Luke 9

Main Theme

Jesus is worth giving up everything to follow him.

Outline

1. Testimony of the Disciples (1-27)
1. Key Verse - Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” (v. 20)
2. As the disciples were taught by Jesus and observed his power and authority, they began to realize he really was the promised savior. He is the Christ of God, the one promised from the fall of creation in Genesis 3:15. However, they still failed to understand what type of savior Jesus is and what it means to truly follow him.
2. Testimony of God the Father (28-36)
1. Key Verse - And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my  Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (v. 35)
2. Just like when Jesus was baptized, God the Father speaks from heaven with confirmation that Jesus is the Son of God, the promised savior and that his word should be obeyed.
3. Instructions for Ministry (37-50)
1. Key Verse -  Jesus answered, “O faithfulness and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” (v. 41)
2. Though Jesus empowered the chosen twelve disciples to cast out demons, they were unable to cast out this particular demon. Jesus rebuked his disciples and the crowd for their lack of faith. This event and the ensuing arguments among his disciples taught them how his kingdom and ministry in his name are completely different from what they had known.
4. Instructions for Life (51-62)
1. Key Verses - Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. (v. 62)
2. Earlier in this chapter, Jesus said those who follow him must deny themselves and take up their cross daily. There and in these verses, Jesus reveals how his followers must live. His followers deny their desires in pursuit of God’s desires, and they do not long for their former way of life because they understand how sweet their new life in Christ is.

Gospel Connection

Jesus prepares people that following him is not something one does lightly or only when they feel like it. In order to follow Jesus, you must deny yourself, reject your former sinful way of life, and prepare to be rejected and persecuted by the world. This radical call to follow Jesus is lived out by Jesus himself as he took up his cross in obedience to God the Father’s will to rescue sinners through the sacrificial death of the promised savior.

Whole Bible Connection

Throughout the Bible, great revelations of God’s nature are revealed on the top of a mountain, and his presence is often seen in a cloud. In Exodus, God led His people out of slavery in Egypt and through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night. On Mount Sinai, God conversed with a revealed His nature and commandments to Moses. As Jesus and three of his disciples ascend a mountain, Jesus’s glory is revealed to these three disciples, and they hear the voice of God instructing them to listen to Jesus because he is His Son. The beginning of the Book of Hebrews affirms that God is still working through His Son when it says in 1:1-2 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Key Takeaways

Faithfully follow Jesus.  This is the overarching command of the Bible. Those whom God saves by His grace through faith in Jesus should delight in and be willing to follow Jesus regardless of the costs. Jesus gave his life for you. You must give your life to him.

Jesus can do more through us than we think. Although God’s Word does not expound on why the disciples could not cast out the particular demon in verses 37 - 43, it is somehow connected to their lack of faith. Followers of Jesus must realize that we do not minister to others for our own glory or in our own strength. When we embrace this and fully depend on Jesus, God will do more through us to glorify him and bless others than we ever thought possible.

Denying ourselves is a good thing. In a world that embraces self-affirmation, Jesus calls his followers to self-denial. Our focus should not be on ourselves but on the glory of God.