October 26, 2008
Bible Study, Chapter 9
Luke 9 is a very full chapter
& will likely take you more than one study to complete. However, it’s an important chapter in Luke,
so take the time to do so.
Read
through chapter 9 and then peruse the appropriate verses as you study each
section.
Verses 1 – 9
From the very beginning of
his ministry, Jesus has been in the process of including his followers in his
mission. Clearly Jesus expects that these men & women will carry on when
he’s no longer present. In fact, by
multiplying his mission, he’s making himself even more effective and increasing
his impact.
-
Jesus did not just assign a task to his followers. He gave them ‘power & authority.’ Why is
this necessary? How do you think Jesus actually gives away ‘power &
authority?’
-
Here and elsewhere, Luke will always emphasize that Jesus sent his followers to
both ‘preach and heal’ (verses 1, 2, & 6).
Why is it important that good deeds be accompanied by preaching? And, why is it necessary that preaching be accompanied
by good deeds? Is this still true?
-
Jesus does not always tell his followers to ‘take nothing’ when he sends them
on missions, though he does here. Try to put yourself in the place of the men
being sent. If you (they) are to take no
supplies, how & where are you going to find the necessities of life? So, imagine yourself entering a town…What are
you going to be thinking & doing as you get ready to proceed with your
mission? Do you think that in any way,
Jesus is intending to grow YOUR faith in this mission experience? How does this faith-growing take place? Now, in the life you are living today, how
might Jesus be intending to grow your faith?
-
Finally, in verses 7-9, you’ll note that when Jesus multiplies his mission to
just 12 additional men, there is such an impact that the news even makes it to
the king’s palace. What does this say about the potential impact of a small
group of people who take seriously the mission of Jesus?
Verses 10 – 17
Following the successful
mission mentioned in verses 1-9, the disciples return to report to Jesus. How long this mission had lasted, we have no
idea. Several weeks are likely. Jesus
intended to both debrief the disciples and spend some time with them in a quiet
retreat. They are, however, interrupted
by the crowds who want more of what Jesus’ followers have to offer. The success
of their previous mission caught up with them!
And clearly, Jesus isn’t finished teaching them & involving them in
faith-stretching experiences.
-
Most of us wish to succeed at life.
However, in many different times and places, wise people have often
said, ‘Be careful what you wish for as you might get it!’ Think about your own life: What would it mean
if you were to experience great success?
What’s the down-side of that success?
Are you ready for it?
Now,
think also of
-
Imagine yourself facing a great crowd of maybe 10,000 people. (Luke & others who tell this story
indicate that 5,000 men were present, not counting the women &
children. This is a sad commentary on
the culture, and adds even more meaning to the positive way Jesus treats both
women & children.) If you’re holding
nothing more than a PB & J sandwich, how do you understand Jesus’ command
to, “Feed them?”
-
Now, having experienced this extraordinary miracle, what have you learned both
about Jesus and about future ministry done ‘in his name?’
Verses 18 – 22
These are some very important
verses in the book of Luke. They are, in
fact, a key turning point in this book.
Here’s why…
-
Several times in this book, Luke has raised the very important question, ‘Just
who is this Jesus?’ Review the following
verses and make note of how Luke has done this:
* Luke 4:14-30 * Luke
-
Now, following a question about what the ‘crowds’ are popularly saying about
Jesus, he asks his disciples who they believe him to be. How do you interpret Peter’s answer? Do you think this answer is important? Think about all that these men have seen
& heard from Jesus… flip through the pages of Luke and do a quick review if
necessary. What is it about Jesus’ words
and actions that lead them to respond this way?
- What possible reason could Jesus have for telling them
to keep silent (verse 21)?
- It
will become very obvious that the disciples have very different
expectations for Jesus in light of who they understand him to be. Take notice of the very first thing Jesus
tells them about his future mission… now that they understand who he is (verse
22). Jesus will continue to reinforce
this. Why is it so important for them to
understand what the mission of Jesus involves?
Verses 23 – 27
Do you think it is at all
significant that, having told his followers of his own coming suffering, he
also warns them that ‘cross-bearing’ will be in their future as well? What does this mean for you & me today?
Verses 28 – 36
This is a very unusual and
bizarre experience. Although there’s
much about the actual details we don’t understand, it’s clear that once again
this episode is about the identity of Jesus.
- Had you been one of the witnesses to this event, what
would you conclude about Jesus? Is this
still important for you to know today?
Why?
- Do you think it’s important that this event follows
the confession of Peter in verse 20?
Verses 37 – 50
The disciples still have a
whole lot to learn about Jesus and about how they will carry on his ministry
after he is gone. Several key lessons
are condensed in these compact sentences.
-
Although they had already been given ‘power & authority’ to do ministry
(see verse 1), they evidently don’t always get it right. What kind of lesson might they be learning
from their failure (verse 40) here?
-
After Jesus’ great success (verse 43), Jesus again finds it important to remind
them of his coming suffering (verses 44). Why do you think that popular success
makes it necessary for Jesus to remind them of what’s still ahead?
-
How do you interpret Jesus’ lesson on ‘greatness’ in verses 46-48? What
practical lessons might you apply to your own life from this lesson?
Verses 51 – 62
From this point on, Jesus is
marching ‘resolutely’ to the cross which awaits him in
-
This means that rather than being a ‘victim,’ Jesus is in some way in control
of the events that follow, including the cross.
Why is it important to remember that the cross is a deliberate part of
the plan of God for Jesus?
-
Luke includes a quick series of mini-stories about people who seem to reject
Jesus because of the cross which awaits him in
* The Samaritans
(verses 52, 53):
* The
disciples (verses 54-56):
* Verses
57, 58:
* Verses
59-60:
* Verses
61-62:
Summary
What are some of the big ideas
you’ve learned in chapter 9?
In light of what you’ve
learned, is there any God-business you need to take care of in the immediate
future?