Kingdom Headlines

Luke 9:37–62 HCSB

37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he’s my only child. 39 Often a spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; wounding him, it hardly ever leaves him. 40 I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.” 41 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing, He told His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink in: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it. 46 Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them. 47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, took a little child and had him stand next to Him. 48 He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. For whoever is least among you—this one is great.” 49 John responded, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.” 50 “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.” 51 When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He determined to journey to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of Him, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for Him. 53 But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village. 57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go!” 58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” 60 But He told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Structure of Sermon

Intro

37-43 read and comment

37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he’s my only child. 39 Often a spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; wounding him, it hardly ever leaves him. 40 I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.” 41 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing, He told His disciples....

We notice: an unclean spirit is rebuked, a child is cured and everyone was amazed at what Jesus was doing.

Our response: We are amazed at what He is doing.

digging into the story: the disciples weren’t able to drive out the spirit. Why does Jesus say, “You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”? I think that we find the answer in the first part of this chapter.

Luke 9:1 HCSB

1 Summoning the Twelve, He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and power to heal diseases.

The disciples of Jesus had been given power and authority over all demons and disease.

Jesus’ indictment reads: unbelieving and rebellious

He laments: How long will this last?

Jesus, isn’t messing around. It’s almost as if He realizes that the time is short. Somethings they needed to get. And these men needed to learn these lessons… like… yesterday.

What power has He given you that you are not believing in Him to follow through with?

What authority has He given you that you are not exercising?

43-48 read and comment

43 And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing, He told His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink in: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it. 46 Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them. 47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, took a little child and had him stand next to Him. 48 He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”

Who concealed this statement? Is it difficult for you to comprehend. If I said to you… “I am going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” Would you be confused very long? You say, well it was figurative language. Into the hands of men- perhaps these weren’t very bright fishermen that Jesus has selected. It’s funny to me, Jesus said “let these words sink in.” Also, figuartive… meaning consider these words for some time till they affect you. Let this next thing that I say not escape your attention. “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” Men will take control over him and his life.

What is on Jesus’ mind in this passage?

What is on the disciples minds?

Jesus know what is ahead and He knows that there is some perspective change that needs to be formed in His followers for them to carry on with His mission.

Am I right?

Let me re say that. Jesus know what is ahead and He knows that there is some perspective change that needs to be formed in His followers for them to carry on with His mission.

Maybe in these past few days Jesus has been trying to get your attention. Is He saying to you? - “Let this sink in a little...” “I want you to be ready for what is coming.”

If Jesus wanted to prepare you to be His follower and to prepare you to be productive for His kingdom in this day and age? What would He have to do to get your attention? What would He have to do to make sure that you had some of your perspectives rearranged so that you can become His Kingdom minded. I’d suggest that we are finding out right here. What happened in Luke 9:36 - the passage just before we started today?

What did Jesus do?

Would you stop your busyness on your own? Would you lay aside the next

49-50 read and comment

49 John responded, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.” 50 “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”

At this point I think we can start to point out this theme the larger story of the Disciples Kingdom Training

Serving in Jesus’ Kingdom was tough training for these newly commissioned disciples

41 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

51-56 read and comment

51 When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He determined to journey to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of Him, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for Him. 53 But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village.

I want to mention that I love who is asking these questions. Doesn’t it sound like something Peter would say? It’s John… I know that the others were involved but in vs 49 we tried to stop this guy, he was driving out demons, but he wasn’t one of us. And here in 54 John is involved… Lord, do you want us to call down fire?… Do you think this guy understands that He has been following the right guy? He’s on the ground floor of something amazing. He bought in when the prices were low and this thing is gonna explode. He’s got super powers that you wouldn’t believe. Wait till people find out just how amazing this is and how much authority we have… He’s into something good. This is the disciple Jesus loves. Who is so passionate for Jesus’ new world order

It reminds me of J.J. my son

56-62 read and comment

56 and they went to another village. 57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go!” 58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” 60 But He told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

I’ll show you my glory, I want you to make Me known.

I asked earlier what would Jesus do if he wanted to get you ready to be productive for his kingdom purposes in these days ahead.

It assumes one thing… that he knows the days ahead.

If we agree with that premise. Theres another assumption. That He wants you to be productive for His Kingdom. 2 Peter 1

If you agree with both those premises. There’s another assumption He wants to prepare us to be productive. And with that that He knows how to prepare you to grow you into a productive follower of Jesus.

Okay if you are with me, then let me suggest Jesus if He wanted to get you ready to be productive for His Kingdom in the days ahead

He would first, show you who He is. He would show you His grace and His truth. He is the way the Truth, the Life. He would bring Himself into focus before you. Look at the transfiguration

Would He call you out when you are being faithless?

Would He call you out when you are being rebellious?

Would He still love you? Would He still walk with you and remind you of your calling?

He would.

He would clarify what success in His kingdom looks like. He would rearrange our mis-conceptions about what it looks like to be a player in His Kingdom. There’s no promotions. The Headlines in Heaven read differently than the Newspapers that dominate our world order.

He would warn you - this is going to cost you.

He would tell you to put God’s Kingdom Purposes above your own kingdom agenda.

(There’s a lot of ways to say this. I want to pick the best one. This is where the gotchya moment and the aha moment. Father, I pray for your words not mine. Lord, help me.)

What are the disciples who call Jesus “Lord” saying?

Luke 9:54 HCSB

54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

Luke 9:59 HCSB

59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.”

Luke 9:61 HCSB

61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.”