Are You Leading Or Following?

Luke 9:51-56

Theme: Following Christ

Key verse: v.23

Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

62 verses; 1,457 words

Grade level: 4.4

Outline:

Christ and the Commission. Vs. 1-6

Christ and the Confusion. Vs. 7-9

Christ and the Crowd. Vs. 10-17

Christ and the Confession. Vs. 18-22

Christ and the Cross. Vs. 23-27

Christ and the Cloud. Vs.28-36

Christ and the Child. Vs.37-42

Christ and the Confinement. Vs.43-45

Christ and the Contemplation. Vs.46-48

Christ and the Casting. Vs.49-50

Christ and the Correction. Vs.51-56

Christ and the Calling. Vs.57-62

The overreaching sin here in these passages the last two weeks and this week is pride.

Pride is a common sin.

It takes various forms.

Pride of place (Luk 9:46-48).

Pride of party (Luk 9:49-50).

Pride of power (Luk 9:51-56).

Here are some INSIGHTS if you are planning on following the Lord.

I. The Direction of the Lord. vs.51-52

Jesus prepared His direction. v.51

51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

The disciples prepared their direction for Him. v.52

52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

II. The Dedication of the Lord. v.53

His dedication ruled His life. v.53a

53 And they did not receive him,

His dedication ruled His feet. v.53b

because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

III. The Determination of the Lord. vs.54-56

Our Lord is not interested in correcting this world at this time!

Here is the revelation of their heart. v.54

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

James and John wanted to call fire down from heaven and burn the whole village up as Elijah did to those soldiers Ahaziah sent to bring him in (read 1 Kings 1:9–12).

Here is the rebuke of the Holy One. vs.55-56

Jesus let them know who they were. v.55

55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

The Lord rebukes them in verse 55 because this is His First Coming, not the Second Coming.

He brings the fire at His Second Advent

Luke 3:17

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

See also:

Zephaniah 3:8

Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Malachi 4:1

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8

7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,”

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

James and John have the right idea but the wrong time. Moses and Elijah will call down fire (Rev. 11:5), but now it’s: “the Son of man is come TO SEEK AND TO SAVE that which was lost” (19:10). We don’t go around trying to kill those who disagree with us.

Jesus let them know His purpose for His first coming. v.56

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Conclusion:

There are several recorded instances where Jesus…

Called these men.

Some the Scripture shows Him calling away from family, some away from jobs and careers.

Chose these men.

Jesus made plain He chose them. (John 15:16)

Corrected these men.

For James and John it was the pride of place, party, and power He revealed to them.

For others:

For Peter it was the sin of cussing. (the rooster)

For Paul it was the state of lost yet religious. (Acts 9:1-6)

What is it for you?