Luke 9:37-50

We have noted that Jesus commanded self-denial, taking up your cross daily and following Him.  But what does this look like in daily life?  Making disciples is like raising children.  Remember in Deut. 6:4-9 how Moses told the people to teach their children when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  Jesus does that here for His disciples.  In Luke 9:37-62 you will see true-life discipleship situations so we can see in real life what it means to follow Christ.

We begin with the healing of a boy (v37-42), a situation where the disciples, with their authority over unclean spirits (Luke 9:1), were unable to cast out the demon.  The story is not so much directed at the disciples, although the other gospels note that Jesus used this to tell His disciples of the need for prayer and fasting (Mk. 9:29).  But Jesus’ frustration is directed toward the people.  They are magnifying the sign, the miracle, rather than the Messiah and His message.  Jesus had performed many miracles for them to understand who He was.  But the people got lost in the wonder of the miracle, even as happened here: they were all amazed at the majesty of God and marveled at all the things which Jesus did.

I don’t mean to be judgmental but does this not sound familiar?  Are there not many who think that discipleship involves a relationship with Christ that is filled with amazing, marvelous and awesome things?  You may be thinking, “Yes, what is wrong with that?”  The problem is seen in v44.  Jesus warns His disciples as they see yet another crowd whooping it up over Jesus’ power.  He warns them of what is ahead: the betrayal of the Son of Man into the hands of men.  But He also warns them: let these words sink down into your ears.  They, like the people, will fail to understand discipleship if they magnify the miracle rather than the message and the Messiah.

This event leads to three rapid-fire situations that follow.  The first involves the disciples having one of their which of us is the greatest arguments.  If they understood the cross and self-denial and not saving yourself they would not be having this argument.  So Jesus sets a child in their presence and challenges them: he who is least among you all will be great.

The second involves some people who were casting out demons in Jesus’ name.  We have no explanation who they were but might have been part of the crowds who followed Jesus.  Maybe they became part of the seventy who had power over demons (Lk. 10:17).  The issue is not that there were others than the twelve; the issue was the jealousy the twelve had towards them.  Jesus reproved them: he who is not against us is on our side.  This is another discipleship principle derived from the fact they were headed for the cross.

Consider these situations.  We will continue in our study tomorrow.