Luke 9: A Powerful, Wise and Gracious God

Introduction

"Who do you trust when life doesn't go as planned?" That is how Peter Brazel, a member of Village Church Annandale in Sydney, opens this message on Luke 9:37-50, the start of a three-week series on the end of Luke chapter 9 and the beginning of chapter 10.

When life becomes too heavy, when you are looking for wisdom, when you wonder what really matters, who do you turn to? The passage answers: we must humbly trust God, because he is powerful, wise and gracious. But the preacher immediately points out that the disciples do not trust God. "It's not just their problem. It's also mine, and I imagine it's also the problem of some of you."

He asks the congregation to keep their Bibles open: "If I say something that isn't written here, don't listen to me. Look at the text instead."

Message Outline

1. What Comes Before the Passage

At the beginning of chapter 9, Jesus gives the Twelve power and authority over all demons and the power to heal diseases. He sends them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God with no staff, no bag, no bread, no money and no extra tunic. They have no choice but to rely on God's provision.
Later, Peter recognizes Jesus as the Christ. Jesus then explains what that means for him: he will be rejected and put to death. And for those who follow him: they must deny themselves and take up their cross.
Just before the passage, on the mountain, Jesus' appearance changes and his glory is revealed to Peter, James and John. God himself declares: "This is my Son, the chosen one. Listen to him!"

2. God Is Powerful

The next day, a father begs Jesus to look at his only son, seized by a spirit that throws him into convulsions. The disciples could not drive it out. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit, heals the boy and gives him back to his father. All are amazed at the greatness of God.
When Jesus heals, he gives a foretaste of the kingdom he came to bring: a kingdom without pain, without suffering, without sickness.
The disciples' failure does not undermine Jesus' power. It does not depend on them. But why do they fail? Jesus speaks of a "faithless and perverse generation." Even after being sent out with nothing, they still struggle to believe in the power of God.
Jesus calls us too to share the good news. Peter Brazel confesses that earlier in the week he came away "pretty crushed" from a conversation about Jesus with someone, knowing he had not convinced them and that it would probably be his only chance to speak with them.
"But God is in control." He alone can reveal who Jesus is. We have the joy of taking part, but it is God who gives revelation and understanding. The fear of saying the wrong thing, of not knowing enough, of offending someone or of not having an answer is normal. Jesus has the power to change hearts, even when we share the gospel imperfectly.
Jesus gives the son back to his father: "Isn't that a beautiful picture of restoration?" At the cross, Jesus gives us back our heavenly Father. Like the son, we need to be set free from the slavery of sin, which pushes God away. Like the father, we come to Jesus with empty hands. And Jesus, through the sacrifice of himself, sets us free and restores our relationship with God.

3. God Is Wise: Let His Word Sink In

While everyone is marveling, Jesus says to his disciples: "Let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men." God had said, "Listen to him." Here, Jesus insists that his words take root.
The preacher admits that, on reflection, he heard a rebuke in this: "I often let God's word fail to take root." Do you take time to meditate on what he says, or do you rush through your prayer and Bible reading to get back to work or to your YouTube video? "I'm not accusing you, but I suspect you struggle with this too."
The text says that this saying "was concealed from them." Peter Brazel does not think God was actively hiding the meaning: Jesus speaks plainly, and this is neither the first nor the last time. It is their own expectations that keep them from seeing God's wisdom. Otherwise, why would Peter cut off the ear of the high priest's servant at the arrest?
The title "Son of Man" points back to the book of Daniel: the one who is given an everlasting dominion and a kingdom that will never be destroyed. The disciples have seen the miracles. They cannot conceive of a Messiah who dies.
Paul writes to the Corinthians that God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world to shame the strong, so that no one may boast before him. A king who suffers and dies contradicts all our ideas of power. God reveals himself through his word: if we do not listen to it, we will not understand him.
Why are the disciples afraid to ask him? Jesus is not a teacher tired of the same questions. James tells us how to respond when we do not understand: if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, but let him ask in faith, without doubting.

4. Trusting What God Says

Peter Brazel heard about the death of Jesus for a long time without understanding what it meant. He thought God's commandments were arbitrary, simple tests of obedience.
He did not see that God, his Creator, gave him instructions because they were what was best for him. When he began to look into who Jesus really was, God showed him, through decisions in his own life that hurt others, that what God says is far better.
If you do not understand God, seek him humbly: he holds out an offer of grace to you. When you trust what he says, your life changes.
If you struggle to accept the changes he asks of you, let him shape your understanding. It is hard to listen to God when he speaks about pornography, sexuality or generosity, and what he says about marriage and gender clashes with what society says. "Should we listen to people who don't understand God?"
Don't bury your head in the sand, don't assume God got it wrong, and don't listen to what people say he says, but to what he says in his word. The preacher suggests, for example, giving one hour every Saturday morning to reflect on what troubles you, and praying that God will teach you, even if it is uncomfortable.

5. God Is Gracious: Welcoming the Little Child

The disciples argue about who is the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, puts a little child beside him: "Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all, this one is great."
In Roman society, children were at the bottom of the ladder. Hospitality was offered only to equals or superiors, because it paid off. A child cannot offer anything in return.
Jesus calls his disciples to give freely to those who have not earned it and cannot earn it. The disciples, in fact, are in the same position as the child: they have nothing to offer Jesus. It is he who gave them power and sent them out.
"Jesus is not generous based on what we can do for him. He shows grace because he gives to us even when we can do nothing for him."
The disciples, fixated on a Messiah with an everlasting reign, fight for first place, just as society taught them: lift yourself up. Jesus reveals that true greatness in his kingdom is shown in humility. That humility displays grace: we recognize that we have not earned what we receive.
It is tempting to draw pride from our service, especially when it looks impressive to others. Don't forget whom you serve.
A concrete application for the Church: ministry among children and Bible teaching in schools. It is sometimes hard to see whether you are making a difference, because children grow slowly in their understanding. But Jesus says they are worth our time. "It's not a small sacrifice, but it is worth it. Jesus welcomed us when we had nothing to offer."

6. It's Not About You

John says to Jesus: "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow with us." Jesus replies: "Don't forbid him, for he who is not against you is for you."
This man clearly has faith in Jesus. Where a failure of faith kept the disciples from driving out the demon, he does it in Jesus' name. He is doing exactly what Jesus had asked the disciples to do.
But the disciples want to be at the center of the ministry: "He doesn't follow with us." Jesus corrects them and brings them back to the purpose of their ministry. In other words, according to the preacher, Jesus is telling them: "It's not about you, it's what I sent you to do." The good news of the kingdom is not about us and what we can do, but about God and what he has done. "Forget yourself. Think about the kingdom."
We can be dissatisfied with the way God uses us and look jealously at the success of others, like that church a little way down the road that is growing and where many are coming to Jesus: "Why isn't he doing that here?" Jealousy has no place. Rejoice for your brothers and sisters: we are united in one purpose, serving the kingdom and not ourselves.

7. God Does Not Abandon His Disciples

"It wouldn't surprise me if you feel a little uncomfortable with what God has told us tonight. That is a good thing." It is right to feel convicted in our conscience when we do not trust God.
But there is reason for encouragement: in this passage, the disciples fail several times, and Jesus does not abandon them. He will not abandon you either.
God is powerful, wise and gracious. By looking at Jesus and at what God has accomplished through him, we can humbly trust him to carry out his good plans for us.
This trust changes your life: living in prayer and dependence, meditating on God's word, serving him with humility. "That is what following Jesus looks like."

Key Takeaways

Jesus' power does not depend on our successes: he heals, frees and restores, even when his disciples fail.
When you share the gospel, God alone reveals who Jesus is. You can share imperfectly and trust him.
Our expectations can blind us to God's wisdom. Let his word take root in you, and ask him for wisdom when you do not understand.
True greatness in the kingdom is shown in humility: welcoming those who can give nothing back, as Jesus welcomed us.
Ministry is not about you. Jealousy has no place among those who serve the same kingdom.

Personal Application

When your life doesn't go as planned, is your first reflex to make a plan or to trust God?
What holds you back from talking about Jesus around you: the fear of saying the wrong thing, of not knowing the answer, of offending someone?
Do you let God's word take root in you, or do you rush through your prayer and Bible reading? What specific time could you set aside for it this week?
Is there a subject on which you prefer to listen to society rather than to what God says in his word?
Whom can you welcome or serve without expecting anything in return, for example among the children of your church?

Verses Cited

Frequently Asked Questions

Why couldn't the disciples drive out the demon in Luke 9?

Jesus had given them power and authority over all demons, and he had sent them out carrying nothing, so that they would depend on God. Yet they failed. Jesus speaks of a faithless and perverse generation: according to Peter Brazel, the disciples struggled to believe in the power of God. Their failure takes nothing away from the power of Jesus, who heals the boy.

Why don't the disciples understand the announcement of Jesus' death?

For Peter Brazel, it is not God who actively hides the meaning from them. It is their own expectations that blind them: they are waiting for a Messiah, the Son of Man of Daniel, whose reign will never be destroyed. They cannot conceive of a Messiah who dies. Yet God chose what looks like foolishness and weakness in the eyes of the world.

What does it mean to welcome a little child in Jesus' name?

In Roman society, children were at the bottom of the ladder, and people welcomed only their equals or their superiors. A child cannot offer anything in return. Jesus calls his disciples to give freely to those who have earned nothing, just as he does for us. True greatness in his kingdom is shown in humility.