Lucas 9
Kent Hughes · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 9
Hughes - This call to a crucified life demands a willingness to pour out one's life for Christ. The biography The Shadow of the Almighty records a beautiful prayer uttered by Jim Elliot: Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it, Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine altar. Young Jim Elliot went on to willingly shoulder his cross in missionary service, literally sealing it with his own blood at the hands of primitive spearmen deep in the jungles of Ecuador. (See Luke: That You May Know the Truth) Robert Morgan on Luke 9:23-26 - God uses temptation to cultivate obedience. Look at Luke 9:23-26: In other words, if we’re Christ’s disciples, we’re going to be in hostile territory and we’re going to have to make hard moral decisions every day. The world will try to tempt us. The world will try to intimidate us. The world will try to make us ashamed of being Christians. But Jesus can use that temptation to cultivate obedience in our lives. I think one of the best things that I read in the purpose-driven materials we’ve been going through is this paragraph. I want to read it to you, because it is so well-stated: “Temptation always tests whether you love God more than the temptation. Let me give you a tip about temptation. When you’re tempted, don’t resist it. Because as you’re resisting it, guess what you’re doing? You’re just thinking about the temptation! You’re getting into a spiritual tug-of-war with Satan, and he always wins. You don’t resist it, you just drop the rope and walk a different direction and you think about something different. This is a verse that I’ve used literally hundreds and hundreds of times in my life [Philippians 4:8: “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”] When I’m tempted it’s my favorite verse to use to turn my thoughts from what’s wrong to what’s right, so I’ve memorized it very well, because I have been tempted a lot. If you’ll take a verse like this and let it turn your mind from what’s wrong to what’s right, you’ll find the temptation starts to drop away.” ILLUSTRATION Missionary Amy Carmichael worked with children in India, and one day she took them on a field trip to see a goldsmith refine his gold after the ancient manner of the East. He was sitting beside a little charcoal fire, and in the fire was a little curved roofing tile. Another tile covered it as a lid. This was the crucible. The goldsmith had concocted a solution, put it in the tile crucible, placed the lump of gold in the solution, and put the whole thing in the fire. As the fire did its work, the impurities in the gold began to leak into the solution and the gold become more pure. The goldsmith would occasionally take the gold out of the crucible with a pair of tongs, let it cool, and rub it between his fingers. Then he put it back into fresh solution in the tile and heated it up again. Every time this happened, the goldsmith blew the fire hotter than before. Looking up at the children, the goldsmith said, “The gold could not bear the fire this hot to begin with; it would have destroyed it. But now it helps it.” One of the children asked, “How do you know when the gold is purified?” Here was the man’s answer: “When I can see my face in it (the liquid gold in the crucible) then it is pure.” Of course, Amy Carmichael couldn’t miss the lesson for her own life. When our Great Refiner sees in us His own image, He has brought us to maturity and wholeness. He uses truth to cultivate wisdom; trials to cultivate faith; tasks to cultivate faithfulness, and temptation to cultivate obedience until He can see His face to us and we have grown into the image of Christ. Is that process happening in your life? Fanny Crosby put it: O to be more like Jesus, Earnest when ’ere I pray, Into His perfect likeness Growing from day to day. Oh, that we might all be growing into the image of Christ, growing up into Him in all things, letting Christ be formed in us. And then one day all shall be fulfilled. As the old apostle John told us in the third chapter of his first epistle: Beloved, we are now children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. It’s Not A Game Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. — Mark 8:34 Today's Scripture: Mark 8:31-38 My former neighbor often talked about “the game of life,” and I can understand why he did. It’s part of human nature to approach life as one big game made up of a lot of little games. Competing can be fun, exciting, and stimulating. But life is a whole lot more than a game—especially for a follower of Jesus Christ. When a believer needs to own the biggest house, drive the largest SUV, get the promotion first, and win every argument, something’s terribly wrong from God’s point of view. It’s not right to run over people’s feelings, bend or break the rules, and gloat over victories. To approach life as one big game that you always have to win is to live in hopeless delusion and fantasy. While material possessions, professional success, and personal victories are enjoyable, they last only for this life. Then they’re all left behind. Follow Me Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. —Mark 8:34 Today's Scripture: Mark 8:34-38 During World War II, B-17 bombers made long flights from the US mainland to the Pacific island of Saipan. When they landed there, the planes were met by a jeep bearing the sign: “Follow Me!” That little vehicle guided the giant planes to their assigned places in the parking area. One pilot, who by his own admission was not a religious man, made an insightful comment: “That little jeep with its quaint sign always reminds me of Jesus. He was [a lowly] peasant, but the giant men and women of our time would be lost without His direction.” Centuries after our Savior walked the streets and hills of Israel, the world with all its advances still needs His example and instruction. When His ways aren’t followed, numerous problems and evils arise in our world—including immorality, crime, and greed. How do we follow Jesus’ ways? First of all, we turn from our sin and entrust our lives to Him as our Savior and Lord. Then, we seek His will in His Word each day and put it into practice by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. We learn to deny our selfish desires and give ourselves completely to following Jesus (Mark 8:34-35). THINKING IT OVER For help on your Christian journey, read the online booklet What Does It Take To Follow Christ? To find your way through life, follow Jesus. Subtle Wisdom If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. —John 12:26 Today's Scripture: Mark 8:34-38 When I was in college, my co-worker Bud, a fork-truck driver, often enriched my life with his pithy wisdom. We were eating lunch one day, sitting on the back of his fork truck, when I announced that I was transferring to another school. “Why?” he asked. “All my friends are transferring,” I answered. Bud chewed his sandwich for a moment and then replied quietly and with subtle irony, “I guess that’s one way to pick a school.” His words struck me with rare force. Of course, I thought. But is this the only way to choose a school? Will I follow my friends for the rest of my days, or will I follow Jesus? Will I seek His face and His will and go where He wants me to go? Twenty-five times in the New Testament, Jesus said to His disciples, “Follow Me.” In Mark 8:34, He said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” No matter what others do or what direction their lives may take, we must do what He asks us to do. Cafeteria Christianity Read: Mark 8:34-38 Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. —Mark 8:34 In his book Thinking in the Future Tense, Edward B. Lindaman refers to “the cafeteria culture of our age.” It’s the tendency to shy away from life’s unpleasant disciplines and seek only what brings immediate pleasure. Christians are not exempt from this tendency. Some persuasive preachers promote an “abundant life” of success and prosperity through positive thinking, more faith, or giving money to get God’s blessing in return. The Bible, of course, teaches us to think positively (Phil. 4:8) and to give liberally (2 Cor. 8:2). But much “prosperity preaching” lacks the nourishing truths of Christ’s sacrifice for sin and His demand for godly living. Our God is not only loving, good, and generous; He is also righteous, holy, and demanding. He hates sin and will not compromise with evil. From subtle love of softening things, From easy choices, weakenings; Not thus are spirits fortified, Not this way went the Crucified. —Carmichael To be conformed to Christ, let God’s Spirit form Christ in you. Steven
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Hughes - Preaching the Word - Mark, Volume I: Jesus, Servant and Savior) “What can a man give in exchange for his life?” (Mk 8:37) The answer is nothing. On April 17, 1998, Linda McCartney, wife of Paul McCartney of the Beatles, died. Newsweek concluded its article on her death by saying, “The McCartney’s had all the money in the world.... Enough to afford their privacy. Enough to give them a beautiful view. But all the money in the world wasn’t enough to keep her alive” (Giles, “Lady McCartney,” 64). Steven
Lucas 9
Hughes - For a brief moment the veil of his humanity (cf Php 2:8) was lifted, and his true essence was allowed to shine through. The glory that was always in the depths of his being rose to the surface that one time in his earthly life. This was both a glance back into his pre-human glory and a look forward into his future glory! (See Luke: That You May Know the Truth) As an aside one might ask why Luke did not use metamorphoo in his Gospel like Matthew and Mark? While we cannot be definitive he may have wanted to avoid this term for his Hellenistic (Greek) readers. The TDNT note on metamorphoo says "A common religious belief is that the gods can change into other forms. In apocalyptic and mysticism humans change into a supraterrestrial form. In Judaism such a change is a gift of eschatological salvation. In the mysteries it involves liberation from the body and deification. Magic promises a change into divine form, and magicians claim a godlike nature through union with the divine form." Robert Stein comments on why Luke may have avoided metamorphoo - Luke may have done this to avoid any similarity with pagan religious myths. (Cf. Acts 14:11, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”) (See Luke: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition)
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Hughes writes that "bright" here is leukos—"white"—the grand apocalyptic color, the color representative of what is beyond; cf. Rev. 2:17; Rev. 6:2; Rev. 20:11 (Preaching the Word – Luke, Volume I: That You May Know the Truth) Zodhiates on leukos - of clothing sometimes in the sense of bright (Matt. 17:2; 28:3; Mark 9:3; 16:5; Luke 9:29; John 20:12; Acts 1:10); of hair (Matt. 5:36; Rev. 1:14); of harvest meaning ripe (John 4:35); of stone (Rev. 2:17); symbolically (Rev. 3:4, 5, 18; 4:4; 6:11; 7:9, 13; 19:14); of a horse (Rev. 6:2; 19:11, 14); of a cloud (Rev. 14:14); of the throne of God (Rev. 20:11). (Borrow The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament) Gilbrant - In classical Greek leukos describes, among other things, the color of snow, hair, stones, clothing, and dust. Like the opposite color melas (“black”), leukos assumes a figurative meaning, with the former symbolizing that which is morally evil and the latter symbolizing purity, holiness, and divinity. In classical texts leukos is the color of sacrificial animals and priestly clothing. Indeed, Plato suggests that the color white is pleasing to the gods (cf. Liddell-Scott). Septuagint Usage = The religious practices of the Hebrews indicate that they held white in similar esteem. In addition to its ordinary literal usages, leukos appears in the Septuagint as the color of priestly garments. Figuratively leukos symbolizes purification from sin (Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18), and a vision of God is dominated by the color leukos (Daniel 7:9). Apart from the four instances mentioned in the previous paragraph, the New Testament uses leukos as the color associated with heaven. Most references are to white clothing, as in the descriptions of the transfiguration of Jesus, the post-Resurrection appearances of angels, or the heavenly citizens in the Book of Revelation. (See, for example, Matthew 17:2; Matthew 28:3; Acts 1:10; Revelation 3:4,5.) Even the throne of God is white (Revelation 20:11). Revelation 1:14 portrays the victorious Christ in terms reminiscent of the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9; both of these scenes are dominated by white. (Complete Biblical Library)
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Hughes - What an amazing sight! Luminous, dazzling Jesus is talking to Moses who had been dead over 1,400 years and to Elijah who had been gone for about 900. And they are talking about his exodus—his imminent death for our sins. (See Luke: That You May Know the Truth) Were speaking - imperfect tense - graphic picture of an ongoing conversation. Wouldn't you like to have eavesdropped? At least Luke gives us the general subject they were discussing - Jesus' death and departure from Jerusalem. Were speaking of His departure (exodos) - The KJV has "spake of his decease" (the event of dying or departure from life). Remember that Peter, John and James are asleep and did not overhear them speaking of His departure (His "exodus" from this world, His death). While Moses the law giver led the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, God had promised to raise up a prophet like Moses (Dt 18:15, 18) Who would lead the people of God out of slavery to sin, an "exodus" made possible by His death as the Lamb of God (Jesus fulfilling the shadow of the Passover lambs in Egypt). Daniel Akin in comparing the mission of Moses with that of Jesus adds that "This is not Mount Sinai all over again. No, this is a Gospel mountain, not a Law mountain. Here the Law of God and the Grace of God converge in the One who is God incarnate and the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promised. Look at Him and believe His Gospel." (Borrow Exalting Jesus in Mark Christ-Centered Exposition) Darrell Bock observes regarding Jesus' "departure" that "the disciples do not grasp this discussion's significance at the time(Ed: It is not clear they actually heard the conversation if one compares Lk 9:32), since they struggle with Jesus' predictions of His death later when they approach Jerusalem (Luke 18:31-34)." (See Christological Confession and the Road of Discipleship 9:18-50)
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Hughes - The cloud is also a prophecy. In the future, in death, believers will meet the risen Christ in the incandescent clouds to be with him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17, 18). Peter, James, and John were to put their arms around this blessed experience and pull it within themselves. So must we! It is our hope. 1Thess 4:17b says that the same Lord is going to return in a cloud of glory, and that those who die before are going to rise up and meet him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and that the living are going to meet him in the air too (1 Thessalonians 4:17)—in that great cloud of glory. Someday we are going to be in that cloud! The Shekinah glory is going to surround us! (See Luke: That You May Know the Truth) They were afraid (phobeo) as they entered the cloud (nephele) - The first they is Peter, James and John, but the second they is not as clear. Given the contextual proximity one would logically think this was the triad of disciples but it is more likely the glorified triad who entered the cloud. One support for this premise is that the Father spoke "out (ek) of the cloud," implying the disciples, the addressees ("listen to Him") were outside of the cloud. In addition to their fear here, Matthew describes them as terrified when they heard God's voice from heaven (Mt 17:6). This is holy fear on steroids! Overshadow (1982)(episkiazo from epi = upon + skia = shadow) "literally, as darkening by partially blocking out a source of light" (Friberg) and so to throw a shadow upon as in Acts 5:15. To cover as with a cloud. The more common literal use of episkiazo describes the transfiguration where a cloud formed (probably the Shekinah glory cloud) and overshadowed Jesus and the 3 disciples Peter and John and James. Earlier Luke used episkiazo in the angel's announcement to Mary ", "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. (Lk 1:35+) John
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Hughes - Jesus is a far greater authority than Moses or Elijah. The Law and the Prophets were only partial expressions, but here is the final statement, so "Listen to him." (See Luke: That You May Know the Truth) Listen to Him - The verb for listen (akouo - hear, listen to - it implies to hear and heed, not in one ear and out the other!) is a command in the present imperative. Keep on listening to Jesus. Make this your habitual practice. Make this your "daily bread." THOUGHT - Our Father's command begs the question - do you daily listen to Jesus? How can we listen to Him today? Is God alluding to some mystical experience? Absolutely not - He is the Word (Jn 1:1) and to be in the Word of God is to be daily hearing from the God of the Word! Are you daily in His Word (Mt 4:4+)? If you are not in His Word, it is difficult to listen to Him. An exception is of course His Word which you have memorized -- then you can hear from Him anywhere, anytime as the Spirit of Jesus recalls the verses to mind! Memorization is the best discipline you will ever practice as a believer as it fuel prayer, worship, work, etc. Why should we listen to Jesus? Hebrews explains that the Father "in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, through Whom also He made the world." (Heb 1:2+) The Father's command to Listen to Him hearkens back to the OT prophecy of a Prophet greater than Moses “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.....18‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you (Moses), and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. ‘It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; 19+) Notice from this OT prophecy that one reason the Father wants us to listen to Jesus is because the Father has placed His own words in Jesus' mouth. And so when Jesus speaks, He speaks the words of God the Father (cf Jesus' always does the will of the Father - see Jn 5:19-20, Jn 5:30, 8:28)