Year 2, Week 33, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 33, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Luke 9.

Today’s reading records Jesus’ ministry actions and instructions that parallel the two previous day’s readings from Matthew 10, 14, and Mark 6. Luke 9 starts with Jesus sending His twelve disciples out to do and proclaim what He has been doing and proclaiming: “And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal” (Luke 9:1-2). Luke 9 also includes the miraculous feeding of the crowds with only five loaves and two fish: “And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces” (Luke 9:16-17).  But Luke 9 also includes some episodes that have yet been covered in the Gospel accounts: “Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God” (Luke 9:18-20).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the shift in conversation that Jesus had with His disciples after they correctly identified His as the Messiah: “And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:21-22). Jesus’ disciples understand something about how He is, but they also do not completely grasp all that Jesus is. The disciples correctly note that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of David, the King the Jews are waiting for to fulfill the covenant promises made to the ancestors. However, the disciples do not understand that Jesus is a suffering Messiah. It is probable due to the fact that the disciples have an incomplete understanding of what Jesus’ Messianic ramifications that Jesus requests that they refrain from telling anyone of what they had just rightly, but incompletely confessed. Yes, Jesus is the Messiah, but they need further help understanding about His sufferings, rejection, death, and resurrection. The suffering that Jesus begins to talk about among His disciples, which He would face, would not be a mistake, but a crucial aspect of His Kingship. Yes the Messiah would be the suffering servant, but He would be raised from the dead. Until they more fully grasped God’s plan, they were to be limited in what they spoke.

The disciples’ confession that Jesus truly is the Messiah, not only brought about an adjustment in what Jesus told them about Himself, it also brought about change in what Jesus told them were the costs involved in following Him: “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:23-27). Jesus’ destiny, which includes His suffering and death before his resurrection, functions as a pattern for His disciples to follow. Those who wish to follow Jesus in discipleship must deny themselves, that is, they must renounce their own plans and purposes for their lives. They are to take up their cross everyday. When Jesus takes up his cross, he bears it to the place of execution; so too Jesus’ disciples are to follow Jesus to death, so to speak, daily. To deny oneself and take up one’s cross daily in following Him means His followers must also be prepared to suffer even to the point of death in following their suffering Savior.

Such loss is the only true path of experiencing life. Jesus offers the great incentive or reward for pursuing the costly way of life that He directs His followers to take up. It will be of little comfort to preserve one’s life for a short time only to lose it forever. On the other hand, those who give up their lives for Jesus’ sake will save their lives forever. The call to discipleship is costly, but the reward makes it worth it. Jesus provides His closest followers a foretaste of the valuable reward that awaits them: “Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white” (Luke 9:28-29). This visible preview of the glorious reward that would await them, helped them to be resolved in their commitment to obey Jesus: “And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:35). The disciples were provided a great vision of why they should choose to follow Jesus in whatever the costs, for they were also given a glimpse of the glory that awaited them.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe