Luke 9 Jesus Heals and Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

1 Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
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.

10 Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,

11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”

13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.”

14 (About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

15 The disciples did so, and everybody sat down.

16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

18 Peter’s Confession of Christ
Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

28 The Transfiguration
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

30 Two men, Moses and Elijah,

31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

37 The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit
The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.

40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

41 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.
While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

45 But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

46 Who Will Be the Greatest?
An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.

48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”

49 “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

50 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

51 Samaritan Opposition
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;

53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”

55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them,

56 and they went to another village.

57 The Cost of Following Jesus
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”

62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

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Analysis of Luke Chapter 9

The ninth chapter of the Gospel of Luke is a rich tapestry of teaching, miracles, and a deep call to discipleship. It encapsulates key narratives that reveal both the identity of Jesus and the demands of following Him. This chapter is pivotal in understanding the nature of Jesus’s ministry and the expectations placed upon His followers. The chapter can be broken down into several significant segments, which we will analyze in detail to uncover the profound theological and practical implications found in Luke 9.

The Sending of the Twelve Disciples (Luke 9:1-6)

In the opening verses, Jesus empowers the twelve apostles and sends them out to preach the Kingdom of God and heal the sick:

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2).

This commissioning marks a significant transition in Jesus’s ministry. Up to this point, Jesus Himself had been the central figure performing miracles and delivering teachings. By delegating this power and authority to His disciples, Jesus highlights a key principle of His ministry: the work of the Kingdom is not meant to be carried out by one individual alone but shared among His followers.

Moreover, Jesus instructs them to take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt—which emphasizes reliance on God and faith in His provision (Luke 9:3). This radical dependence on divine provision serves as a lesson in trust and humility, further cementing the countercultural values of the Kingdom of God.

Herod’s Perplexity (Luke 9:7-9)

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, others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life (Luke 9:7-8).

Herod’s perplexity signifies the far-reaching impact of Jesus’s ministry. The confusion about Jesus’s identity—whether He is John the Baptist resurrected, Elijah, or another ancient prophet—highlights the extraordinary nature of His works and teachings. Herod’s interest also foreshadows the imminent suffering and opposition Jesus will face, reflecting the broader theme of misunderstanding and rejection by the authorities.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Luke 9:10-17)

One of the most well-known miracles, the feeding of the five thousand, occurs when Jesus and His disciples retreat to Bethsaida and are followed by a large crowd:

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over (Luke 9:16-17).

This miracle demonstrates Jesus’s compassion and divine ability to provide. Importantly, it foreshadows the Last Supper and the Eucharist, where Jesus will again take bread, give thanks, break it, and distribute it to His followers. Symbolically, the abundance of leftovers signifies the overflowing grace and provision of God, while the act of using the disciples to distribute the food underscores their role in the ongoing ministry of Jesus to the world.

Peter’s Confession of Christ (Luke 9:18-20)

But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Peter answered, “God’s Messiah” (Luke 9:20).

Here, Peter’s declaration of Jesus as the Messiah is a turning point in the Gospel narrative. This confession marks the first explicit acknowledgment from the disciples about Jesus’s true divine identity. It sets the stage for deeper teachings about the nature of Jesus’s messianic mission, which will involve not triumph but suffering and sacrifice.

Jesus Predicts His Death (Luke 9:21-27)

And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Luke 9:22).

Jesus’s prediction of His upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection perplexes and challenges the expectations of His followers. The concept of a suffering Messiah was contrary to Jewish expectations of a conquering hero. This prediction underscores the paradox at the heart of the Christian faith: true life is found through death to self, and victory comes through apparent defeat.

Jesus also calls His disciples to a life of self-denial:

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

This teaching on discipleship is radical and transformative. To take up one’s cross daily implies ongoing, continuous commitment and willingness to suffer for the sake of following Jesus. It overturns worldly notions of success and self-preservation, placing eternal values and the call of Christ as paramount.

The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36)

The Transfiguration is a profound event where Jesus’s divine glory is revealed to Peter, John, and James:

As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus (Luke 9:29-30).

This event serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it provides divine affirmation of Jesus’s identity and mission. The presence of Moses and Elijah symbolizes the Law and the Prophets, confirming that Jesus fulfills both. The voice from the cloud stating, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:35), echoes the heavenly proclamation at Jesus’s baptism and underscores His divine sonship and authority.

Secondly, the Transfiguration offers the disciples a glimpse of Jesus’s glory, which stands in stark contrast to the suffering He just predicted. It provides hope and reassurance that the path of suffering leads to ultimate glory.

Healing a Demon-Possessed Boy (Luke 9:37-43)

Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God (Luke 9:42-43).

This miracle reinforces Jesus’s authority over demonic forces and His compassion towards those in distress. The disciples’ inability to drive out the demon (Luke 9:40) highlights their need for greater faith and reliance on divine power, rather than their own strength. This serves as an instructive moment for the disciples about the nature of true spiritual authority and dependence on God.

Jesus Again Predicts His Death (Luke 9:44-45)

Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men (Luke 9:44).

Jesus reiterates His coming betrayal and suffering, but the disciples do not understand the full significance of His words. This highlights the persistent theme of misunderstanding among His followers and foreshadows their initial confusion and despair at the events of the Passion. It’s a reminder that the path of discipleship includes moments of confusion and difficulty, which can only be fully understood in hindsight through the lens of the resurrection.

The Cost of Following Jesus (Luke 9:57-62)

Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:61-62).

In these verses, Jesus addresses the high cost of discipleship. The excuses given by potential followers—whether burying a father or saying farewell to family—underscore the radical and all-encompassing nature of the call to follow Jesus. Jesus’s responses are not meant to disregard familial duties but to emphasize the paramount importance of the Kingdom. The requirement of undivided commitment to Jesus indicates that true discipleship demands total prioritization of His mission over all other commitments.

Conclusion

Luke Chapter 9 is a profound narrative that encapsulates the essence of Jesus’s mission and the radical call to discipleship. From empowering the disciples and performing miracles to predicting His suffering and calling for self-denial, every segment of this chapter is imbued with deep theological significance. The intertwining themes of divine authority, compassionate provision, suffering, and glory offer a multifaceted understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.

Understanding and embracing the teachings of Luke 9 calls believers to a life of radical trust in God’s provision, reliance on His power, unwavering commitment, and an embrace of the paradoxical truth that in losing their lives for Christ, they truly find them. This chapter, therefore, remains a timeless invitation to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s suffering and glory, and to live out the transformative principles of His Kingdom.

Understanding the Key Messages in Luke 9: Insights and Explanation

In Luke 9, Jesus sends out the twelve apostles to preach and heal the sick. He feeds the five thousand, predicts his death and resurrection, and encourages his disciples to follow him wholeheartedly.

Notes

Luke 9 contains important events and teachings in the ministry of Jesus. It showcases his authority, compassion, and the demands of discipleship.