39 Jesus Teaches the Disciples about Kingdom Life Luke 9:37-56

Introduction

Trust me

Why do we have a hard time trusting people or Jesus?

Basically two words used in the NT for trust, faith or believe

“pistis” faith - reliance upon and trust in God

Hebrews 11:1 “1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Ephesians 2:8 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”

“pisteuo” believe - Describes the act of believing or trusting God on the basis of His truthfulness and reliability.

John 3:36 “36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life...”

Romans 4:3 “3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.””

John MacArthur writes “Biblical faith is not natural, human faith. In that sense, everyone has faith, since everyone trusts in things, such as the safety of the water they drink and the edibility of the food they eat, the competence of those who maintain and fly the airplanes they travel on, and the effectiveness of the medicines they take. But, in all those examples, faith is based on human experience. Biblical faith trusts in what it has not experienced, based on its absolute confidence in the truth of God’s promises in Scripture. Apart from such faith, it is impossible to please God (v. 6).”

According to Louis Berkhof’s Systematic Theology there are 3 elements of Biblical saving faith:

An intellectual element (notitia). There is an element of knowledge in faith... The knowledge of faith consists in a positive recognition of the truth, in which man accepts as true whatsoever God says in His Word, and especially what He says respecting the deep depravity of man and the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

An emotional element (assensus). Barth calls attention to the fact that the time when man accepts Christ by faith is the existential moment of his life, in which he ceases to consider the object of faith in a detached and disinterested way, and begins to feel a lively interest in it. When one embraces Christ by faith, he has a deep conviction of the truth and reality of the object of faith, feels that it meets an important need in his life, and is conscious of an absorbing interest in it,—and this is assent.

A volitional element (fiducia). This is the crowning element of faith. Faith is not merely a matter of the intellect, nor of the intellect and the emotions combined; it is also a matter of the will, determining the direction of the soul, an act of the soul going out towards its object and appropriating this. Without this activity the object of faith, which the sinner recognizes as true and real and entirely applicable to his present needs, remains outside of him. And in saving faith it is a matter of life and death that the object be appropriated. This third element consists in a personal trust in Christ as Saviour and Lord, including a surrender of the soul as guilty and defiled to Christ, and a reception and appropriation of Christ as the source of pardon and of spiritual life.

In Luke 9:37-56 Jesus teaches the Apostles about faith in action

Kingdom life is living by faith in all aspects of it

Without faith it is impossible to please God

it is a lesson the Apostles need to learn and which we need to learn and refresh in our lives as well

We see 5 areas of faith in Kingdom life addressed here

Faith and unbelief

Faith and Suffering

Faith and Pride

Faith and Intolerance

Faith and Bigotry

Read

Luke 9:37–56 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. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 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. 46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 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.” 49 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.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” 51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 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?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village.

Faith and Unbelief(37-43a)

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.

The Apostles trouble in the valley

The mountain top experience

After the mountain top experience of the transfiguration

when Jesus came down from the mountain there was a dispute going on

Mark 9:14 “14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.”

Jesus asked why they were arguing and the answer was that the disciples could not cast out the demon when his father brought the boy to them

The disciples could not cast out the demon plaguing this boy

Earlier Jesus had given them the power and authority to cast out demons

Matt 10:1 “1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.”

Mark 6:13 “13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

Either the disciples weren’t able to do this because of something within themselves or something external prevented it

Mat 17:19-20 “19 Then 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.””

Jesus is great and supreme in both instances

Jesus teaches by a rebuke and illustration

Luke 9:41 “Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.””

Who is Jesus addressing in verse 41?

It could be the Apostles for their puny faith

it could be everyone in the crowd including the Apostles for their puny faith

Jesus rebuked the Apostles

He called them faithless - without faith - unbelieving - “apistos”

He also called them twisted - perverted - corrupt - unable to trust their teacher and friend

These are strong words usually reserved for the religious leaders of the day but here Jesus calls His own Apostles faithless and twisted as if they were Pharisees

Jesus expressed disappointment with them by stating he no longer wanted to be around them or put up with their unbelief anymore

Jesus then demonstrates that with a tiny amount of faith you can do wondrous things

Mark 9:22-24 “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!””

This father had little faith - weak faith and yet Jesus responds by honoring his request and healing his son.

The Apostles had to be shamed and embarrassed by their lack of even the small amount of faith this man had

Jesus did three amazing things in the healing

Luke 9:42 “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.”

He rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father

Jesus removed the spiritual problem

Jesus restored this boy to a healthy state of being. Restored him to wholeness.

Jesus reunited this father with his son

A doctor could heal us from our diseases and a psychiatrist could help us to mental and emotional wholeness. This they could do over time. But no one on this earth can eliminate our spiritual problems. Only Jesus can do that and all the rest as well.

I see a spiritual application in this with our salvation and sanctification.

Jesus removes the spiritual issues we face every day

Restores us to wholeness and well being

Reunites us with our Heavenly Father - our true family

How did everyone react to the healing?

Luke 9:43 “43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God.”

Astonished, amazed, astounded

The Greek word translated astonished has a root meaning struck - they were struck with awe or amazement

Why did they react with amazement?

“at the majesty of God” or the greatness of God

majesty n. — the quality of a person or thing which inspires awe or reverence in the beholder; can be related to size, strength, power, or authority.

Jesus’ power and authority over the demon inspired awe and amazement among the people

The majesty, the greatness of God as revealed by Jesus through this exorcism produced a profound reaction of the people

Jesus continuously reveals His identity through miracles and authoritative teaching

Answering the question asked many times; “Who is this man?”

Application - How do we trust God even more than we do now?

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Guard your heart against unbelief

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Choose to trust God even if your emotions dissuade you

Lean not on your own understanding

Let go of the things that keep you from trusting Him

In all your ways acknowledge Him

Ask God to help you trust Him more

He shall direct your paths

39 Jesus Teaches the Disciples about Kingdom Life Luke 9:37-56

We see 5 areas of faith in Kingdom life addressed here

Faith and Unbelief

Faith and Suffering

Faith and Pride

Faith and Intolerance

Faith and Bigotry

Last Sunday we looked at Faith and Unbelief and Today we’ll look at Faith and Suffering

Faith and Suffering (43b-45)

Luke 9:43-45 “43 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, 44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 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.”

We see here that while everyone was still marveling at the demon exorcism from the little boy, Jesus had other things on His mind

Jesus being more than half way through his earthly ministry was about to head toward Jerusalem for the final time

He knew exactly what awaited him there. He also wanted the Apostles to know and understand this part of His mission, the suffering part. They needed to realize that suffering comes first and then the glory.

Faith and Pride(46-48)

Faith and Intolerance (49-50)

Faith and Bigotry (51-56)

Implication and Application

Conclusion