Luke 9:37-43 (3)

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-Let me invite you to follow along in your Bibles...

And, this morning, we’ve come to Luke 9:37

-For the last several weeks...

...We’ve been looking at Jesus’ Transfiguration...

Where, His primacy and supremacy over all things...

…had been clearly proclaimed...

…by those heavenly attestations!

Through them, he had been revealed to be...

The Lord’s Messiah!

The very Son of God!

And the three disciples...

…had been privy to it all!

It had been a literal “Mountain-Top-Experience” for them.

-But, as is so often the case (even for us today)...

When they came down from that Mountain...

They were immediately reminded...

…of the sober realities of life in a fallen world...

But also...

…that Jesus was able to overcome it!

-You see, just as Jesus had been...

...immediately confronted by Satan...

…after the Father had affirmed him at his baptism...

So now, on the heels of this affirmation...

…he would go on to be...

…met by the powers of darkness...

…and, once again...

Prevail over them

Prove His identity

Prove His worth...

...Prove His ability to accomplish...

...the coming redemption of his people!

-This too, is a marvelous event...

And, there is much for us to learn from it.

-Alright, let’s read our text...

…and ask for the Lord’s blessing to be upon it.

Luke 9:37...

This is God’s Holy Word:

Luke 9:37–43 (ESV)

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.

38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him.

40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God...

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Pray

-The connection to the Transfiguration...

…is made clear...

…by the temporal language...

…that Luke uses at the beginning of Verse 37.

He says that this next event occured...

Luke 9:37 (ESV)

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain...

And, as we’ve already seen happen...

… so many times before...

When Jesus returns from this time of...

Seclusion

Prayer

Private instruction for his disciples...

Luke 9:37 (ESV)

37 . . . a great crowd met him.

That’s not always presented as a positive, is it?.

Why?

Because the crowds, while often zealous...

...were also very...

Needy

Demanding

Inconsiderate...

...And, they were often interspersed with...

…those who were hostile to Jesus’ work.

Such was the case here as well.

-Mark, who describes the event in more detail...

...tells us about it in:

Mark 9:14–17 (ESV)

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.

15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.

Can mean “excited,” or “alarmed”

We’re not told why...

16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

And, this is where Luke picks it back up, in...

Luke 9:38 (ESV)

38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son...

“look at” is literally “look upon”

Meaning, not just to behold visibly...

...But, “to have regard for,” or “show favor to”

It’s a plea for help and intervention.

-Matthew records it like this:

Matthew 17:14–15 (ESV)

14 ...a man came up to him and, kneeling before him,

15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son...

-Now, Luke includes a detail...

…that the other gospel writers...

…have chosen to omit...

And it helps us to better understand...

…the cause of this man’s desperation.

We see it at the end of Verse 38.

Luke 9:38 (ESV)

38 . . . “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

That’s our word: “monogenes” or “only begotten”

What that tells us is, that...

…Not only:

Was he his only son

Was he his only child, period.

Was he the delight of his heart (affectionately-speaking)...

…He was his hope for the security of his future!

He would be the one to...

Inherit and continue the man’s vocation

Inherit and maintain his properties

Inherit the responsibility to care for the rest of his household

Provide and care for he and his wife in their old age.

In this society...

…all your hopes for your future prosperity...

…rested in your children (and vice-versa).

This was particularly the case...

…if you only had ONE!

Zechariah 12:10 helps us to understand...

…how important the monogenes was...

…in Ancient Near Eastern life:

Zechariah 12:10 (ESV)

10 ...they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

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For them...

…it would be hard to imagine...

…a more devastating loss!

Hence, we see the man’s desperation in our text.

-But… this man hasn’t lost all hope YET!

His son still lives.

But, he is in great peril.

He describes his condition to Jesus in Verse 39:

Luke 9:39 (ESV)

39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him.

“Shatters” = “grinding,” or “crushing together”

As pitiable as this sounds, already...

…the other gospel writers add to it!

Matthew 17:15 (ESV)

15 . . . he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.

You see, this is...

Dangerous

Life-Threatening.

Mark adds this:

Mark 9:17–18 (ESV)

17 . . . he has a spirit that makes him mute.

Meaning: He can’t speak intelligibly

18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid...

Mark also adds this, a little later:

Mark 9:21–22 (ESV)

21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him...

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Now, I’m sure you’re all...

…having the same thoughts that I had...

…while studying these texts.

But, let’s be careful.

Let’s heed this word of caution from Philip Ryken:

Some scholars have thought that this boy suffered from epileptic seizures; many of the symptoms are similar.

Yet the Bible clearly states that whatever physical problems he may have had, the boy was under the influence of supernatural evil—what his father called “a spirit,” and what Luke called “the demon” and “the unclean spirit” (Luke 9:42) — Ryken

-The NT writers make clear distinctions between...

Natural Sickness

Demonic Phenomena

For example:

Matthew 4:24 (ESV)

24 ...they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.

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And Luke, of all people...

(Himself being a physician)

…would have been able to know the difference.

-The sobering reality is, that...

...Satan may often disguise his attacks...

…under the veil of natural phenomena…

…to the end that, we might...

…seek a natural solution (rather than a spiritual one)...

...And thus, be further trapped in his schemes.

These are important details for us consider.

-Now, remember that this exchange had begun...

…with Jesus asking the crowds...

Mark 9:16 (ESV)

16 . . . “What are you arguing about with them?”

“them” being his disciples.

Why would this young man’s suffering...

…cause them to argue?

Well, we see that answered in Verse 40:

Luke 9:40 (ESV)

40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

Literally: They “weren’t able”

Mark uses a word that denotes inability...

…due to the absence of “power,” or “strength”

-Now, no one ELSE was able to do it either...

So why do we see this animus...

...against the remaining 9 apostles?

Well, it probably has something to do with...

…what happened at the very beginning of this Chapter:

Luke 9:1–2 (ESV)

1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,

2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

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Remember, that this had been...

…something of a blitzkrieg strategy.

It was a quick and fast...

…widespread dissemination of the announcement...

...of the arrival of the Kingdom...

…in the arrival of Its King.

An announcement that was testified to from heaven...

…by the signs and wonders...

…being performed through the hands of the Twelve.

But, now they can’t perform them.

Why?

Well, I think there are several pertinent factors, here.

The first is that, that...

...was a particular and peculiar commission.

(You can see that in the prohibition of preparation)

That temporary dispensation was fulfilled....

…and came to an end.

Also, we are remiss to assume...

…that a spiritual gift/enablement (once given)...

…can never be withdrawn.

Remember what the author of Hebrews wrote:

He said that...

Hebrews 2:4 (ESV)

4 ...signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

That passage in Romans 11:29 that says that...

Romans 11:29 (ESV)

29 ...the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

…has absolutely nothing to do with “spiritual gifts” . . .

…as we use the phrase.

In fact, we see Paul (who had healed many people)...

Later on in his life...

…telling Timothy:

1 Timothy 5:23 (ESV)

23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

Why didn’t he just heal him?

We see him also telling Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:20 (ESV)

20 ...I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.

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Why didn’t he just heal him?

Because, for whatever reason...

…by that point in his life...

…HE WASN’T ABLE!

(I surmise that it was because...

…those miraculous gifts were...

…already beginning to wane...

…as the Canon was nearing its completion)

Whatever the reason...

…we must be aware of this dynamic.

-Now, thankfully we’re not left to wonder...

…when it comes to our text.

Matthew and Mark both include the answer.

They both have...

Matthew 17:19–20 (ESV)

19 ...the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

This is obvious hyperbole...

Meant to illustrate the point that...

…faith in God’s ability...

...is the necessary precondition...

…for the impossible to become the reality.

Mark, has this clarifying reply:

Mark 9:29 (ESV)

29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Meaning what?

(Faith-based) Petition to God

Looking to the Power of God (in faith)

(Some manuscripts add “and fasting”)

(I think that’s not likely the original construction...

…and that it is unfortunate...

…that it has come to be so widely memorized as such)

Here’s why:

It takes the focus from...

Acknowledging it to be something only GOD can do (directly)...

To something WE can do...

…if we only put enough effort into it!

-But, let’s be clear… Jesus’ comments...

…were meant as a correction/rebuke.

The first was lack of faith

The second was lack of prayer

These are inseparably connected elements...

…of spiritual life and power.

William MacDonald says this:

Why were the disciples unable to help the boy?

Perhaps they had become professional in their ministry. Perhaps they thought they could count on a Spirit-filled ministry without constant spiritual exercise. Perhaps they were taking things too much for granted. — BBC

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Perhaps he’s right!

(Either way, the warning is applicable to us)

-We see a similar disposition of heart...

…in Jesus’ initial response to...

…hearing of the Apostles’ failure:

-He says, to the father of the child...

…but, using plural pronouns:

Luke 9:41 (ESV)

41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? . . .

Notice another inseparable connection:

Unbelief and Immorality

Or, positively:

Faith and Morality

Here, he is indicting the 1st Century Jews in general...

Not the father

Not even his disciples...

…in particular

Here’s why (other than the use of plural pronouns):

It is common OT language:

Psalm 78:5–8 (ESV)

5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,

6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,

7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;

8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

-Here’s why I don’t think he’s...

…lumping the child’s father...

...into that iniquitous mass:

It’s because of the dialogue that Mark includes, in...

Mark 9:22–24 (ESV)

22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

It takes faith...

…to desire faith!

This should be outcry of all our hearts, brethren!

-Now, watch what Jesus does:

Look at the end of Verse 41:

Luke 9:41–42 (ESV)

41 ...Bring your son here.”

Notice: Jesus is undaunted...

...and is not delimited...

...by the absence of others’ faith

42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him...

Notice:

Compliance isn’t an option for the demonic foe

He isn’t happy, but he’s coming to stand before his Maker

He’s going to assault the image of God in the man...

…as much as he can...

…before he is forced to leave.

But, this little temper-tantrum was short-lived.

Luke tells us, simply:

Luke 9:42 (ESV)

42 ...But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy...

Mark elaborates on the process:

Mark 9:25–27 (ESV)

25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

Think about this in the context of what Jude wrote?

Jude 9 (ESV)

9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

Remember also

Zechariah 3:1–2 (ESV)

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!..

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Who Rebukes the demon in our text?

Jesus!

In his OWN name!

Even, the Apostles...

…had to invoke an alien authority to do this:

Acts 16:18 (ESV)

18 . . . Paul . . . turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

Jesus says, “I command you” . . .

…and it obeys!

Mark 9:26

26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

Upon Jesus’ authority and power:

The Demon is expelled

The young man is made whole.

-And, then watch the gesture of compassion...

…back in our text:

Luke 9:42 (ESV)

42 … Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

Jesus gave him back:

His only child

His hope for the future!

And then we see this...

…at the beginning of Verse 43:

Luke 9:43 (ESV)

43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God...

“majesty” or “grandeur” of “great power”

Who is the focus of this event?

Us?

Jesus?

Whose ability to do the miraculous...

…is the focal point?

Ours?

His?

I hope you can see, that...

...This event is a further attestation...

…of the divine revelation from last week:

Luke 9:35 (ESV)

35 . . . “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

Let’s pray for faith to do so.