Conflicting Kingdoms

What does it mean to be a Christian? Is it a term that only refers to our destination after death? One who will be with Christ?

Is it a term that speaks of a moral code? Progressives and Conservatives both point the finger at behaviors of the other and accuse, “that isn’t very Christian”.

Does the term speak of doctrine or ordinances? To some it speaks of the person who has been catechized or confirmed so that he or she can quote the right answers. To others receiving baptism or Communion defines those who can rightly be called Christian.

Some would say a true Christian is one who follows and imitates Christ. In 2007 a movement was initiated and adopted the label “Red-Letter Christians”. It attempts to define Christian by only the words that Jesus spoke. Just over 2 years ago David Crowder and Ed Cash wrote a song about the red letters. But the problem arises when we ask what about the rest of the New Testament, what about the Old Testament, what about the parts of the gospels where Jesus isn’t speaking, but the Gospel writers are describing what He did?

We may agree that a disciple is someone who follows, learns from and is becoming like their mentor, in this case Jesus. But may there be more to being a Christian than just being a disciple?

I’m convinced that any definition of Christian that does not include being sent, is an incomplete definition.

Transition: In today’s lesson we find that Jesus calls aside those whom He called to follow Him and sends them out as His representatives. In the middle of the lesson we see the results of that mission, and in the last third we see Jesus debriefing their mission with an object lesson.

Jesus Spreads His Authority (9:1-6)

Addition or Multiplication

1. Churches have been filled for generations with members who believe their responsibility ends with their own children. These churchmen may never miss a week of attendance, but they also never say a word about Christ away from the church.

2. Many think it is the job of the pastors and the missionaries to spread the gospel and that their responsibility ends at the offering plate.

3. Up until this point in Luke’s Gospel, everybody who has been healed or exorcised has encountered Jesus’ power personally. But a shift happens in v.1 when Jesus imparts power and authority to the twelve.

4. William F. Arndt (an undisputed scholar on the language of the New Testament) suggests that authority (ἐξουσία) is the right to do something, while power (δύναμις) is the ability to do it[i]

5. Until this point Jesus has been adding to the Kingdom of God, starting here He introduces a multiplication strategy that will take off after the Resurrection.

Chase County will never be fully reached with the Gospel until ALL of us embrace the sentness of our Christianity.

Come and Hear vs. Go and Tell

1. For the last 8 chapters Luke has been writing about those who came to Jesus to have their needs met.

2. Verses 1-2 clearly instructs that being a Christ One means that we do and say what is consistent with the Kingdom of God.

a. Healing (bringing comfort) of physical needs;

b. Defeating evil (spiritual warfare); and

c. Gospel proclamation.

3. We may share a plate of cookies, but the gospel is too important to merely share.

Elliot Clark writes in his book, Evangelism as Exiles, that “Being faithfully present in your neighborhood doesn’t equal biblical evangelism. Polite spiritual conversations at work or around the dinner table also don’t mean you’ve evangelized anyone. You must announce good news.”

He goes on to write, “Christian evangelism…is news delivered as a persuasive plea, declaring the glory of Christ and calling sinners to repent. This is what it means to do biblical evangelism.”

4. It is one thing to invite people to a revival meeting, it is quite another to passionately tell the people you love how they need and can receive the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Treatment or Cure?

1. Remember, Luke is a physician so he holds special interest in the healing miracles of Jesus and the healing powers shared with the Apostles.

2. Before we are too quick to write this off as only belonging to another time and place, you may be more able to share in this commission than you think!

3. While the NASB uses the same word (heal) in both places in verses 1 and 2, the NIV and ESV use cure at the end of v.1 and heal at the end of v.2. This reflects that Luke also used different words and are not simple synonyms.

4. Verse 1 is literally the word therapy (43x) and speaks of the process. often with the implication of having taken care of such a person[ii]

5. The word in v.2 appears 26x and focuses on the result. to become well again after having been sick[iii]

6. You may not have the ability to do surgery or to pronounce immediate healing, but we do have the ability to participate in the process of caring for people and praying for God to act according to His authority.

Jesus’ provision

1. Matthew, Mark and Luke all record that Jesus told his apostles to restrict their luggage and go forth in faith.

2. Each of the gospels is a little different. Matthew gets specific about the types of money. Mark allows a staff and Matthew restricts extra shoes.

3. The aim is not so much asceticism or “living simply” for its own sake (like the Cynics, as noted above) as the recognition that hospitality should be expected, and that the work of the kingdom of God deserves its own support (cf. 10:7).[iv]

4. The “bag” in v.3 was traditionally used by traveling philosopher to pass around for donations (an offering plate). But also implies collecting more than is needed immediately and storing the extra for future needs.

5. V.4 implies that they can expect hospitality- or a sharing of physical goods in exchange for the ministry they would be providing. But this expectation should not be leveraged as an opportunity to seek an “upgrade”.

When you live in a pastor’s home you sometimes come into information that others do not have. When I was a teenager our church hosted revival meetings that were quite well attended for a church of our size and many got saved.

My father, the pastor, scheduled this same speaker to come back in a couple years for another series of meetings. In the meantime, a larger church with a potentially larger love offering asked him to come the same date. He accepted the higher offer and canceled the dates we had scheduled.

I don’t want to give too many details that may reveal who the speaker was; but mishandling of money later caused great pains for this servant of God.

Application

· Jesus tells His apostles to “travel light” and be faithful and their needed accommodations would be met.

A triad of Christ followers in the 2nd half of the 1800’s applied a faith principle to their respective areas of ministry. Hudson Taylor left England for China as a missionary, George Muller cared for over 10,000 orphans, and Charles Spurgeon started a college for pastors. All of them lived by a faith principle based upon this passage of Scripture. By 1886 that principle crossed the Atlantic and was implemented by D.L. Moody in Chicago. The principle is “God’s work done in God’s way for God’s glory will never lack God’s supply.”

Transition: As the apostles spread the message of Jesus authority and kingdom, his reputation spreads to the palace. Herod Antipas, a ruler over 1/5 of the Empire, considers what the claims of Christ mean for him.

Jesus’ Source of Authority (9:7-9)

John?

1. all that was happening means that as the apostles went about preaching and ministering, the reputation of Jesus was spreading among the general population.

2. The last time there was an uprising regarding a Jewish prophet was when John was preaching and the religious leaders felt threatened.

3. Matthew 14 gives much more detail about the interaction between Herod and John that led to John’s head on a platter.

4. Herod knew that resurrection is not likely after a beheading, but reasoned “it’s that John situation all over again”

Historical Prophets [Elijah]? (Malachi 4:5)

Malachi 4:5 ESV:2016

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

1. Malachi states what was recorded in other extrabiblical texts that Elijah or one of the other OT prophets would come back and make a prophecy before the Day of the Lord.

2. Some claimed that Jesus was this prophet of the end times.

Personal Encounter (Luke 23:8-11)

1. Jesus was not a political problem like John proved to be for Herod. Jesus was more than a vague end time prophet. But Herod would never figure out exactly who Jesus was until he meets Him personally.

2. Jesus does NOT come as a representative of some other authority. He came with the very power of God within Him.

3. When Herod does meet Jesus, he treats Him with contempt when Jesus refuses to show off some miracle.

Application

Those who only look to Jesus for entertainment will always be disappointed.

Transition: As Jesus prepares to debrief his apostles from their short-term missions trip, the results from their efforts mean that Christ is more popular than ever, so Jesus gives a practical illustration of how He will provide into the future.

Jesus Shows His Authority (9:10-17)

Remember: Power is about ability, Authority is about privilege. This final miracle is not about what Jesus is able to do, but about His choice to act abundantly toward His followers.

A debrief (v.10)

1. Jesus want to help the twelve process what they had just seen and done.

2. Just as Mary “pondered all that had happened” if we don’t take time for reflection, we may miss the lessons that could be gained.

3. Jesus wants to celebrate their wins and help them learn from their losses so that they would be better prepared for future mission.

Highlights from the Experience

1. This is a miracle that most of us heard in Sunday School so I won’t rehearse the story or get lost in the details.

2. I think this is more about the Twelve learning God’s provision than it is about 5000 receiving lunch.(13a)

3. When God provides, He satisfies (v.17a)

This is way more than a taste of bread and a sip of wine.

4. Notice how many basket were leftover. I see a personalized message to each of the Apostles. This is more than a general miracle for the crowd, it is more than a leadership lesson for the group of disciples. It is an individualized lesson that each could trust God to provide his needs.

Conclusion:

I realize that watching a screen is harder to hold attention than a live interaction, so I’ve kept this shorter than normal. But before I conclude, allow me to give you 3 take-away points.

1. Jesus doesn’t measure success with stuff. If we are faithful to do what He asks, He will make sure to meet our needs.

2. A proper understanding of Jesus will never happen second-hand or from a distance.

Jeremiah 29:13 ESV:2016

13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

3. God’s ability to provide defies logic and natural laws.

Jesus gives us the unbelievable privilege to represent His authority and power in our community and to introduce others to the One who can meet their every need.

[i] Darrell L. Bock, Luke: 1:1–9:50, vol. 1, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1994), 813.

[ii] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 268.

[iii] Ibid., 268.

[iv] R. T. France, Luke, ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013), 159.