Day 39

Luke 9:1–9 (NIV)

¹ When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

³ He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. ⁵ If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” ⁶ So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

⁷ Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, ⁸ others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. ⁹ But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Helpful Information

vs 5 -Disciples are to depart the city and shake the dust from their feet as a testimony against the people for their rejection. Such an act is a repudiation of their decision and was done by Jews upon leaving pagan territory to shake off “uncleanness” from their feet.¹⁶ Uncleanness is not so much the point here as saying “good riddance.” The act warns rejecters of impending judgment if their decision does not change. It expresses their separation from God. Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke Volume 1: 1:1-9:50. Baker exegetical commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.

Questions

Why does Jesus ask the disciples to go out on their own?

What does it say about Jesus that His power could be given to others? What does it say about what Jesus can do in us?

Why does Jesus tell the disciples to take nothing with them? What does that mean for us?

Notes

vs 1, 2- this is a commissioning to carry Jesus to others. The disciples now know enough to act as Jesus' ambassadors

-gives them power to heal as a validation of their message

- Luke 5:10- fishers of men now coming true!

-this should give them encouragement as Jesus prepares them for life and ministry without Him (Matt 28:18-20, John 13:33-36, 15:15-17)

This shows Jesus' power not limited just to him. It is given to those he chooses to give it to. One thing for Jesus to do healing another for his power to be given and used by others. Who can do this? That is the question Herod ask in vs 9

vs 3- take nothing with you- part of the disciples being able to have this power and authority is faith in Jesus to provide for them. Faith has been the key to being healed (inward focused) now it becomes the key for ministry (outward focus). Lesson to be dependent on God.

vs 5 - the parable of the seed will also be true for the disciples' ministry.

vs 6- doing the same thing Jesus has been doing (8:1-2)

Herod- son of Herod in birth story-

John the Baptist- John had been viewed as a prophet, that his role had not been completed and God would show His power by raising him from the dead

Elijah - Popular expectation that Elijah, who went up to heaven and did not die, would come back as a herald of the end

Herod doesn't buy these thoughts -wants to see Jesus for Himself, not for issue of belief but out of curiosity. Does Herod speak for most of the people?