Luke 9:36-45, “Don’t Tell People Who I am” (2)

·       9:36: Here, after the Transfiguration, we see that the three disciples who were with Jesus didn’t tell anyone about what they had seen.  Likely the main reason for this was that those three men were themselves uncertain what they had witnesses.  The Twelve struggled to understand events until after the resurrection.  Afterward Peter was eager to talk about it (2 Peter 1:16-18).

·       9:38-45: Here is an interesting situation that might challenge some people’s understanding of Jesus earthly ministry.  When a man asks Jesus to heal his son of an evil spirit Jesus acts as if He is reluctant (v41).  Actually, it would be more accurate to say that Jesus indicated He was tired of the constant request for miracles.  That just doesn’t seem right.  As I said, some view Jesus’ miracle working as the central focus of His ministry.  Why, at this point, would He speak this way at this point?

o   Jesus is aware more and more that it is about time to bring things to their conclusion at Jerusalem, Golgotha and the empty tomb.  In Luke 9 we have the first (9:22) and second (9:44) warnings Jesus gives to the Twelve about what will soon take place in Jerusalem. 

o   What that means, with respect to His ministry, is that the emphasis is no longer on the Synagogue ministry and the display of the miraculous signs.  People have had the opportunity to hear His offer of the Kingdom.  They have seen the proofs.  They don’t need any more.  The people would be happy if Jesus lived a long life and healed every person that needed it.  But that was not the reason He came, nor the reason for the miracles.

o   In v43 you see the response of the people to the healing of the boy.  “They were all amazed at the majesty of God.”  The “majesty of God” is the healing, not the Healer.  Therefore Jesus reassures His disciples, “Don’t be fooled by this great response! Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

·       9:49-50: This exchange with the disciples about people who were casting out demons in Jesus’ name but were not part of their group adds to the point here.  Jesus’ response indicates the working of miracles is not the bottom line.  The question is: are they on My side?

·       9:57-62: The chapter closes with another situation that tells us that Jesus is concerned about the “faith” of the crowd.  You have three people who declare their desire to follow Him.  He challenges each one with something that is designed to get them to think about what they are signing up for.  Do they understand the total exclusivity of following Christ?

Thus, my conclusion is that Jesus’ prohibiting people from telling others that He was the Christ, and from broadcasting news of the latest miracle, was the result of His concern for true faith in Him.  He was not looking for a popular uprising or a landslide election.  He was looking for a nation that would surrender their hearts to Him.  He came unto His own and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become sons of God, even to them that believed on His name (John 1:11-12).