Luke 9
1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
Why? ......................FAITH!
4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
Take time in one place, don't waste it trying to go door to door with The Message. Teaching isn't dropping a little here and there, but feeding until that one is full.
5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
For today, when someone refuses The Truth, turn your body around without a word and walk away. DON'T WASTE A SECOND MORE WITH THEM! We aren't Bible beggars, we are Bible teachers. We should never argue with those that accept the lies and deceptions that they WANT to hold.
6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
Herod is thinking Christ is John the Baptist raised from the dead.
8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
With all Christ is doing and the 12 disciples going around teaching and healing, the people are saying Elijah and the old prophets are back. The people knew The Word of God, just not enough to know it was Christ Jesus Yahshua Emanuel and His disciples walking right in front of them. Reminds me of the people of today that say they know Gods Word, but if He strolled by them with His Shekinah Glory = Divine Presence, they would go the other way.
9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
Herod is a bit nervous.
10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
The apostles = sent ones, sent out to spread The Word. Bethsaida = house of fish, where Christians went to hear The Word and where we get the symbol today.
11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.
The disciples are asking if they can go find a place to eat and sleep.
13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
God always provides, but it's on His time not ours.
14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
There is enough food to feed the world when we let it flow the way God intends it to flow. We must sit with Him to be fed though. What are you filling up in your mind? We're talking spiritual food here †
18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
Not one person in the thousands there called Him Who is, "The Messiah".
20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
"The Anointed One of YHVH"
21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;
It's not time for them to know Who He is.
22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
There is a purpose in Gods timing.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
You die of self = worldly life. We pick up our life in our sabbath = rest in Christ, in faith and in The Word. We don't find the temptations of the world something to be had anymore!
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
One Way to life everlasting. Christ Jesus† and if you live any other way, you follow satan, PERIOD!
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
That's our choice. Christ and The Way to life everlasting or the world living for the flesh and following satans tricks = death. Don't kid yourself, this IS The Test. Heaven doesn't have evil in it in the end.
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Christ is the King and His dominion won't be seen by them until after He comes out of that tomb. They will see the things that must happen to Christ.
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
8 = "new beginnings" in biblical numerics. He's telling his disciples that He will be be crucified and rise from the dead.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
He was transfigured right before their eyes.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
He talking about His crucifixion that takes place in Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
They awoke to see Him in His transfiguration. Those that are biblically illiterate are asleep spiritually speaking. They had better get in The Word before He arrives or they will follow the wrong Christ.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
Peter is talking out the side of his mouth. He doesn't even know what he's saying.
34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
God is showing them His power, round about them, It's surrounding them.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Peter was rambling on about building tabernacles, but God wants them to hush and listen up to what Christ says to them. Open your ears!
36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Peter, John and James stayed silent of the things they witnessed on mount transfiguration.
37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
There at the bottom of the mountain as they came over a hill, were the people waiting to see Christ.
38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
These demonic forces are trying to destroy this child.
40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
Christ points out the problem, FAITH!
42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
Christ wants them to get this straight and settled in their minds.
45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
They're too afraid to ask Him what He was speaking of.
46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
They were becoming more about self and are forgetting it's God that gives them power to heal and cast out devils. They're forgetting the spiritual thinking for the flesh way.
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
Christ hears what they're thinking and is about to teach them something.
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
Even Christ became a servant to others. We are to serve and are called according to His purpose. It's not about getting others to worship us.
49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
That sounds like denominationalism, an elitist attitude. John is missing a very important point of becoming a Christian. WE ALL become the body, the church.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
The time is coming when Christ is making His final trip to Jerusalem before His crucifixion.
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
These Samaritans were from Assyrian conquered tribes. They didn't care anything about Christ, so He continued on His way to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Elijah had brought fire down on the altar consuming the false prophets of Baal. They had tried all day asking their gods to send fire, Ref. 1 Kings 18
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
They're still thinking fleshly.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
Christ is right there with them. They need to leave it in His hands, in His control.
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
Preach the kingdom of God = About Christ Jesus and His dominion will bring many to hate you. We are to continue until we are called home or His kingdom is here on that 7th trump.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
God 1st, family 2nd, everything else after.