time they told no one about what they had seen and heard. © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2014. Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org