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Luke 9

62 verses

TL;DR

In Luke 9 Jesus sends the disciples out to preach, heals, predicts His suffering, and teaches the paradox of greatness in humility. The chapter concludes with the Transfiguration, miracles, and teachings on discipleship.

Summary

Jesus empowers the twelve disciples to proclaim the kingdom and heal, instructing them to rely on God and not on material supplies. While traveling, they encounter a crowd, perform the feeding of the five thousand, and Jesus predicts His future suffering, death, and resurrection. He warns them of the difficulty of discipleship and emphasizes self‑denial and the value of those who are least. The chapter records the Transfiguration on a mountain where Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus, a divine voice affirms Jesus as the Son, and the disciples are instructed to keep the vision secret. After returning, Jesus heals a child possessed by a demon, reinforcing his authority. He speaks to his disciples about the paradoxical nature of greatness, that the least will be great. He also instructs them that one who accepts a child in His name receives Him. The chapter ends with the disciples questioning whether a fire should descend to punish unfaithful Samaritans, and Jesus rebukes their misunderstanding of his mission to save.

Outline
  1. 1. Mission of the Twelve
  2. 2. Miracle of the Five Thousand & Prediction of Suffering
  3. 3. Transfiguration & Teachings on Greatness & Discipleship
Themes
Discipleship & Self‑DenialAuthority & MiraclesParadox of Greatness
Keywords
dispelled devilskingdom of Godcrossself‑denialSamaritanfaithless generationmiracle
People
JesusPeterJohnJamesHerod the tetrarchMosesElijahJohn the Baptistthe demon
Places
BethsaidaMount of Transfiguration (unnamed mountain)Samaritan villageJudean countryside
Things
five loaves and two fishfive basketsthe cloudthe divine voicethe miracle of healing
Key Verses
  • Luke 9:22: Jesus predicts his suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection.
  • Luke 9:23: Paradox of greatness: 'the least will be great'.
  • Luke 9:35: The divine voice in the Transfiguration affirms Jesus as God's Son.
  • Luke 9:40: Jesus condemns the faithless generation for their lack of faith.
  • Luke 9:48: Jesus teaches that humility and service bring greatness.
Questions
  • What does it mean to deny oneself and take up a cross daily?
  • Why did Jesus refuse to share the Transfiguration with his disciples?
  • How does Jesus’ paradoxical teaching about greatness change our view of power?
  • What is the significance of Jesus healing the child with a demon?
  • In what ways does the chapter highlight the cost of discipleship?
Sentiment

mixed
Tense prophetic warnings juxtaposed with hopeful miracles.