IDENTITY

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LUKE 9:1-22
Lesson #27
IDENTITY

• Memory Verse: Gal 2:20
• From the beginning of His ministry Jesus had been training the twelve disciples through every situation that they confronted.
• Read Luk 9:1-10 Sending Out the Twelve
  • In Luke 9 the chapter begins with a commissioning of the twelve disciples.
    • They are given the same spiritual power and authority as Christ. (1)
      • They will have power over demons.
      • They will have authority over sickness.
    • They are to preach the kingdom of God. (2)
  • The delegation of power and authority means:
    • They will minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the same person of power that Jesus used in His earthly ministry.
    • They will minister in the name of Jesus Christ. This name is above all other names in the universe.
  • Why did Jesus tell them not to take anything with them? (3)
    • He gave them a list as an example of what not to take:
      • No staves: They are not to take anything that can be used as a weapon for they go in peace.
      • No scrip: This was like a suitcase used for travelling.
      • No bread: They are to go by faith trusting that God will supply their food.
      • No money: They will go by faith in God, and they will not buy anything along the way.
      • No extra clothing: Their physical comfort is not important.
    • All of these things mean that they must trust in God to provide everything they will need. This is a test of their faith on their initial missionary journey. This is the culmination of their training.
      • This instruction was specifically for the twelve disciples and not for travelling ministers today, for we see in the early church that Paul travelled with provisions and books. (2Tim 4:13)
      • There are some people that use this guideline for their ministry today, but then they insist on taking an offering everywhere they go, or they sell their books, or tapes!
        • What is the legitimate, Biblical expectation of a travelling minister today?

In the same way as the twelve disciples, any travelling pastor, evangelist, or preacher should go by faith in the name of Christ if his journey is for the sake of preaching the Gospel.

He should not go to raise money but to minister.

If he is subsequently given an offering, it is by the provision of God, and he is free to accept it.

• • • • • What is the responsibility of churches and Christians to travelling ministers today?

Churches and Christians should extend hospitality to travelling ministers. (Tit 1:8 1Pet 4:9) God will bless the home that practices hospitality.

Churches and Christians should extend an offering to Christian workers that minister to them. (1Tim 5:18)

• • • ^“ And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” (5)
      • Jesus knew the disciples would run into opposition. They were to lodge in homes where they were invited to lodge.
        • There were no hotels and only a few inns on the main roads. But without money they would not be welcome there.
        • Personal hospitality would be a guide to them of homes that would be open to the Gospel.
      • For places where they were not welcomed, they were to move on to other places and leave judgment up to God.
  • The response of Herod the Tetrarch
    • Herod was always worried over potential Jewish uprisings against Rome. His concern was to keep the peace in order to keep his job as a puppet-king in the Roman Empire.
    • When Jesus and His disciples began to attract large crowds, Herod was worried.
      • Herod maintained spies among the people that reported directly to him.
      • These are the rumors that came to Herod as to the identity of Jesus:
        • Herod knew he had killed John the Baptist, so Jesus was not John.
        • But some said that Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead.
        • Some said Jesus was Elijah raised from the dead because Mal 4:5 was a prophecy that Elijah would return from the dead.
        • Some said Jesus was another prophet raised from the dead because Moses prophesied in Deu 18:15 that God would send another prophet greater than Moses.
• Read Luk 9:11-17 Feeding the Five Thousand
  • There are two different situations in the Gospels where Jesus miraculously fed large multitudes of people. They are often confused where many people think of the two situations as one occurrence.
  • Jesus used the same method to produce the multiplication of food in both situations.
    • The feeding of the four thousand plus women and children (Mat 15:32-38 Mar 8:1-9)
    • The feeding of the five thousand plus women and children (Mat 14:15-21 Mar 6:32-44 Luk 9:11-17 Joh 6:5-13).

A Comparison of the Two Events

Feeding the 4,000	Feeding the 5,000
Jesus suggested the need for food.	The disciples suggested the need for food.
The word for basket (sphurides) is a man-sized basket used by Gentiles as the event occurs in Decapolis, a Gentile area.	The word for basket (kophinoi) a small-necked basket used by travelling Jews. (Mar 6:43)
The people were with Jesus for three days.	The people were with Jesus for one day.
The disciples are ready with an answer.	The disciples are told to go and see what food was available.
Seven loaves and a few fish were used.	Five loaves and 2 fish were used.
The people sat on the ground in the hot Summer or Fall when the grass was dead. (About 6 months after feeding the 5,000.)	The people sat on the green grass because it was Spring near the time of the Passover.
Seven baskets full of bread were left over.	Twelve baskets full of bread were left over.
Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life for the Gentiles	Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life for the Jews

• • Some important things to notice:
    • The feeding of the 5,000 is the only event told by all four of the Gospels.
    • The feeding of the 5,000 deals with the Jews primarily. How do we know this?
      • The word used for basket is a Jewish term.
      • Why is that important?
        • It helps us to understand other details in the miracle. For example:
        • The twelve baskets left over refer to the 12 tribes of Israel to indicate that God is able to supply over and above all that the Jewish people need.
        • In contrast, the feeding of the 4,000 deals primarily with the Gentiles. We know this by the Gentile word used for basket to indicate that God is able to supply over and above all that the Gentile people need.
        • The seven baskets left over refer to the 7 Gentile nations cast out of the Promised Land by Joshua. (Jos 24:11)
    • The people are told to set in groups of 50. The number 50 means unification. When people are unified around a specific purpose, God’s power flows to meet that need. (Luk 9:14)
    • The meal of 5 loaves and 2 fish represents the “perfect” meal because 7 is God’s complete number.
  • Application:
    • Remember that in Luke chapter 9 Jesus was training the disciples through a hands-on training.
      • Jesus permitted the disciples to be part of the miracle. He could have had the people file past Him as he handed them the bread, or the bread could have suddenly appeared in the hands of the people.
      • The disciples are used by Christ to distribute the bread.
        • At what point in time did the miracle actually occur?
        • At the point when Jesus broke the bread or at the time when the disciples distributed it?

The Bible does not tell us.

But it is an interesting question to contemplate.

• • • For the believer in Jesus Christ that is supposed to minister to the needs of others, there are some important principles in this miracle:
      • =1= Do not concentrate on the size of the task.
        • The disciples saw more than 5,000 people.
        • God is able to do beyond the size of the need.
      • =2= Do not concentrate on the lack of the size of your resources.
        • The disciples saw only 5 loaves and 2 fish.
        • In God’s perfect provision, He can meet the need for His resources are not limited.
      • =3= By faith use what you have and let God fulfill His purpose.
• Read Luk 9:18-22 Jesus’ Identity
  • Jesus asks the disciples two questions:
    • =1= Who do the people say Jesus is?
      • The disciples repeat the rumors that Herod had heard at the beginning of the chapter in verses 7-9.
      • John the Baptist, Elijah, or another prophet raised from the dead.
    • =2= Who do the disciples think Jesus is?
      • Peter says He is the Christ of God. (20)
      • What does that mean?
        • The term “Messiah” means = the anointed one.

The Messiah is a Jewish term. The Jews were looking for God to send the Messiah to free them from the yoke of Rome and establish His own kingdom on earth.

That idea meant treason and rebellion against the Romans.

• • • • • The term “Christ” means = the anointed one.
        • Because the terms Messiah and Christ are the same, Jesus Christ is the long awaited Messiah that all the Old Testament prophets predicted would come to save God’s people.
      • Notice that Jesus did not deny Peter’s declaration. Instead He told the disciples not to tell anyone. Why?
        • The crowds were increasing and the religious and government leaders were worried about rebellion against Rome.
        • God’s timing for the crucifixion is not yet.

Jesus predicts His crucifixion promoted by the religious Jewish leaders. (22)

Jesus predicts His resurrection on the third day.

• Chapter Application:
  • This whole section of Luke 9 deals with identity, Jesus identity as understood by the public, the religious and governmental leaders, and the disciples.
  • In training the disciples, they needed to understand who Jesus really was.
    • They would not be able to minister to others in the power of the Holy Spirit without that identification with Christ.
    • For the New Testament believer, we cannot minister to others without knowing who we are in Christ. (see your memory verse)
      • The basis of our spiritual identity is our intimate relationship with Him.
        • You must have invited Him into your heart so that you know Him and He knows you.
        • You must know that you have the same power and authority delegated to you that Jesus gave to the disciples.
      • Identity is extremely important. Without that personal identification with Christ, we are powerless and do everything in our own strength which is greatly limited.
  • Chapter 9 continues this theme of identity in our next lesson.

Homework
Luke 9:23-36

• Application of Luk 9:1-22
  • What have you learned about your identity with Christ?
  • How is what you have learned going to change your life, your decisions, and how you relate to others?
• Preparation for Luk 9:23-36
  • Read Luk 9:23-36
    • What are the three aspects of discipleship? (23)
    • What did Jesus mean in verse 24?
    • (Advanced question): Why did Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus instead of other Old Testament figures like Abraham?
• Memory verse: 1Cor 15:51