Discipleship 101: We Don’t Get It (Luke 9:37-49)

After coming down from the mountain where the Transfiguration occurred, Jesus encounters a crowd, including a man whose son is possessed by a demon. The disciples had tried but failed to cast out the demon. Jesus expresses frustration at the faithlessness of the generation, then rebukes the demon, healing the boy and astonishing the crowd with His power.

While people marvel at His miracles, Jesus tells His disciples about His impending betrayal, but they don’t understand what He means. The meaning is hidden from them, and this is not just spiritual blindness as they refuse to inquire about Christ’s prediction.

The disciples argue about who among them is the greatest. Jesus responds by taking a child and saying that whoever welcomes a child in His name welcomes Him, and whoever is least among them is the greatest.  Just when it seems that Christ made his point then John is upset that someone is casting out demons in Jesus’ name.  The problem: the man is not one of them.

The call is for Christians to see that Christ’s kingdom is bigger than they are.  His kingdom is for the weak, the broken, and the sinners who need a redeemer.

The Glory of Suffering (Luke 9:18-36

Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, noting that this moment is foundational because one needs to understand Christ for someone to understand their passage into the kingdom. Jesus then goes on to make explicit that he is not a conquering king, but a suffering servant. Jesus’ disciples are called to bear the cross as people united to Christ. This leads to the transfiguration where Jesus' divine glory, a powerful confirmation that, despite the call to suffering, Jesus is the Son of God with ultimate authority. Jesus shows that he will exodus through the cross to be raised to glory.

The Procession of the Holy Helper (John 14:26; 15:26; BC 11)

John 14:26 and John 15:26 both highlight the role of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus refers to as the Advocate or Helper.

John 14:26 emphasizes that the Holy Spirit will be sent by the Father in Jesus' name to teach the disciples all things and to remind them of everything Jesus has said. This means that the Holy Spirit will guide believers into truth, helping them understand and remember Jesus' teachings.  The Spirit will give the disciples the words to bear testimony about Christ.

John 15:26 builds on this by describing the Holy Spirit as the one who will testify about Jesus. The Spirit comes from the Father and will bear witness to the truth of who Jesus is, affirming His mission and identity.

Together, these verses show that the Holy Spirit is crucial in the life of a believer, serving as a teacher, a reminder of Jesus' words, and a witness to His truth. The Spirit's presence assures believers that they are not left alone; they are empowered and guided in their faith.  The Spirit is sent from the father and the son as we see sending and proceeding used interchangeably in John’s gospel.

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:22-32; COD Head 5: Art 6; RE 4)

Jesus is confronted with a situation where He heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. The Pharisees, seeing this miracle, accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.

The Pharisees are spiritually blind.  The pharisees  in their religious pride and self-righteousness, are unable to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry. These men slander the work of the Holy Spirit by attributing it to Satan.  They do this despite the clear  working of God in their midst.  So they willfully, and consciously attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.

The "unpardonable sin" is not a specific act but an ongoing, hardened stance of slandering the work of the Spirit when the Spirit’s work is overwhelming evident.The seriousness of this sin is attributing God’s work to evil, showing how it reflects a heart that is closed off to the Spirit’s transformative power.

The Conflicted Kingdom (Luke 9:1-17)

Jesus sends out the twelve disciples, giving them power to heal and cast out demons. He tells them to preach about God’s kingdom and rely on the hospitality of those who welcome them. If they’re rejected, they should leave and show that the town is excluded from the kingdom by wiping their feet.

Luke then mentions that John the Baptist has been killed by Herod, which seems like a major setback for God's kingdom. This raises doubts about whether the Lord can truly establish His rule.

Later, in a remote area, the disciples find themselves without enough food, even for their small group of thirteen. But despite the huge crowd of over 5,000, Jesus miraculously feeds everyone with just five loaves and two fish. This shows that God's kingdom is not limited by our obstacles or lack of resources. The Lord's power and provision ensure that His kingdom will prevail.

True Hearing (Luke 8:40-56)

Luke 8:40-56 describes two miracles of Jesus: healing a woman with a long-term illness and raising Jairus' daughter from the dead.

The story begins with Jesus returning to a welcoming crowd. Jairus, the leader of a synagogue, asks Jesus to heal his dying twelve-year-old daughter. On the way, a woman who has bled for twelve years touches His garment, believing it will heal her. Her bleeding stops instantly, but she must acknowledge her action first. Jesus tells her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

While this happens, someone from Jairus’ house brings news that his daughter has died. Jesus encourages Jairus not to fear but to believe. At Jairus' house, mourners laugh when Jesus says the girl is only sleeping. He takes her hand and says, "My child, get up!" She rises, astonishing everyone. Jesus then tells her parents to feed her and not to share what happened.

This passage highlights the power of Jesus' words to heal and bring life, illustrating that true healing comes through His word that imparts and cultivates faith, which even conquers death.

Lord Over the Sea's Warriors (Luke 8:22-39)

Jesus overcomes the storm showing that the Lord of life is the Lord who is the Word that ordered this creation. The abyss of the sea will not overpower Christ's word. The disciples are to see that their faith and confidence is not a sentimental thing. It is rather having a heart tuned into the conviction that the Lord prevails.

Christ moves to the other side of the sea he encounters a mock incarnation. This is a man possessed by evil spirits showing death rather than life. Christ shows once again that the word of Lord is more powerful than the Satanic legion. The demons demonstrate that their kingdom is one of death. Christ merely gives a command to free the man. The unclean spirits run into the abyss on their terms destroying the unclean animals.

We are encouraged to trust in Jesus' authority in our own lives, to seek His transforming power in our struggles, and to live out our faith boldly, knowing Jesus has power over all circumstances.

Superior or Inferior Priestly Intercession (Hebrews 7:23-28)

The Levitical priesthood, instituted under the Mosaic Law, could not bring perfection or complete access to God. It was always meant to be temporary and preparatory. Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron. Melchizedek's priesthood is eternal and not based on ancestry. Jesus, like Melchizedek, holds His priesthood permanently because He lives forever. This eternal priesthood brings a better hope, allowing us to draw near to God because his sacrifice is permanent. His resurrection and ascension places Christ in a superior place than the OT temple. We might be tempted to think that our representation is inferior to the priests of old, but Hebrews teaches that it is superior because the promise is confirmed.

Why the Resurrection? (1 Cor 15:17-19)

Paul argues that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, our faith is futile, and we are still in our sins. Without Christ's physical resurrection, there's no victory over sin and death, leaving us without hope. For those who have died in Christ, their faith would be in vain. Paul insists that the resurrection is essential because it confirms Jesus' victory and ensures our future resurrection, making our faith meaningful and our hope secure.

The Kingdom’s Fertile Soil (Luke 8:1-15)

In the parable of the Fertile Soil, Jesus illustrates how different people respond to the Gospel. The seed represents God's Word, and the various soils depict different hearts. Some hearts are hard, indifferent, and quickly lose the message. Others receive it with joy but lack depth, falling away when difficulties arise. Some hearts are choked by life's worries and riches, preventing growth. But the good soil, a receptive and persevering heart, produces a fruitful life by the Word's power. In Luke's Gospel christ is challenging his audience to be see the admittance to the kingdom through the gospel message. It is an exhortation to be tender to the Lord's purpose seeking to do his will as one secured in Christ.

No Crete but Christ (Titus 3:5)

God saved us by His mercy, not our good deeds. The Holy Spirit renews us, showing His grace, not based on what we do. Baptism signifies we belong to God. We don't follow our old ways as Christians. We've been saved from death and raised to new life in Christ.

No Condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1-4 LD 5)

Mr. Roy Kim fills our pulpit as Pastor Paul Lindemulder enjoys a week off.

The Circumcision of Christ (Luke 2:21)

This passage focuses the circumcision and naming of Jesus, which took place eight days after His birth, fulfilling the Law of Moses. This act symbolizes Jesus' full identification with humanity and His submission to God's Law from the very beginning. Naming Him Jesus, which means 'the Lord saves,' foreshadows His mission to save His people from their sins. It points to the incarnation of God in Jesus, who came to live a perfect life and fulfill the Law on our behalf as one who will die a cursed death. His resurrection confirms his perfection and the promise of the covenant of grace.

Defend the Faith

Rev. Freswick summarizes presuppositional apologetics which argues that all reasoning and argumentation rest on foundational beliefs or presuppositions. This approach maintains that Christian faith is the only basis for rational thought, as it provides the necessary preconditions for intelligibility, morality, and science. Rather than trying to prove Christianity from a neutral standpoint, presuppositional apologetics challenges the unbeliever's worldview, demonstrating that without the God of the Bible, their worldview cannot consistently account for logic, morality, or meaning.

Unworthy or Ungrateful Recipients? (Luke 7:36-52)

Jesus dines at Pharisee Simon's house. A sinful woman anoints Jesus' feet with perfume. Jesus responds to the shock of this woman’s attention with a parable about forgiveness and love. Jesus contrasts woman's love with Simon's judgment. Jesus emphasizes grace, forgiveness, and humility. The pharisees respond by judging Jesus rather than submitting to his kingdom.

One Person, Two Natures, and Two Wills (John 4; BC 19)

The hypostatic union is the Christian doctrine that in the one person of Jesus Christ, there are two natures: fully God and fully human. These natures are united without mixing, changing, or dividing. This means Jesus is completely divine, with all the attributes of God, and completely human, with all the attributes of humanity. This union is essential for our salvation because it means Jesus can truly represent us as a human and save us with divine power. It means that the man from heaven has submitted his human will to God as the last Adam.

Legitimate Question or Illegitimate Prophet? (Luke 7:18-35)

John the Baptist, in jail, asks if Jesus is the promised Savior. Jesus performs and calls attention to His miracles, like healing the sick and resurrecting the dead. He also praises John as a top prophet but says even the humblest in God’s realm is special. This shows how God's realm brings unexpected changes to society and religion, fulfilling His word. The text closes by comparing those who believe in Jesus and those who don’t, stressing the need for faith and embracing God’s radical kingdom.

Christ’s Disruptive Kingdom (Luke 6:24-36)

Jesus teaches a new way of living, valuing love and kindness. He warns the wealthy, satisfied, joyful, and earthly esteemed about an earthly reward. Followers are urged to love everyone, love enemies, pray for abusers, and forgive offenders. Believers are encouraged to show God-like mercy, being confident that Christ’s kingdom is present, and they will receive a great life in the age to come.

Why Go and Baptize in the Trinity? (Matthew 28:16-20; BC 8)

Jesus commanded his Apostles to spread His message worldwide, baptize people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teach disciples to obey His teachings. Christ also gives the remarkable promise that he will be with them always until the end of their age.

A Kingdom of Turmoil (Luke 6:12-23)

In Luke 6:12-23, Jesus goes to pray on a mountain before choosing His twelve apostles. He blesses the poor, hungry, and sorrowful, showing that real blessing comes from God's Kingdom, not material wealth or status. Jesus' message gives hope to the oppressed and challenges the privileged, assuring all that blessing comes in the midst of turmoil.