Word@Work, Let God's Word energise your working day!

Luke

Filter by Chapter Number

Powerless without Jesus

Luke 9:37-42

Following the transfiguration experience (Luke 9:28-36), Jesus, with Peter, James and John, trekked down the mountain.  The other nine disciples were waiting for them, surrounded by a crowd of people who wanted to see Jesus.  One man had come, in desperation, because his only child was constantly in danger from an evil spirit as the boy would often be seized with convulsions.  In Jesus' absence, the other disciples had failed to deal with the problem; they were powerless.

Spiritual Battle Won

Luke 9:41-43a

The disciples had failed: and Jesus thoroughly rebuked them for their faithlessness. They had seen so much, and under the authority of Jesus had practised healing the sick and casting out demons, but when the father of a convulsing boy had asked them to heal his child, they had not power to do so. Despite their confession of faith (Luke 9:20) they still did not have a settled faith in the power of the Name of Jesus.

Coded Message

Luke 9:43b-45

After the glory of the transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36), the remarkable healing of a child and the awed amazement of the crowd and disciples (Luke 9:37-43), Jesus gathered the Twelve for a briefing.  Mark's account gives more detail: 'The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.

Less is More

Luke 9:46-48

Self-interest always produces arguments (or unexpressed resentment, bitterness and frustration).  Perhaps Jesus' selection of Peter, James and John to join Him at the recent transfiguration (Luke 9:28) might have triggered this ugly ego-surge.  Although Jesus was not present when the argument broke out between the disciples, He knew all about it.  So, at a convenient moment, He used a child to demonstrate the principles by which His Kingdom operated.  Those values would turn worldly standards upside down: or more correctly - the way of the world has so corrupted God's way, that we need God'

Non-Exclusive Covenant

Luke 9:49-50

The twelve disciples knew that they were special to Jesus.  He had selected them and was training them to be His apostles.  They were indeed loved and chosen (Luke 6:12-16).  But they extended that idea to feeling that they were exclusively special, and therefore nobody else had a right to minister in Jesus' Name.  Although Jesus had just rebuked them as individuals for arguing who was the greatest among them (Luke 9:46-48), they were trying to assert their uniqueness again - but this time as the group of chosen trainee apostles.  

Rebuke No.4

Luke 9:51-56

The disciples had been rebuked for their faithlessness (Luke 9:41), their competitive pride (Luke 9:46-48) and for wanting to exclude another believer from ministry (Luke 9:49-50).  Today's passage reveals the fourth rebuke.  The cross is now clearly in Jesus' mind with its wonderful salvation to all who believe, but the Twelve wanted to send judgement to a Samaritan village which had no interest in welcoming them.

Travelling without Comforts

Luke 9:57-58

Jesus was popular; at least He was at this stage of His ministry (Matthew 15:30).  He attracted a following of those who admired Him and wanted to identify with His wisdom and wonderfully powerful deeds (Matthew 9:33).

Radical Priority

Luke 9:59-60

Following Jesus, if it is done properly, is not a whim or personal preference.  It is a conscious decision to obey the call of Christ (Luke 5:27-28).  Today's passage is the second of three encounters recorded between Jesus and would-be disciples.  Jesus issues this man with the call to follow Him.  It is quite clear: the Greek puts it in the present tense, the active voice and the imperative mood.  In other words, 'you must do it and do it now'!  But the man's response showed he did not see it as an instruction for that moment, he saw no urgency in Christ's command, and he put up an excuse

Urgent Priority

Luke 9:61-62

In this, the last of three practical lessons about discipleship for the trainee apostles, Jesus taught them to understand what lay behind delaying and evading tactics from would-be disciples.  Saying farewell to family seems to be only courteous, a way to let them know that an exciting new path of life has opened up.  But in Jesus' day and culture, 'goodbye' would take at least three days and possibly a week as relatives gathered.  By that time, Jesus would have moved on and the opportunity would have gone.  An apparent willingness becomes hard-heartedness when we fail to say ‘Yes’ today (H

Mission Strategy

Luke 10:1

In case anybody should think that only the disciples were being trained in ministry (and therefore 'ordinary' believers have no responsibility in evangelism), Luke includes this episode.  The Twelve had already been sent out on mission (Luke 9:1-6); now 72 others were told to go out.  Their task was simply to announce that Jesus was coming, and that people needed to get ready for Him.  It was the same job as John the Baptist's, to prepare the way for the Lord (Luke 3:4).  But in addition, they were to demonstrate the power of God's Kingdom over sickness, as well as over ignorance and evil,

Pages

BeaconLight
Word@Work
CrossCheck