Luke Chapter 9 is a long chapter. It has 62 verses. Luke Chapter 9 is also a “wow” chapter. It contains some of the best-known events in the life of Christ Jesus and the Disciples. It begins with Jesus sending the disciples out with “power and authority over all the demons, and power to heal diseases … to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” [vs 1-2 HCSB]
It moves on from there to the feeding of the 5000, Peter’s Confession of Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus’ command that His disciples “must deny [themselves], take up [their] cross daily and follow Me,” as well as the account of the Transfiguration.
It is the event following the Transfiguration that engaged my thinking this morning. Coming down from the mountain, Jesus is confronted by a father with his son, his only child. The father tells Jesus that “a spirit seizes” the boy, convulsing and wounding him. He had begged for help from the disciples, but they were unable to do anything. Jesus “rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy, and gave him back to his father.” [vs39-42 HCSB]
The crowd’s reaction was immediate … “they were all astonished at the greatness of God.” [vs43a HCSB]
It is what happens next that truly speaks of the greatness of our God. “While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing, He told His disciples, ‘Let these words sink in, the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.’” [vs43b-44 HCSB]
Jesus without delay turns the focus of His followers. “Let these words sink in ….”
The greatness of God will never be more glorious than when the Son of God surrenders to a cross to bring about the salvation of mankind.
