Desires (Luke 9:32-36)

​When one of the greatest moment in history unfolded, the three disciples that JESUS took along with HIM to witness were fast asleep.They could have missed it, but GOD by HIS grace woke them up.They must have been in awe when they woke up witnessing JESUS in all HIS glory. Moses in the Old Testament longed to see this glory, but he was hidden behind a cleft of the rock when GOD’s glory passed by as man being a sinner couldn’t see GOD and live. But here since CHRIST took human form and transfigured they were able to witness HIS glory. How amazing is our GOD that HE took the lowliest of form to reveal HIS glory to us. This glorious and perfect SON of the heavenly FATHER has been given as a random for the lives of HIS elect. Peter was quick to come up with suggestions when he witnessed it, he wanted to be up there in the mountains with the three with tents built for them, but that would have definitely not been part of GOD’S plan, cuz Moses and Elijah had just spoken about JESUS’ journey to Jerusalem. If HE had stayed up there, it wouldn’t have been fulfilled. We may sometime come up with so called genius ideas like Peter, and focus on ourselves. When we do this we desire less when GOD desires to give us more. Peter desired for the presence in the mountains while GOD desired to live within HIS elect forever!! When GOD wakes us up from our spiritual sleep to witness HIS glory, listen to HIS SON as the FATHER said, for JESUS is HIS beloved SON who has been given to wretched people like us for HIS glory and our good!!

Selfless Kingdom (Luke 9:23-31)

​After JESUS talked about HIS suffering, HE tells HIS disciples that those who truly want to follow HIM will also suffer daily as the disciple bears his/her cross. At first glance, it was a hard thing to do. Was this amazing KING really worth it? But when we look closely it is our very “own self” that is destroying us. We are sinful human beings and have already earned our rightful ticket to hell. JESUS tells HIS disciples to deny this very self that destroys them and leads them to hell, HE knows it is not easy and it is equal to bearing a cross. And the world is not very appreciative of denying self. But the disciples can take heart because they are not denying their life in vain, because by losing it they are gaining something far better, a life that cannot be taken away, a life that GOD won’t be ashamed of, a life that is righteous and blameless all given to them by a man named JESUS who loved them dearly and gave up HIS life by bearing a cross to the point of death that resulted in the defeat of sin and death. We get to be part of this glory through the life HE gives us. 

In the following verses, JESUS tells HIS disciples that some there will not taste death till they see the kingdom of GOD. Now to understand this we need to understand the true meaning of kingdom of GOD. It Greek it means “royal splendour”. Now we see that 8 days later, JESUS took three of the disciples to pray. And there while HE prayed HE was transformed, white and glistering. Besides HIM were Moses and Elijah. The disciples who haven’t tasted death yet, had a glimpse of the kingdom of GOD. They just had conversations about Elijah and they witness face to face SOMEONE greater than Moses and Elijah, SOMEONE greater than the one who gave the law and the prophets. But the greater one was not here to show HIMSELF off but to lay down HIS life so that HE could give it those who want to save them for themselves. Such is our great and glorious KING!! THIS KING IS WORTH LOSING LIFE FOR!!

CHRIST the LORD (Luke 9: 18-22)

​After feeding a huge multitude, JESUS and HIS disciples are found alone. JESUS asks them two important questions. The first question was what the crowds thought of HM. The disciples tell JESUS what the crowds think of HIM. The next question is personal, HE asks them who the disciples think HE is. Peter immediately responds that HE is the CHRIST (anointed in Greek) of GOD. What was the difference in the answer? The people were speculating JESUS to be someone they thought, but Peter was rock solid on HIS answer. This was because GOD in HIS grace has revealed HIMSELF to Peter who shouted that he was a sinful man not worthy of CHRIST just moments before JESUS invited him to follow HIM. In Matthew 16, we read about the same incident and here JESUS says that this fact was revealed to Peter not by any man but by GOD HIMSELF. How gracious is GOD to reveal HIMSELF to us!! 

In the next few verses in Luke, JESUS charges and commands them not to tell this to anyone. Because HE hasn’t suffered and resurrected yet according to the Scriptures. Because there will come a time when JESUS will charge all HIS disciples with the great commission to take the good news all over the world and HE HIMSELF will reveal HIMSELF graciously to HIS elect!!

Praise GOD who has humbled HIMSELF by taking human form, revealing HIMSELF richly to poor sinners and has defeated sin and death for them through HIS suffering and resurrection.

The KING does not cast away (Luke 9:10-17)

​The disciples had just returned from a successful mission, but that didn’t mean that they were perfect men. Cuz another test for them is soon approaching. Jesus takes these disciples into the wilderness for a quiet time with HIM. And by now the news of this amazing KING and HIS kingdom has spread far and wide and the crowds began to gather. The gentle KING welcomes them all and tells them of the amazing news of HIS kingdom. These people were so caught up with JESUS that the day began to wear away. The disciples bring up a concern - “food” and they also propose a solution - that is to send the multitudes away into towns and the country when they were just told about the kingdom. Jesus tells the disciples to provide food for the multitudes and they replied that they did not have enough. What they focused was on the earthly stuff and forgot that they had the KING of kings with them. This same KING had provided them for their journey before but they were quick to forget. The KING here does not cast away the people in the midst of the wilderness but provides for them. HE is also a KING so HE does not provide poorly but richly.

Taking this story at an another angle some may lean towards the prosperity gospel, which focuses more on prosperity here on earth and getting things from GOD rather than GOD HIMSELF. So our focus should be on GOD and HIS infinite beauty. HE has provided us HIS only SON who meets us and saves us from the wilderness of sin through HIS death and resurrection and who is able to provide us richly, spiritually and physically that which would make us more like HIMSELF. 

Also like the disciples we cannot meet the needs of others, because our resources are limited, but we can always introduce them to the KING who would lovingly welcome all those who trust in HIM and provide for them.

KING JESUS (Luke 9:1-9)

​In these 9 verses, Luke gives us insight into two kings of two different kingdoms. First let’s take a look at our KING JESUS. The all powerful KING who created everything is seen here as a KING who gives away everything including HIMSELF for the good of HIS people. We see here that the 12 disciples who had been given power and authority has been instructed to use them in the same way, ie to give it away for the good of the people as the KING HIMSELF does. The reason that these disciples were given such power is to show that and the people around them that this is how the lovely KING treats the people of HIS kingdom. Though not all of us are healed today of our physical sicknesses we sure know that one day that we will be completely free of it in HIS eternal kingdom. The disciples of now ambassadors of this glorious KING and HIS kingdom, but before they serve others, they themselves needed to fully trust the KING, that is why JESUS instructs them not to carry extra baggage but to trust that the KING will provide for them.

On the other hand we see king Herod, a king of an earthly kingdom who acts in a selfish way. We see this when he beheads John for his own gain. A king who is perplexed. A king who could in no way stop the advancement of the kingdom of GOD. An amazing thing is that even this king had a chance to know about the amazing KING JESUS by we know that he sought to see JESUS for the wrong reasons as we read later in Luke 23.

KING JESUS is still alive today and offers eternal life freely to HIS people by giving HIMSELF away through HIS death and resurrection. Stop being a king over your life and humbly surrender yourself to this loving KING repenting of your sins in order to be a part of the kingdom!!              

The blessedness of JESUS’ disciple (Luke 6:20-23)

​After healing the multitudes of their infirmities, JESUS turns his attention to the disciples. A disciple is not someone who comes just to receive from their master, but someone who listens to the teaching of the master and follows him everyday to become more like him.

These were the kind of people who were JESUS’ disciples. First up someone who is poor spiritually and not materially cause the tax collectors followed HIM. The spiritually poor understood the need for the SAVIOR unlike the Pharisees who thought they were spiritually rich. JESUS calls them blessed because they are blessed with the kingdom of heaven. This is a blessing that they get to experience now unlike the other blessings which uses the word “will” which refers to a future sense. A kingdom for the poor!! Woah!! Because of CHRIST and what HE did for them these people are not poor anymore because they have GOD HIMSELF as their spiritual nourishment.

The second is someone who hungers, again not physically but spiritually, for they will be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, after JESUS after ascends. The HOLY SPIRIT will point them to the beauty of the person of JESUS CHRIST to satisfy their hunger of righteousness, knowing well that righteousness doesn’t come from them but from the ONE who died to save them.

There will be sorrow and weeping for the disciples of JESUS CHRIST here on the earth, just as JESUS HIMSELF experienced it. But the disciples can take heart for HE has overcome the world (John 16:33) and one day JESUS HIMSELF will wipe every tear from their eye (Revelation 21:4)

The disciples of JESUS are blessed and declared righteous because when they have JESUS they have everything. And it was not because something that they did, but because CHRIST humbled HIMSELF to meet their greatest need  ie to be right with GOD, by taking their punishment on the cross, rising again from the grave and declaring those who believe in HIM as righteous and no longer to be condemned by anyone.

But will those who are made righteous by GOD have an easy life here on earth? No, since they now belong to the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of earth will call them evil and persecute them because of JESUS CHRIST. But JESUS tells them to rejoice and leap for joy when this happens for they have been counted worthy to suffer for the only true and strong and the kindest KING of the whole world who gave up everything for them and is their greatest reward!

The humble SAVIOR (Luke 6: 17-19)

​JESUS comes down with HIS disciples. JESUS would have stayed up there, but HE displays the nature of GOD here, the nature of GOD is humble, loving and righteous at the same time demanding holiness. If it had been a self righteous Pharisee they would not have come down from their highest position, and mingled with the outcast and the gentiles. It is true that GOD demanding holiness cannot mingle with unholy humans, that is why JESUS had to take on the form of a human to be with us. HE humbled HIMSELF by coming down for us. HE also set an example for HIS disciples, first by loving GOD by spending the whole night praying to HIM and second loving others by humbling HIMSELF and meeting their needs.

I just heard a sermon where the preacher said all the so called gods are needy persons requiring and demanding one thing or another from the people. But the one true GOD, humbled HIMSELF and met the needs of HIS people. The passage says that HE healed everyone who came to HIM. HE had the power to heal and freely gave it away healing sicknesses that were both physical and spiritual. How great and amazing is this GOD. HE went even to the cross to gave HIS life to make HIS people holy. HE is such a good GOD and HE alone is GOD!