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Lesson 10: Jesus’s Galilean Ministry, Part 6 (Luke 9:1-50)
Jesus appears to now be nearing the end of the second year of His ministry. We are watching the conclusion of Luke’s record concerning Jesus’s Galilean ministry. Some significant events, though, take place before Jesus begins His journey to Jerusalem.
Jesus Sends Out The Twelve Apostles (Luke 9:1-9)
9:1-6. Jesus sent His apostles in pairs on what is often called the “Limited Commission” (Matthew 10:1-42; Mark 6:7-13). They were given power and authority to proclaim the kingdom of God and perform miracles (that would demonstrate their authority and confirm their message, Mark 16:19-20; Hebrews 2:1-4). They were told not to take any provisions, as such would be provided by those who would hear and welcome them (contrast with Luke 22:35-38). If they found no welcome, they were to leave the town and shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them (Matthew 10:14-42; Acts 13:51). So, they traveled from village to village (presumably in Galilee) preaching and healing everywhere.
9:7-9. Herod Antipas ruled over that area and had heard about what Jesus was doing. However, he was confused, thinking John the Baptist had risen from the dead (3:19-20; Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29). Others said that Jesus was one of the ancient prophets risen from the dead. Questioning who Jesus was, he wanted to see Him.
Jesus Feeds The 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17)
9:10-17. After the apostles returned from their journey and reported what had been accomplished, Jesus took them away to Bethsaida to be alone; but the crowds met Him there (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; John 6:1-15). Jesus welcomed them out of compassion, spoke about the kingdom of God, and healed. Later in the day, the need for the crowd to find food was identified, but they only had five loaves and two fish. Jesus took the food, blessed it, broke it, and kept giving it to His apostles to pass out to the crowd (about 5,000 men, plus women and children)! The food filled everyone, plus gave twelve baskets of leftovers! The people believed Jesus was the Prophet and wanted to make Him King by force (John 6:14-15).
Jesus’s True Identity And Instructions About Following Him (Luke 9:18-27)
9:18-22. It is now likely the third (and final) year of Jesus’s ministry (Matthew 14-16; Mark 6-8; John 6-7). Jesus asked His disciples who the crowds said He was. Some believed Him to be John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the ancient prophets. Then, Jesus asked who they believed Him to be. Peter answered that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God (Matthew 16:13-19). He strictly warned the disciples not to tell anyone this, however, as He needed to suffer many things and be rejected by the Jewish leaders, be killed, and then be raised from the dead (Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 8:31-33). Both the crowds and the disciples did not truly understand the nature of Jesus as the Messiah.
9:23-27. Jesus now addressed all the people about what would be required to follow Him. It would involve self-denial to do God’s will, a daily willingness to suffer for the cause of Christ, and the commitment to follow Jesus wherever He leads. One can either use his physical life for himself or Christ; but will either gain or lose his spiritual life as a result. There will be no benefit to gain everything the whole world has to offer yet lose the soul (Luke 12:16-21; Luke 16:19-31)! Those who are ashamed of Jesus and His words during their earthly lives will be ashamed on the Day of Judgment when Jesus comes (Matthew 10:32-33)! Some who heard Jesus speak would see the kingdom of God come with power (as it began on Pentecost in Acts 2; vv. 32-36; Colossians 1:13).
Jesus Is Transfigured (9:28-36)
9:28-36. Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain to pray (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13). As Jesus was praying, the appearance of His face changed and His clothes became dazzling white (demonstrating His true glory). Suddenly, Moses (the deliverer of the Law) and Elijah (perhaps the most prominent Old Testament prophet) appeared and talked with Jesus about His impending death in Jerusalem. Peter and the others woke up and saw the glory of the three standing before them. Peter suggested that three tabernacles/shelters be built to honor each. Yet, a cloud overshadowed them (Matthew 17:7) and the Father declared Jesus as His Son, the Chosen One, who must be listened to rather than the others! Afterward, they found Jesus alone and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen (Matthew 17:9; 2 Peter 1:16-18).
Jesus Corrects His Disciples (Luke 9:37-50)
9:37-45. As a large crowd met Jesus after coming down from the mountain, a man begged Jesus to heal his only son of a demon who caused great harm (Matthew 17:15; Mark 9:17-18, 22, 25). The man had begged Jesus’s disciples to drive it out but they could not. Note that Jesus later revealed the disciples failed because of their lack of faith (in connection with prayer, Matthew 17:19-20; Mark 9:28-29). Jesus rebuked His disciples and the crowd for their lack of faith (Mark 9:22-24; Matthew 17:19-20). The demon continued attacking the boy as he approached Jesus, but Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. All were astonished at the greatness and majesty of God! Yet, while everyone was amazed, Jesus again revealed that He would be betrayed into the hands of men (including His death and resurrection, Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32). His disciples did not understand (e.g. how that could happen to Jesus, the Messianic King), since the full scope of what Jesus would accomplish was still concealed from them (1 Peter 1:10-12) – and they were afraid to ask.
9:46-50. The disciples argued on the journey to Capernaum about which of them was the greatest (Matthew 18:1-9; Mark 9:33-37). Jesus knew their thoughts and they eventually asked Him (Mark 10:35-45; Matthew 20:20-28). Jesus, however, used a small child (commonly viewed as insignificant) to teach that true greatness comes through childlike humility. The one who would receive a little child by humbly serving him in Jesus’s name (authority) will be doing such to Jesus and the Father (Matthew 25:34-45). The one who will serve as least is the one who is truly great in God’s kingdom (Philippians 2:1-11; 1 Peter 5:5-6). After this, John called attention to someone who was driving out demons in Jesus’s name but was not among the close followers of Jesus (though Jesus had evidently given him this power). However, just because the man was not among these did not make him their enemy and was not to be forbidden.
Conclusion
The time of Jesus’s “Galilean Ministry” was coming to a close and they would soon begin their journey to Jerusalem. Jesus has now foretold the events that were about to take place in Jerusalem. However, there was still great confusion about the nature of the Messiah’s kingdom.
