Jesus Talks with the Twelve
Luke 9:43-50
Rev. Phillip A. Wright
Introduction: This morning we will visit the University of Heaven. Today, we will learn as Jesus gives his lecture directly to the Disciples.
Attention: In the period immediately following the Transfiguration Jesus will address several very important topics and flow through pretty quickly. He is preparing to send the Disciples out on their own to share their faith. He will shortly send seventy out in pairs. Can you imagine sending out thirty five witnessing teams?
Let’s read: Luke 9:43-50: 43 And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 "Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying. 46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great." 49 Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us." 50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side." (NKJV)
Need: Every believer needs to understand that although many of us think that we are the most correct form or expression of the Christian faith, the fact is that we may not be correct. In today’s passage Jesus strictly forbids sectarianism “a narrow-minded adherence to a particular sect or party or denomination; "he condemned religious sectarianism" [syn: denominationalism]
Textual Idea: In our passage, the Lord points out that He will soon be leaving them; he warns against prideful arguing about one’s position and he forbids sectarianism.
Sermon Idea: When we take a broad view of what the Lord wants to accomplish in this world and how he wants us to participate; it becomes an adventure not a safari. An issue of National Geographic included a photograph of the fossil remains of two saber-tooth cats locked in combat. To quote the article: "One had bitten deep into the leg bone of the other, a thrust that trapped both in a common fate. The cause of the death of the two cats is as clear as the causes of the extinction of their species are obvious. When Christians fight each other, everybody loses. As Paul put it, "if you keep biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other" (Galations 5:15). Peter A. Alwinson.
Interrogative: So let me ask this morning’s question: Why would Jesus (in what is clearly a near classroom setting) give such a broad array of comments in rapid succession if they weren’t about to use it? So when Jesus exposes you to a variety of things in a short period, watch out.
Transition: Our text this morning discusses three things that will help us to understand Jesus’ expectations of believers as witnesses and as members of the church body.
1. Jesus Lectures on a Distressing Topic
Explanation: The followers who are present witnessed Jesus as he healed a boy possess by a spirit which made him go into convulsions and caused him to throw himself to the ground. They observed that you can’t just yell at a demon and it will listen. This demon, Jesus taught them could only be over come by prayer and fasting. Fancy that, most New Testament Christians today don’t even want to know about fasting; it must be outdated. No it isn’t. Try it. If you do not know how ask, me, I will be delighted to help.
Illustration: When I was in my first graduate program, I took a management class and one of the exercises – aimed at teaching the importance of planning – required us to map out our lives, from birth to death. Yes, we had to predict the date and circumstances surrounding our death. We all read our papers in class and no one said, I will die next week in a car wreck, or next year in a war, or any other seemingly early death. Everyone – including me – died at a ripe old age of natural causes.
Argumentation: That just isn’t realistic. Somebody dies every few minutes in this country. Guess what, they are not all elderly. In this congregation alone, several of you have buried friends and family members early in their lives. Here we have Jesus doing just that. He is predicting his own death.
Application: Well I do not know how to apply that comment to us today; but I sure am glad it all happened just the way it did. I trust God’s plan much better than I would my own. He told them clearly what was about to happen – he would be “betrayed into the hand of men.” However, it was hidden from them and they did not fully perceive it and that which they did grasp – they were afraid to ask about.
Transition: Jesus gave them a short preview that he would be betrayed.
2. Jesus Lectures on Spiritual Standing
Explanation: The next verse, says “Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.” Many people seem to want to jockey for position, here, there, at work, in churches, community activities. Well as we can see even the disciples got into the act. I assure you that it does not work well. Most people can see someone who just wants to be seen or wants to be well thought of, etc.
Make a note to read Matthew 17-18, as it covers the same material but it has a lot more in it. So to give you a better picture of the actual events read that this afternoon.
Illustration: I can’t really illustrate spiritual grandstanding or boasting about one’s spiritual greatness or worth and will not do so at the expense of the Disciples who took the brunt of the comment directly from Jesus. We do not know exactly what was said. However, to put oneself in a position to feel that you are more valuable to the kingdom of God than someone else is you making a value judgment that really is not appropriate for a believer. I would caution you not to get too tied up in your own spiritual worth. I would recommend that you make a life of saying “here I am Lord, send me.” If you want to be bragged about, let Jesus do it in the hereafter.
Argumentation: So one or all of the Disciples approached Jesus and wanted to know who was going to be appointed to the highest office in Jesus’ coming kingdom. They had entered a discussion in which the discussed their perceived worth to the kingdom and were in essence jockeying for political position.
Application: This type of activity is not what we should be doing. However, if you make a contrite effort to say, “here I am Lord send me” Then trust me, the Lord will use you and reward you, if not here then in heaven. He illustrates his point by using a child and who ever would receive a child in his name would be doing the same as if you were doing it to the Lord.
Transition: First, we saw, Jesus give them an insightful comment that he would be betrayed. Then we saw Jesus discuss the topic of one’s Spiritual Greatness. Last we will see:
3. Jesus Lectures on Sectarianism
Explanation: As I earlier said sectarianism is basically denominationalism, we are to be a church not this group or that group. Now, I recognize that I tend to embrace some and not rush to do so to others and I have no defense. I am a slave to the same 168 hours each week that you are. I have no more or less time than you do. The trick to being effective in life in whatever you do, is how effective do you manage your time.
Illustration: It is said that when the British and French were fighting in Canada in the 1750s, Admiral Phipps, commander of the British fleet, was told to anchor outside Quebec. He was given orders to wait for the British land forces to arrive, and then support them when they attacked the city. Phipps’ navy arrived early. As the admiral waited, he became annoyed by the statues of the saints that adorned the towers of a nearby cathedral, so he commanded his men to shoot at them with the ships’ cannons. No one knows how many rounds were fired or how many statues were knocked out, but when the land forces arrived and the signal was given to attack, the admiral was of no help. He had used up all his ammunition shooting at the "saints." Daily Bread, October 6.
Argumentation: Witnessing in the Bible is not Fussing and Arguing 101. It is lovingly but accurately sharing one’s faith for the purpose of bringing an unbeliever to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is not nor has it ever been brow beating someone. It is the single greatest act of love and devotion to God that many here will ever do. Make sure that if that’s all you are going to do, do it right.
Application: We are to embrace all who are believers in Jesus Christ and confess him as their Savior. However, too many want to argue silly little points of dogma that they barely understand themselves. Listen to me, take the example from Paul, you want to witness and share your faith? Go find unbelievers; don’t go to members of other churches and try to change them. You end up making people hate this church and this denomination because all they see is people who want to dogmatically debate that you are correct and they are all wrong.
4. Conclusion:
Visualization: Visualize being present when Jesus predicts his own death. He admonishes the Disciples for boasting which one will be the greatest in kingdom. His last comments were to tell the Disciples not to divide the church into an Us and Them. The church is the church – work with the body as it is.
Reiteration:
1. Jesus Lectures on a Distressing Topic
2. Jesus Lectures on Spiritual Standing
3. Jesus Lectures on Sectarianism
Action: It is essential for us to acknowledge that our abilities and worth to the Kingdom of God are directly tied to our faithfulness to God.
