Luke 9:46

Luke 9:46 says, Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.  Jesus's disciples started to reason, or we would probably say argue, about which of them should be the greatest.  They still did not understand Who Jesus really was nor what He had called them to do.  Some people today still argue about who is the greatest in God's kingdom, but when they do, it shows that they really don't know what it means to follow Christ.  Verse forty-seven adds, And Jesus, perceiving the thought of the heart, took a child, and set him by him,  Jesus knew what they were thinking, and took a child and set him by Him.  We need to realize that we will be held accountable not only for our actions, but for our thoughts as well.  Verse forty-eight continues, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. Jesus said anyone who received a child in His name received Him, and anyone who received Him received the heavenly Father Who sent Him.  The key is not receiving the child, but faith in Jesus Christ as ones Savior and Lord.  Then Jesus said the least among them, and He was talking to His disciples, would be greatest.  We should never serve God for self recognition by the world.  Verse forty-nine states, And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.  John told Jesus that the disciples had seen someone casting out devils in Jesus's name, and they forbid him from doing so.  The man was evidently being successful in doing what God would have His people do, even if He wasn't one of the twelve disciples.  We should never attempt to stop other people from doing God's work because we feel they aren't qualified or authorized.  Verse fifty adds, And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.  Jesus told them to not forbid the man, because anyone who was not against Jesus was for Him.  We cannot limit who serves God as long as they have put their faith in Jesus.  Verse fifty-one says, And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,  When the time came that Jesus was to be received up, or killed, He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem.  Jesus knew what awaited Him, but He didn't waiver in His resolve to do it, and neither should we.  We should set our face resolutely not on Jerusalem but on Jesus, and never waiver in our faith, even if it costs us our life.  Verse fifty-two adds, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.  Jesus sent a messenger before Him into Samaria, a place that the Jews avoided.  We need to carry God's good news of salvation to all people, whether we like them or not.  Verse fifty-three continues, And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.  The Samaritans did not receive Jesus, and He remained steadfast in His resolve to go to Jerusalem.  If people that we witness to do not accept us, we must still remain steadfast in doing what He calls us to do.  Verse fifty-four states, And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?  When James and John saw that the Samaritans rejected Jesus, they asked if they should call down fire from heaven as Elijah did and destroy the Samaritans who rejected Jesus.  Destroying those who reject Jesus is not our responsibility.  We are still to reach out to them with the love of God.  Verse fifty-five adds, But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.  Jesus rebuked James and John and told them they didn't know what spirit they were under, but it wasn't His spirit.  If we begin to call for the destruction of those who will not accept Jesus, then we are not operating under His spirit.   Verse fifty-six continues, For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.  Jesus told them that He didn't come to destroy people but to save them, and that is still true today.  Jesus and the disciples went to another village to witness, and if we are rejected when we witness today, we must just move on to someone else to witness to. 

Luke 9:37

Luke 9:37 says, And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.  After Jesus went down the hill, or mountain, with Peter, James and John they were met by many people.  The three disciples had wanted to build a tabernacle for Jesus and Moses and Elijah because of the glorious thing they had seen, but Jesus led them back down the mountain to where the people were.  If we have a mountaintop experience, we cannot just stay there, but must go back down to where the people are.  Verse thirty-eight adds, And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.  A man in the crowd called out to Jesus, calling Him Master, and said that Jesus had to look on his son, who was his only son.  If we come to Jesus with a problem today, we must acknowledge Him as not only our Master, but the Master of the universe.  Verse thirty-nine continues, And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.  The man said his son was under the control of a demon that was causing him to foam at the mouth and hurt himself.  If we have a child today that is under the control of a demon, and that might be drugs or alcohol instead of a real demon,  we need to come to Jesus in prayer out of real love and concern for them.  Verse forty concludes, And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.  The man had come to the disciples who had remained behind and asked them to cast the devil out, and they could not.  What we need to realize is that of our own ability we can do nothing spiritually, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we.  Verse forty-one states, And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.  Jesus called those there, including the disciples, a faithless and perverse generation and asked them how long He could be with them.  Though Jesus's time on earth was limited, by faith the people then and we today can do great things for God, but too often we like them fail to act in faith.  He told the man to bring his son to Him, and that is what we must do for our children today.  Verse forty-two adds, And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.  While the boy was on his way, the devil in him threw him down and caused him to harm himself.  The devil will still do all that he can to keep us from coming to Jesus.  Jesus rebuked the devil then, and He will do the same today if we allow Him to.  Verse forty-three says, And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,  The people were amazed and wondered about the miraculous things Jesus did, but we are not told that they put their faith in Him for Who He is, the only begotten Son of God and the Savior of all who will put their faith in Him.  Wondering about God is not enough.  Verse forty-four adds, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.  Jesus had a message for His disciples, and that was that He would not be with them long before He as delivered into the hands of men who wanted Him dead.  We have so much more of an advantage as followers of Christ today, because the Holy Spirit is always with us.  Verse forty-five continues, But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.  The disciples didn't understand what Jesus was telling them and were afraid to ask Him.  If we do not understand something that Jesus is teaching us today, we need never be afraid to ask Him what He means. 

Luke 9:28

Luke 9:28 says, And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.  Jesus took three of His disciples,  Peter, John and James up a mountain to pray.  This was about eight days after Jesus had been teaching the people the parables.  We are not told what Jesus was doing during that time, but I believe that we can be certain that He wasn't just sitting and waiting.  People may not know what we are doing for God all the time, but we don't need to be just sitting and waiting for the return of Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.  As Jesus prayed, His countenance, or appearanc, changed.   His clothes began to glow.  I don't believe we will ever be that much in touch with God, but we should be spiritually glowing when we pray, because when we sincerely pray, we are as close to God as we can get in this lifetime.  Verse thirty declares, And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:  While Jesus was praying, two men appeared with Him, Moses and Elijah.  I do not profess to know how this was possible, except that Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth.  I believe that from the way Jesus looked that He was more in the heavenly realm than that Moses and Elijah were in the earthly realm.  Verse thirty-one adds, Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.  Jesus was discussing with them His coming death and resurrection.  They were great prophets, but Jesus was so much more.  Jesus alone is the One Who is capable of bringing salvation.  Verse thirty-two adds, But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.  Peter, James and John had been very sleepy and fell asleep when Jesus took them with Him to pray.  We need to be careful that we are not spiritually asleep when we are called to do something for God, even the simplest of things like pray.  They woke up to a glorious sight, and so might we if we stay spiritually alert.  Verse thirty-three continues, And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.  As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter asked if it wouldn't be good for them to build three tabernacles for Jesus and them.  We are told that Peter did not know what he was asking.  We cannot nor should not want to have those who are in heaven to return and stay here on earth, nor could Jesus stay then.  Verse thirty-four states, While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.  While Jesus was speaking, the disciples and He were covered by a cloud.  The cloud had indicated God's presence and the three disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud.  As followers of Christ, we have no reason to be afraid of being in the presence of God.  Verse thirty-five adds, And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.  Once again, God declared Jesus be His beloved Son.  One day, when Christ returns God will pronounce all who believe in Jesus Christ to be His beloved children.  Verse thirty-six continues, And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.  When the cloud passed, Jesus was alone with the three disciples.  It was not yet time for Him to return to Heaven.  Peter, James and John told no one what had happened until after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.   We on the other hand, being on the other side of Jesus's death, burial and resurrection should tell everyone of any and all miraculous things we may see as followersofChrist. . 

Luke 9:18

Luke 9:18 says, And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?  When Jesus was alone with His disciples praying, He asked them Who did people say He was.  This is the question that every person ultimately needs to answer.  Verse nineteen adds, They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.  The disciples said that different people said different things.  Some said He was John the Baptist, some said Elijah, and others said one of the old prophets risen from the dead.  People may think that Jesus is just the same as some other long dead prophet, but until they see Him for Who He really is, the only begotten Son of God Who died to save mankind from the penalty of sin, it will do them no good to acknowledge that He existed in history.  Verse twenty states, He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.  Jesus then made it a personal question for the disciples, and at some point it will become a personal question that every individual will have to answer.  Peter answered and said that Jesus was the Christ of God, or the promised Messiah.  This is the only answer that will ever do us any good.  Verse twenty-one adds, And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;  At this time, Jesus told the disciples to not tell anyone this, but today we have His command to tell everyone.  Verse twenty-two  continues, Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.  Jesus then told them what He must suffer.  I am sure this is not what the disciples expected to hear.  They had left everything to follow Jesus, most likely expecting to reign with Him in power, and He was telling them that He was going to be persecuted, rejected by the religious leaders, be killed and raised the third day.  We cannot follow Jesus because we expect worldly riches and success, but as Christians must daily take up our cross and follow Him.  Verse twenty-three declares, And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  As just stated, if we are to follow Jesus, we must deny ourself and daily take up our cross, or die to ourself.  Verse twenty-four adds, For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.  Jesus said that if we value our physical life more than our relationship with Him, we will ultimately lose our everlasting life with Him.  On the other hand, if we value our relationship with Jesus more then even our physical life, then we will save our everlasting life by our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-five asks, For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?  Jesus asked the disciples what they would gain if everything in the world in the world belonged to them, but they lost their relationship with God and were cast away.  We must individually answer this question today.  Verse twenty-six adds, For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.  Jesus said if we are ashamed of Him in this life that He will be ashamed of us when He returns in glory.  We need to live everyday for God's glory as followers of Christ and proclaim our faith to the world.   Verse twenty-seven continues, But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.  The disciple did not yet truly know Who Jesus was, but He said they would not face death until they did.  As long as we are alive, we have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and we must do so before we die.

Luke 9:10

Luke 9:10 says, And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.  The disciples, when the returned, told Jesus all that they had done.  Then, He took them and went alone to a desert place near the city of Bethsaida.  We need our time alone with God, where we can discuss with Him through prayer what He wants us to do and how successful we have been in doing what He has called us to do.  Verse eleven adds, And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.  Once again, the people came to Jesus when they knew where He was.  Jesus did not tell them He had other plans so away, but began to heal them and teach them.  As I have stated several times, it would be wonderful if people were so anxious to come to Jesus today, but if they do, would we change our plans to help tham?  Verse twelve states, And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.  As it began to get late in the day, the disciples came to Jesus and told Him to send the crowds away.  They were in the desert, and the disciples said Jesus needed to send them away so that they could find food and a place to spend the night.  They were more concerned about physical things than spiritual ones, and we may at times allow physical concerns to be more important than spiritual ones as well.  Verse thirteen adds, But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.  Jesus told the disciples to feed the people, which is His command to us to do spiritually, and sometimes physically, today as well.  The disciples said they only had five loaves of bread and two fish.  They were looking at what they had and not what Jesus could do, and we do not need to do that as followers of Christ today.  They also asked if Jesus expected them to go and buy food for all the people.  They were looking to their own ability and basically asking what would it cost them to feed the crowd. They needed to look to Jesus instead, and so must we.  Verse fourteen says, For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.  There were about five thousand men there, so the overall number was even greater.  Jesus told the disciples to have them sit down in groups of fifty.  The people had to obey the disciples who were acting under the authority of Jesus in order to be fed.  If we want to be spiritually fed today, we must listen to the Holy Spirit and also to those who are teaching and preaching under God's authority.  Verse fifteen adds, And they did so, and made them all sit down.  The disciples did as Jesus told them to do, but I believe that they may have still been been looking at the five loaves and two fish and wondering what the point was.  We need to focus on what God calls us to do instead of looking at the physical or material reasons why it cannot be done.  Verse sixteen declares, Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.  Jesus took the food, which had not changed in its amount, looked up to heaven and blseed it.  If we are in a seemingly impossible situation when doing what God has called us to do, we don't need to look at our limitations, but need to look up to God instead.  Verse seventeen adds, And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.  The crowd ate, and there were twelve baskets full of leftover food, one for each of the disciples.  No one received any more or any less because of who the disciple was who passed it out.  We are not going to be more spiritually fed or less spiritually fed because of who is preaching or teaching today.  Jesus is still the One Who feeds us spiritually as Christians. 

Luke 9:1

Luke 9:1 says, Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.  Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave the power and authority over all devils, not just a few or the small ones.  He gives us the same authority today under the power of the Holy Spirit.  He also gave them the power to cure diseases, but it doesn't say all diseases.  Through prayer with faith in God, we may have Him heal people who are suffering from diseases today, if it is His will that they be healed.  Just as the disciples were given the ability to do these things by the power and under God's guidance, so are we.  Verse two adds, And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.  Jesus sent the disciples to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  As followers of Christ today, we are to share the gospel and help those who are spiritually sick be healed if they accept the gospel.  Verse three states, And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.  Jesus told them not to take anything with them that they might need, but to go by faith.  Matthew Henry says that they were not to go too far away from Jesus when they went, and spiritually we are never to go too far from Jesus when we go to witness, and since rhe Holy Spirit lives within us, as long as we are obedient to Him, we will never be too far away.  Verse four adds, And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.  Jesus told them to stay in whatever house they were invited to stay in until the departed that area.  Jesus did not say find the best house and demand to be lodged there.  Sometimes today, when people say they are going to preach the gospel, they seem to believe that only the best will do for them, and want to ensure that they have it before they leave.  Verse five continues, And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.  Jesus said that if people wouldn't receive the disciples, they were not to attempt to force them to, but were to shake the dust off their feet when they left as a testimony against them. We cannot force people to listen to the gospel today, and that is not our responsibility.  We are simply to share the gospel.  Verse six concludes, And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.  The disciples left, doing what Jesus had told them to do.  As followers of Christ today, we must go where God sends us and do what He calls us to do.  Verse seven says, Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;  Herod was perplexed by what Jesus was doing, because some people said He was John the Baptist come back from the dead.  Since Herod had John the Baptist beheaded, it is easy to understand His being perplexed by this thought.  People today too often fail to believe Who Jesus really is.  Verse eight adds, And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.  Others claimed that Jesus was Elijah or one of the prophets who had risen again.  They were not accepting Jesus for Who He really is.  We must acknowledge Jesus by faith as the only begotten Son of God Who died for our sins in order for us to be saved.  Verse nine continues, And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.  Herod said that since he had John the Baptist beheaded, he wondered Who Jesus was and desired to meet Him.  This was more from curiosity than from believing in Jesus.  Some people today are curious enough to want to know a little bit more about Jesus, but they, like Herod,  never come to Him by faith accepting Him for Who He really is, and that will never bring them salvation. 

Luke 8:49

Luke 8:49 says, While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.  While Jesus was speaking to the woman, someone came from the leader of the synagogue’s house that Jesus was on His way to so that He could heal the man's daughter and told the synagogue leader that his daughter was dead.  It would have seemed that Jesus was too late.  Sometimes, when we are asking God for something, it may seem that He is too late to help us, but we must remember that as followers of Christ everlasting victory is already ours.  Verse fifty adds, But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.  Jesus told the synagogue leader to not be afraid, but to only believe in Him, and his daughter would be made whole.  Basically, the man could choose to believe what the messenger said was the facts based on physical evidence, or he could believe Jesus by faith.   We today can either believe whet material facts seem to prove, or we can put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and be made spiritually whole.  Verse fifty-one states, And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.  When Jesus got to the house, Peter, James, John, and the girl's parents got to go in with Him.  As followers of Christ, we are not all called into the same situation.  The other disciples might have wondered why they were excluded, but if they were truly following Christ, they should not have.  Verse fifty-two adds, And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.  Everyone was weeping and wailing, because they believed the girl to be dead.  We may look and a situation today and weep and wail because we are looking at what we see to be the facts and not to God by faith.  Jesus told them not to weep, because the girl was only asleep.  As yet, there was no proof of this fact.  We have to put our faith in God no matter what the physical evidence may seem to say is the truth.  Verse fifty-three says, And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.  This crowd either overheard Jesus and laughed at Him with scorn because they thought they knew more than He did, or He spoke out to them from the house.  The other possibility is that the three disciples and the parents were acting this way, and the next verse seems to bear this out.  We may be close to Jesus and at times still allow what we see to be the facts keep us from putting our faith in Him.  Verse fifty-four adds, And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.  Jesus put the ones He had called in to the house with Him outside once more, then He took the girl by the hand and told her to arise.  We may miss out on seeing a miracle if we fail to follow Jesus by faith no matter what the situation may seem to tell us iscthe truth.  Verse fifty-five states, And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.  The girls spirit returned to her, because when she died it departed, and she arose.  We may not witness a physical resurrection of any from the dead, but when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, an even greater resurrection occurs, and that is a special resurrection whereby we are made well with God.  We need to arise when this happens and start feasting on His word.  Verse fifty-six adds, And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.  The parents of the girl were astonished, but Jesus told them not to tell anyone.  We today should be astonished when we are resurrected spiritually, but unlike the girl's parents then, we are told to tell everyone when we accept salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  A physical healing here, even a restoration to this physical life, is always temporary, but salvation lasts forever.