Luke 9:37-45

Observations:

v. 37, The day following the Transfiguration, they all come down from the mountain, met by a large crowd.

vv. 38-40, From the midst of the crowd, a man pleads with Jesus to help his only son; his son is often possessed by a violent demon. The man took the boy to Jesus’ disciples, but they are unable to cast it out (notably after Jesus had given them the authority to do so).

The Old Testament often speaks of the tragedy of losing an only son who would receive the inheritance and carry on the family name

The symptoms here are similar to epilepsy, but this does not rule out demonization as the ultimate cause. Demons are often described as inflicting actual illnesses, including muteness (11:14), lameness (13:11), and madness (8:29). Nor are illnesses like epilepsy always considered demonic (see Matt. 4:24).

v. 41, Jesus is quite miffed about this, and called out the people for their unbelief and perverted ways, speaking with a notable harshness, asking how long He shall be with them and put up with them. He then instructs the man to bring Him his son.

This phrase echoes Deuteronomy 32:20, which refers to Israel’s unfaithfulness and disobedience in the desert. Though the Israelites experienced the awesome power of God, they still demonstrated a lack of faith.

v. 42, As the man does so, the demon attacks the boy, throwing him into a convulsion. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit, heals the boy and gives him back to his father.

vv. 43-44, The crowds were amazed at the greatness of God clearly at work here. While the crowd was marveling, Jesus speaks strongly to His disciples, saying that His words better sink into their ears, as the Son of Man was to be delivered into the hands of men.

Notably, the mentioning of the Messiah’s divine appointment with suffering is mentioned again after the Transfiguration (Lk 9:31)

v. 45, The disciples did not understand, and notably it was concealed from them by God, presumably, so that they would not understand. The disciples were too afraid to ask Jesus about the statement.

Interestingly, there appears to be an emphasis on the ignorance of the disciples, as Luke notes,

they did not understand Jesus’ statement

it was concealed from them

for the sole purpose that they would not perceive/understand the statement

From this inability to perceive, the disciples are filled with a kind of fear that keeps them from asking Jesus about His statement on the Passion.

Fear that hinders us from coming to Jesus (Lk 6:47) is not the will of God, but is a reluctance that extends from human frailty.

Notably the word noting the fear of the disciples, sourced in their ignorance of Jesus’ statement, is the same word noting the fear of the disciples as they were engulfed by the cloud at the Transfiguration. It was, in that immediate context, a fear connected to the ignorance being spoken by Peter (desiring to extend the stay of Moses, Elijah, and the glorified Jesus, despite the three just discussing the Passion to come); the fear that we are discussing is not a fear rooted in godly fear of Christ in His glory, but in a reluctance rooted in a kind of ignorance

Exegetical Idea/Big Idea:

The new scenario is presented, where Jesus and His three disciples return from the mountain and are met by a large crowd and from their midst a man begs Jesus to look at his demonically tormented son, whom the disciples could not help.

The situation of the boy is tied to the unfaithful/perverse condition of the Israelites, a notably wearisome situation for Him. His supremacy over the supernatural, an important facet of the greatness of God, is at full display before the people

The inability tied with the ignorance of the disciples stir up a fearful reluctancy to inquire upon the Passion event that Jesus discloses in v. 44; it was for their ignorance and inability that Jesus must be delivered into the hands of men, for in His being delivered over, they would know His words were true through the aid of the Helper who would be sent (Jn 14:16, 26; Jn 16), and furthermore helped through Helper to live in obedience to the will of Christ (Rom 8:13; Gal 5:16)

Big Idea:

After the Transfiguration, the inability and ignorance of the disciples are exposed, notably after receiving the power and authority of their Master to exorcise demons and to heal diseases (Lk 9:1).

The supremacy of the Messiah, God’s Chosen One, is contrasted with the inefficiency of the Messiah’s chosen twelve.

His concluding words to the twelve are on the Passion, which points to a time where their ignorance and inability will be covered by His grace and remedied by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Homiletical Idea

As Christians we must not let our own inability and ignorance to hinder us from coming to Christ. Let us not be reluctant to come before the God who invites us to reason together (Is 1:18) in our humble and needy disposition.

Let us partake in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, walking alongside by our Helper, putting to death the desires and deeds of our old ways, and putting on the new self (Rm 8:13; Eph 2:3, 4:17-19, 24; Gal 5:16).

As Christians, we are granted the opportunity to trade in the ignorance and inability of our old selves, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, for a new identity (2 Cor 5:17) that requires us to have a renewed mind (Rom 12:2) and a body presented before God as instruments of righteousness (Rom 6:13).

Liturgical Idea

What should we praise God for? (Rejoice)

What should we confess to God? (Repent)

What should we ask God for? (Request)

What should we lift up to God? (Sacrifice)

What should we live out for God? (Service)

Intro:

Recap:

Luke 9:28-36, The Father’s instruction to the Son’s disciples are very much the instruction by which all of Christ’s disciples must partake in; Listen to Him!

It is an instruction contextualized by the immediate glory Christ revealed, a glory that affirms His identity as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

As these three disciples would go on to exhort through their letters to the Church, such a glimpse into Jesus’ real glory should drive us to live on a higher plane in the face of life’s difficulties.

Prayer

Read Luke 9:37-45

Head- What does it mean?

(15-20 min.)

vv. 37-45, The Inability and Ignorance of Jesus’ Disciples

vv. 37-40,

v. 37, The day following the Transfiguration, they all come down from the mountain, met by a large crowd.

vv. 38-40, From the midst of the crowd, a man pleads with Jesus to help his only son; his son is often possessed by a violent demon. The man took the boy to Jesus’ disciples, but they are unable to cast it out (notably after Jesus had given them the authority to do so).

The Old Testament often speaks of the tragedy of losing an only son who would receive the inheritance and carry on the family name

The symptoms here are similar to epilepsy, but this does not rule out demonization as the ultimate cause. Demons are often described as inflicting actual illnesses, including muteness (11:14), lameness (13:11), and madness (8:29). Nor are illnesses like epilepsy always considered demonic (see Matt. 4:24).

Summarize:

The new scenario is presented, where Jesus and His three disciples return from the mountain and are met by a large crowd and from their midst a man begs Jesus to look at his demonically tormented son, whom the disciples could not help.

vv. 41-44,

v. 41, Jesus is quite miffed about this, and called out the people (disciples no doubt included) for their unbelief and perverted ways, speaking with a notable harshness, asking how long He shall be with them and put up with them. He then instructs the man to bring Him his son.

This phrase echoes Deuteronomy 32:20, which refers to Israel’s unfaithfulness and disobedience in the desert. Though the Israelites experienced the awesome power of God, they still demonstrated a lack of faith.

Mark 9:19 = Matt. 17:17 notes the same rebuke. Matthew, with Luke, speaks of the faithless and perverse generation, while Mark speaks only of a faithless one. All have the double question, though with minor verbal differences. All have Jesus commanding that the boy be brought to him, though Luke diverges from Matthew and Mark in wording the request (Matthew and Mark have φέρετε, pherete; Luke has προσάγαγε, prosagage).

v. 42, As the man does so, the demon attacks the boy, throwing him into a convulsion. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit, heals the boy and gives him back to his father.

vv. 43-44, The crowds were amazed at the greatness of God clearly at work here. While the crowd was marveling, Jesus speaks strongly to His disciples, saying that His words better sink into their ears, as the Son of Man was to be delivered into the hands of men.

Notably, the mentioning of the Messiah’s divine appointment with suffering is mentioned again after the Transfiguration (Lk 9:31)

Summarize:

The situation of the boy is tied to the unfaithful/perverse condition of the Israelites, a notably wearisome situation for Him. His supremacy over the supernatural, an important facet of the greatness of God, is at full display before the people

v. 45,

v. 45, The disciples did not understand, and notably it was concealed from them by God, presumably, so that they would not understand. The disciples were too afraid to ask Jesus about the statement.

Interestingly, there appears to be an emphasis on the ignorance of the disciples, as Luke notes,

they did not understand Jesus’ statement

it was concealed from them

for the sole purpose that they would not perceive/understand the statement

From this inability to perceive, the disciples are filled with a kind of fear that keeps them from asking Jesus about His statement on the Passion.

Fear that hinders us from coming to Jesus (Lk 6:47) is not the will of God, but is a reluctance that extends from human frailty.

Notably the word noting the fear of the disciples, sourced in their ignorance of Jesus’ statement, is the same word noting the fear of the disciples as they were engulfed by the cloud at the Transfiguration. It was, in that immediate context, a fear connected to the ignorance being spoken by Peter (desiring to extend the stay of Moses, Elijah, and the glorified Jesus, despite the three just discussing the Passion to come); the fear that we are discussing is not a fear rooted in godly fear of Christ in His glory, but in a reluctance rooted in a kind of ignorance

Summarize:

The inability tied with the ignorance of the disciples stir up a fearful reluctancy to inquire upon the Passion event that Jesus discloses in v. 44; it was for their ignorance and inability that Jesus must be delivered into the hands of men, for in His being delivered over, they would know His words were true through the aid of the Helper who would be sent (Jn 14:16, 26; Jn 16), and furthermore helped through Helper to live in obedience to the will of Christ (Rom 8:13; Gal 5:16)

Big Idea:

After the Transfiguration, the inability and ignorance of the disciples are exposed, notably after receiving the power and authority of their Master to exorcise demons and to heal diseases (Lk 9:1).

The supremacy of the Messiah, God’s Chosen One, is contrasted with the inefficiency of the Messiah’s chosen twelve.

His concluding words to the twelve are on the Passion, which points to a time where their ignorance and inability will be covered by His grace and remedied by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Heart- Do I buy it?

(15-20 min)

Open the discussion for any questions.

(Let group answer these questions)

What verses stood out to you and why?

What personal reflections did this reading trigger?

What should we praise God for? (Rejoice)

What should we confess to God? (Repent)

What should we ask God for? (Request)

What should we lift up to God? (Sacrifice)

What should we live out for God? (Service)

As Christians we must not let our own inability and ignorance to hinder us from coming to Christ. Let us not be reluctant to come before the God who invites us to reason together (Is 1:18) in our humble and needy disposition.

Let us partake in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, walking alongside by our Helper, putting to death the desires and deeds of our old ways, and putting on the new self (Rm 8:13; Eph 2:3, 4:17-19, 24; Gal 5:16).

As Christians, we are granted the opportunity to trade in the ignorance and inability of our old selves, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, for a new identity (2 Cor 5:17) that requires us to have a renewed mind (Rom 12:2) and a body presented before God as instruments of righteousness (Rom 6:13).

Hands- So What? How then should I live?

(10-15 min)

Walk with God: What does coming to Jesus with our inability and ignorance look like personally in your walk with God?

Keep Christ first: What does coming to Jesus with our inability and ignorance look like personally when we keep Christ first?

Keep sin out of your life: What does coming to Jesus with our inability and ignorance look like personally when you are keeping sin out of your life?

Personally,

It looks like crying out to God.

COVID testimony