Luke 9 Part 2

Luke 9:18-45 (2)

Luke 9:18-27

The Lord Jesus asked his disciples who the people said he was. His disciples replied that some thought he was John the Baptist, or that he was one of the prophets of old returned. The Lord Jesus then asked them who they thought he was. Peter replied that the Lord Jesus was the Christ. When he made this confession the Lord Jesus instructed his disciples not to tell anyone. He then predicted he would be handed over to die and that he would rise again on the third day. He taught his disciples to take up their cross and follow him. He taught them if they wanted to gain life then they should lose their life for his sake. He taught them if anyone was ashamed of him and his words he would be ashamed of them before the heavenly Father and the angels. He concluded by saying that some of the disciples present would see him coming in his kingdom.

A man has a choice to worship the Lord or to worship himself. If he worships the Lord then he must deny himself and take up his cross. The Lord Jesus showed us the way to live for God. It is by giving away our life for God. In the Lord's case this literally meant that he would die on the cross. For us, many times this means we live for the Lord Jesus instead of living for ourselves. In the same way that Abraham offered Isaac to God we are to offer our heart and lives to God. We should be willing to go all the way with God and die if that is the will of God. As far as Abraham was concerned Isaac was dead but God raised him from the dead in a figure. He stopped him from offering his son and instead God offered his only begotten Son Jesus Christ in our place. God provided himself as the Lamb.

The impact of this upon us was to set us free from living for ourselves. If we only live for self then in the end we will lose everything. We will be castaway. Look at that word "castaway" here.

Luke 9:25, "For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?"

Men who do not follow the Lord Jesus dedicate their entire lives to gaining the world. They live their entire life according to the principles of the world system, hoping for provision, hoping for protection, hoping for prestige and glory. But what do they get? In the end they lose their life. When they stand before God they will have nothing but vanity to show for themselves.

The only way to live is to die to self and instead live for the Lord Jesus Christ. Follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. Humble yourself and be obedient to death even the death of the cross.

Luke 9:28-36

This account of the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus was recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This was a significant event in the life of the Lord Jesus. Peter later mentioned this again in his epistle. This was a life changing experience for the disciples. The Lord Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him up on the mountain to pray. While he was there he was changed. His face was changed and he glowed with a heavenly white light. While he was there two men appeared in glory with the Lord Jesus. These men were Moses and Elijah. In my opinion, these two men were the same ones there when the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, and will be the two witnesses in the book of Revelation. I also think they might have been the two men at the tomb of the Lord Jesus when he was resurrected.

Peter suggested the creation of three tents, one for the Lord Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Somehow he knew who these men were without having met them previously. This gives us a clue as to how things will be in the kingdom of God. We will know each other. We will know the Lord and we will know one another. A cloud appeared and the voice of God the Father spoke, proclaiming that the Lord Jesus was God's beloved Son and to hear him. Listen to the Lord Jesus! Listen to the Lord Jesus! This is what we are called to do. We are called to hear the voice of the Lord. This was the advantage of someone like Mary over her sister Martha. She had the spiritual discernment to know what was the most important thing to do. May God give us the discernment to know what is the best thing we can do with the life we have been given. Listen to the Lord Jesus.

Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again on the third day. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.

Luke 9:37-45

When the Lord Jesus and his disciples came down from the mountain of transfiguration they were confronted with a father who had a son possessed by devils. This father had already asked the Lord's disciples to help him and they were unable to cast out the devils from this boy.

I'm not sure who the Lord Jesus was rebuking when he said "faithless and perverse generation" but I assume this was directed at the disciples who were unable to help the man.

Even in the presence of the Lord these devils tried to act up but the Lord Jesus rebuked them, cast them out, and healed the boy completely. He then gave the boy back to his father. Everyone there was amazed at the mighty power of God displayed through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Right at that moment the Lord Jesus turned to his disciples and told them that the Son of Man would be delivered into the hands of men. Why did he say this? I think he tried to wake them up to get serious about their spiritual walk. He would only be with them a short season of time. He had a mission to go to Calvary and had only a short time to teach them.

He rebuked them to make them humble themselves and get serious about their spiritual life. The Lord Jesus rebuked the churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 in a similar manner. He said that everyone he loved he chastened and rebuked. We are to be zealous for the Lord and repent.

It is possible for a Christian to go a long time without any spiritual power in his life. Instead of living in spiritual defeat the Lord Jesus called us to get rid of all compromise in our life. He wants us to have a red hot burning faith in God and to get rid of all compromise. We may need to fast and pray to build this spiritual fire in our life. In another places where this same story was retold the Lord Jesus told his disciples that some demons can only come out by prayer and fasting.

Rid your life of all compromise. Remember to lay aside every weight and every sin which so easily besets you. Do not be like Israel at the foot of the mountain waiting for Moses to come back. Do not give in to the flesh but instead walk in the Spirit as you wait each day upon the Lord. Do not give in to impatience. Do not allow yourselves to give in to discouragement or unbelief. He that will come will come and will not delay. Cast not away your confidence today. Endure until the end.