Luke 9:46-62
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Luke 9:46-62
Luke 9:46-62
Jesus just cast out a demon from the son of the man that brought him to the disciples…
An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.
“An argument arose among them”
Remember Jesus took Peter, John and James up into the mountain top…
Could it be that the disciples considered Jesus’ Kingdom as an earthly kingdom...
Could it be that they were in competition and became jealous of one another?
Power and Prestige can cause you to miss the BIG PICTURE…
Don’t miss the moment
They were were caught in a position of the greatest when Jesus Just told him about his position
And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
“Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts”
He knew what they were thinking…
He knew their heart…
It was a tough day for the disciples…
#1 They could not cast the demon out
#2 They were confused about a statement made by Jesus and they were afraid to ask Him.
#3 There is a disagreement and it has to be in front of people about who is the greatest.
“Jesus too a child and put him by his side and said to them”
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.”
Jesus paints a picture by using a child as an example
To Greek and Jewish societies, until children could contribute to the labor force, they simply had “not arrived” they were literally, “the least among you.”
It’s not about being the greatest but it’s about receiving/representing the only one who is Great
Receiving people through actions of humility
Receiving those that may seem powerless, insignificant, hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick, imprisoned and poor.
“For He who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”
The great debate…
“Because he does not follow with us.”
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.
“His face was set toward Jerusalem”
Jerusalem was his destination or He was set to worship in Jerusalem
But Samaritans were hostile to the Jews…
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
To the first man, his advice was, ‘Before you follow me, count the cost…
Discipleship means self-denial, sacrifice, service, and suffering!
An Exegetical Summary of Luke:
The example of homelessness was merely an illustration of the need for Jesus’ followers to choose a life with eternal purposes and heavenly treasures instead of a life of temporal purposes and earthly wealth.
(Bishop Jakes & Bishop Jones - Bishop Jakes talking about did we make it to easy)
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
“To another he Said, “Follow me.” - Who said?
Jesus knew exactly what this person was going through and what he was seeking for…
That’s why he said Follow me....
“But he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
The question we must ask is was he father dead?
Was he at the point of Death?
Was he elderly and wanted to stay around for awhile?
The point Jesus was making is that in everything there is a crucial moment; if that moment is missed the thing most likely will never be done at all.
The man in the story had stirrings in his heart to get out of his spiritually dead surroundings; if he missed that moment he would never get out.
“Leave the dead to bury their own dead” - Jesus is talking to those spiritually not literally…
The first reference to ‘the dead’ is metaphorical and means the spiritually dead.
while the second reference is to the ones that are to be buried in a grave and means those who have died physically.
Let the spiritually dead people bury the physically dead people.
Thats why I’m calling you out to follow me!
No more excuses - I have an assignment for you.....
Go and proclaim the Kingdom of God - Don’t miss the moment…
In order to plow straight, the plowman must look forward to where he is going and not backward.
Just as the persons who plows must look forward and devote full attention to the work, so also he who wants to be a follower of Christ must not allow other matters to distract his attention from his calling.
What may cause you to look back?
To lose focus?
To be distracted?
“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is Fit for the Kingdom.”
Fit means to measure up to the requirement of single-minded devotion to the task, of not being distracted by other matters
Recap
There is a cost
Don’t miss the moment
Don’t look Back
