Luke 9
The Lord called the disciples together and gave them power and authority over demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. They were to go empty-handed and to abide in the house where they were received until they departed from the village. Should they not be received, they were to shake off the dust from their feet as they left.
Herod was upset when he heard of Jesus, for some were saying that He was John the Baptist risen from the dead. This stirred Herod's conscience. Herod said that he had beheaded John, so who was this man? He wanted to see Him.
When the disciples had returned from their labors, they told Jesus all that they had done. Do we do this? We should. Jesus took them to Bethsaida to a desert place to rest, and the people, knowing this, followed Him.
Feeding the Five Thousand
That evening the twelve said to Jesus, "Send the multitude away, that they may go... and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place." Jesus told them to give the people food. The disciples said that all they had was five loaves and two fishes, unless they went and bought bread.
He instructed the disciples to set the five thousand men down in companies of fifty. Then, looking up, Jesus blessed the food and gave to the disciples to give to the multitude. All ate and were filled. Twelve baskets of leftovers were taken up. They represent the food for the remnant that Jesus will feed in the millennial day (Psa. 132:1515I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. (Psalm 132:15)).
Jesus was alone praying. I believe that this is true without exception: Jesus prayed to the Father alone. The disciples were with Him, perhaps a stone's cast away. The Lord prayed publicly when He gave thanks. They did not pray.
Who Is Jesus?
Jesus asked them who the people said that He was. They answered that John the Baptist, Elias or one of the old prophets had arisen. The Lord asked, "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter answered, The Christ of God."
They were not to tell this to any man because Christ was rejected. From now on He was the Son of man.
How different the reasoning of the multitude from the faith of one under the control of the Holy Spirit. The people reasoned; the disciple spoke by revelation from the Father as to who Jesus was. Whether in testimony or in teaching, each should be under the control of the Spirit and be able to teach the truth. If they cannot speak with authority, they should not speak at all.
The Lord brought before the disciples His rejection, death and resurrection. To follow Christ we must deny ourselves-not deny some things, but ourselves, our person-take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. These were new thoughts to the disciples. They said that He was the Son of God, but they did not acknowledge that they walked with Him in separation, because they did not pray when He prayed. Several times in this chapter the disciples failed because they did not pray. What a lesson for us.
If we lose our life in this world by taking a path of rejection, we will find it in the next world. What would the advantage be to gain the world and lose our souls? If we are ashamed now of Jesus and His words, the Son of man will be ashamed of us when He comes in these three glories: His own glory, the glory that the Father put on Him, and His glory over the holy angels.
The Kingdom of God
Jesus tells His disciples that some among them would not die before they had seen the kingdom of God. About eight days later Jesus took Peter, James and John up into a mountain to pray. While praying, Jesus was changed before them; His countenance was altered; His raiment was white and glistering. Moses and Elias appeared, talking with Jesus. These appeared in glory, speaking of His death at Jerusalem.
Peter and the other two disciples were sleeping. When they awoke, they saw His glory and Moses and Elias who stood with Him. How often we have to confess that we do not see His glory because we are not more occupied with His death. In this the disciples failed.
As Moses and Elias departed, Peter said, "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." If Peter and the others had been praying, they would have been able to say the right thing.
The Glory Cloud
While he was speaking, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them. They feared as they entered into the cloud, and a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son: hear Him." After these words, Jesus only was seen.
This experience was only for the three disciples, not for Moses and Elias. They will not be in the Father's house; the disciples will. It is a picture of heaven and the glory of God-the kingdom of God where righteousness, peace and the joy of the Holy Spirit dwell. It is Jesus' own home where He dwells with the Father.
Down From the Mountain
How good to have seasons of refreshment, but in this world they do not last. Again the disciples were face to face with the work which had been assigned to them. A man with an only child besought Jesus to look on his son, who was under the power of a demon. The disciples had been asked to cast out the demon, but they could not. They had been given power and authority over demons and sickness, but they had not been praying.
How true this can be of ourselves. We go on from day to day in self-confidence, from one blunder to another and lose so much, when by praying there could be blessing to others and to ourselves. So the disciples failed again.
Jesus said, "Bring thy son hither." While coming, he was thrown down by the demon, but Jesus rebuked the demon, healed the child and delivered him to his father.
Lessons for Disciples
Later the disciples ask Jesus why they could not cast out the demon. Jesus told them that this was the kind that could not be cast out without prayer and fasting. How kind a rebuke to the disciples after they had made one mistake after another. Before the chapter is over, we may find as many as seven mistakes that the disciples made because they did not pray. Let this be a lesson to us so that we may learn dependence on the Lord.
Jesus again reminds His disciples that the Son of man must be delivered up. He reminds them time after time, but they do not understand. When the death of Christ should be before us, we too, like they did, may reason together which one of us should be the greatest.
Jesus knowing their thoughts, sets a child beside Him, saying, "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." How often we fail because we do not pray.
John tells Jesus of one who was casting out demons in the name of Jesus, and he said, "We forbade him, because he followeth not with us." Perhaps we should inquire who are the "us." Is this not the tradition that corrupted the Jewish testimony-outward forms instead of a work in the heart-positive, personal soul-prompted service for Christ, rather than the appointment of an office? An office was necessary, but what good was it without a heart for souls and the prayer of dependence?
What were the disciples who had been called by divine appointment doing? They had lost the power of testimony because they did not pray. After coming down from the vision of the kingdom of God on the mountain, they could not cast out the demon. So they would forbid one who had been appointed to do so when they couldn't. Jesus told them not to forbid him, "for he that is not against us is for us."
Jealousy in spiritual things is terrible. Here in the actions of the apostles we have opened before us what our hearts are naturally, without the power of the Spirit.
The time had come when Jesus should be received up. Had He not glorified God on the earth? Everything was finished, but one thing: God's love for sinners must be manifested at the cross, so Jesus steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem where all of the prophets had been slain.
Jesus sent messengers before Him, and they entered a village of the Samaritans where they were to make ready for Him. Because His face was set to go to Jerusalem, they would not receive Him.
On seeing this, James and John said, "Lord, wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?" (See 2 Kings 1.) Turning, Jesus rebuked them, and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." They were still of the Jewish spirit of the old order, and not of the new order of the kingdom of God-peace. "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."
Many said they would follow Christ, but, when tested, they were not able. They did not know that they were not sufficient for themselves. One man said he would follow Jesus anywhere, but he was reminded of rejection. Another would let Jesus wait until he buried his father. Another would follow after he said goodby to his loved ones. "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (See 1 Kings 19:19-2119So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. (1 Kings 19:19‑21).)