Following Jesus, Luke 9v28-62

today.

Luke chapter 9 beginning at verse 28 on page 1040.

Luke 9 · chapter mention

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went

up onto a mountain to pray.

As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became as bright

as a flash of lightning.

Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor talking with Jesus.

They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake they saw

his glory and the two men standing with him.

As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, Master, it is good for us to be here.

Let us put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.

He did not know what he was saying.

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them and they were afraid as they

entered the cloud.

A voice came from the cloud saying, this is my son whom I have chosen.

Listen to him.

When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.

The disciples kept this to themselves and told no one at that time what they had seen.

The next day when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

A man in the crowd called out, Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams.

It throws him into convulsion so that he foams at the mouth.

It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.

I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.

Oh, unbelieving and perverse generation, Jesus replied.

How long shall I stay with you and put up with you?

Bring your son here.

Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion.

But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you.

The son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.

But they did not understand what this meant.

It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and made him stand beside him.

Then he said to them, Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me,

and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

For he who is least among you all, he is the greatest.

Master, said John, we saw a man driving out demons in your name,

and we tried to stop him because he is not one of us.

Do not stop him, Jesus said,

For whoever is not against you is for you.

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven,

Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem,

and he sent messengers on ahead,

who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him.

But the people there did not welcome him,

because he was heading for Jerusalem.

When the disciples, James and John, saw this, they asked,

Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?

But Jesus turned and rebuked them,

and they went to another village.

As they were walking along the road,

a man said to him,

I will follow you wherever you go.

Jesus replied,

Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests,

but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.

He said to another man,

Follow me.

But the man replied,

Lord, first let me go and bury my father.

Jesus said to him,

Let the dead bury their own dead,

but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.

Still another said,

I will follow you, Lord,

but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.

Jesus replied,

No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back

is fit for service in the kingdom of God.

Thank you, Chris.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

The voice came from the clouds saying,

This is my son whom I have chosen.

Listen to him.

Father, we want to listen to your words about the Lord Jesus today.

We want to hear clearly.

We want to hear clearly.

To understand who he is.

And what it means for people like us to follow him.

Teach us today.

We ask this for his glory alone.

Amen.

We'll have a look back at verse 23 of chapter 9.

Alex referred to it earlier this morning.

Verse 23.

Jesus said to them all,

If anyone would come after me,

he must deny himself

and take up his cross daily

and follow me.

And in response,

the musicians start

and we sing the hymn.

So I will go

wherever he is calling me.

I lose my life

to find my life in him.

I give my all

to gain the hope that never dies.

I bow my heart,

take up my cross

and follow him.

Very easy to read, isn't it?

And maybe easier to sing those words.

But to take up my cross

and follow him?

Well, that's a call to come and die to self

and to live for Christ.

And when we get to the end of chapter 9,

we meet three more people

who promise to follow Jesus.

One says,

I will follow you wherever you go.

Another says,

I will follow you, Lord.

And as we sit this morning,

we promise to follow.

And that's what I want us to consider

as we think about this text this morning.

What will it mean for us?

What will it mean for me

to follow Jesus?

First,

the glory and greatness of Jesus.

As we consider what it means to follow Jesus,

we're given this picture

of who Jesus is.

First,

the glory.

Look at verse 28.

About eight days

after Jesus said this,

so after he talked about following him,

he took Peter, John and James with him

and went up onto a mountain

to pray.

Now this must have been some experience

to be up on that mountain.

The sights and the sounds,

the flash of lights,

the cloud that appears

and the voice that speaks.

Now you might think

we're talking about this passage here

in Luke chapter 9.

Luke 9 · chapter mention

But I'm actually thinking about another event

on another mountain

about 1500 years beforehand.

It's recorded for us in Exodus 19.

You probably are familiar

and remember the story.

It's when Moses

goes up Mount Sinai

to receive the law

from God.

He goes up the mountain

to meet with God.

And there's flashing of light,

there's smoke and fire

and a cloud descends on the mountain

signifying the presence of God

and out of the cloud

God speaks.

Now here in Luke

we find ourselves up another mountain.

And I don't think

it's a coincidence.

I think we're meant

to make these connections.

Because on Mount Sinai

God is meeting with Moses.

The sights and sounds,

the visual effects

that have happened there

are all a display

of God's glory.

God is present

on the mountain.

His power,

greatness,

beauty and authority

are all on display.

And here we are

up another mountain

and God is present.

But this time

through the person

of Jesus.

Look at verse 29.

As Jesus was praying

the appearance

of his face

changed

and his clothes

became as bright

as a flash of lightning.

Two men,

Moses and Elijah,

these great figures

of the Old Testament

representing the time

of the law

and the time

of the prophets,

appeared in glorious splendour

talking with Jesus.

Verse 32.

Peter and his companions

were very sleepy

but when they became

fully awake

they saw his glory.

The glory of God

is now seen

in the person of Jesus.

God's power,

his greatness,

his beauty

and authority

are displayed

through Jesus.

But look what else

that happens.

Verse 34.

As they were talking

a cloud appeared

and it covered them

and they were afraid

as they entered

into the cloud

and from the cloud

a voice came saying

this is my son

whom I have chosen

listen

to him.

all the way

through the Bible story

God has been saying

listen to me

listen to me

listen to me

but now God says

listen to him

listen to my son.

You see on this mountain

we see the glory of God.

God is on display

through Jesus.

Second we have

the greatness.

from the mountaintop experience

we descend

down from the mountain

into the darkness

of the valley below

and here we meet

a desperate situation

a father

with his tormented son.

Verse 39.

The father tells us

that a spirit

seizes his son

and he suddenly screams

it throws him

into convulsion

so that he foams

at his mouth.

It's almost

he's in a fit.

It scarcely ever

leaves him

and it's destroying him.

And to make matters worse

we read that no one

can do anything about it

not even the disciples.

This satanic evil rules.

But then Jesus is there

and in the calmness

that he brings

he says

bring the boy here

bring your son here.

Verse 42.

And even while the boy

was coming

the demon threw him

into the ground

in a convulsion.

But Jesus rebuked

the evil spirit

healed the boy

and gave him back

to his father.

Once more

we see the power

and authority

of God

being present

as Jesus

rebukes evil.

Once again

we see the beauty

and the greatness

of God on display

as Jesus heals

and restores

this boy.

And look at how

all the crowds

respond

verse 43.

And they were all

amazed

at the greatness

of God.

God is on display

through Jesus

and God is present

through Jesus.

Jesus.

Now wouldn't you like

some of that

glory

and greatness?

Wouldn't you love

to experience

that glory

up in the mountain?

Picture yourself there.

Wouldn't it be great

to be there?

Or down in the

greatness

of the valley

with all these

amazing things

going on.

I'll have some of that.

I want that.

And it seems

that's what the disciples

are after too.

Look at verse 46.

An argument

started among

the disciples

as to which of them

would be the greatest.

We can imagine

them talking.

Jesus.

Go on.

Tell us.

Who do you think

is the best disciple?

Who do you think

is the best preacher?

Who does the best

miracles?

Who do you think

is the best

Sunday school teacher?

Who's the best

leader at the rock?

Who's the best

at coming early

and setting up?

Imagine

to have the glory

of being the greatest

Christian

in your church.

What a title.

I was thinking

maybe we should have

a Christian of the month

award.

As everybody comes in

somebody's picture

is up on the wall.

Christian of the month.

What a title.

to have the glory

of being the greatest

Christian.

Well to try and earn

a few more brownie points

look at verse 49.

Master

said John

we saw a man

driving out demons

in your name

but we tried to stop him

because he's not one of us.

He's not one of our crowd.

Doesn't go to our church.

How many marks

is that going to get me

Jesus?

Jesus.

Do not stop him

Jesus said.

For whoever is not

against you

is for you.

You see we're missing

the point about

greatness and glory.

Look at what Jesus says

as they begin to argue

about glory and greatness.

Verse 47

Jesus knowing

their thoughts

took a little child

and made him

stand beside them.

So here's a real

living live illustration.

He takes this little kid

who's maybe running around

and plonks him

in the middle of the disciples.

Verse 46

48

Then he said to them

whoever welcomes

this little child

in my name

welcomes me

and whoever welcomes me

welcomes the one

who sent me.

Now children today

get pride of place.

Children come first.

Everything is fitted

around children.

In the first century

children came last.

Children were considered

nothings and nobodies.

They didn't have rights.

You didn't get glory

and greatness

for welcoming

a little child.

Who would do that?

But that's Jesus' point.

Look at the rest

of verse 48.

For he who is least

among you

the one who's the nobody

the one who's the nothing

they are the greatest.

See Jesus

is making it so clear.

Look he says

if you want to follow me

if you want to be

my disciple

you must become

the least.

If you want glory

and greatness

you must learn

to die

to yourself

glory

and live

for the glory

and greatness

of who

Jesus is.

Get rid of self

and live for Christ.

Second

there's the departure

and death

of Jesus.

As we consider

what it means

to follow Jesus

we mustn't just

understand who he is

but what Jesus does.

first the departure

listen to the conversation

that's taking place

on the mountain

verse 30

amidst all the

spectacular fireworks

of the lightning

the flash of lights

something else

is happening

verse 30

two men

Moses and Elijah

appeared in glorious

splendor

talking with Jesus

what are they

talking about?

They spoke about

his departure

which he was

about to bring

to fulfilment

at Jerusalem.

Now I don't know

what translation

you have there

but the word

for departure

is literally

the word

exodus.

It simply means

to exit

to depart

to leave.

So as they're

talking together

they're talking

about Jesus'

exodus.

Now doesn't that

bring things

to memory

remember

the exodus

the greatest

act of redemption

and rescue

of God's people

they were slaves

in Egypt

for 400 years

under the cruel

reign of the pharaohs

but God came in

delivered them

rescued them

a demonstration

of God's power

as he opened up

the sea

before the people

they went through

on dry land

and as they looked

behind the seas

came tumbling in

on their enemies

their enemies

defeated

the exodus

the departure

out of slavery

and into freedom.

Now in Luke

Luke 9 · chapter mention

chapter 9

we've got

Moses and Elijah

talking with Jesus

about

a new

exodus

a new

departure

and again

this is no

coincidence

Luke wants us

to make these

connections

but this exodus

is going to

happen

in Jerusalem

look at the end

of verse 31

they spoke

about his

exodus

which he was

about to bring

to fulfilment

at Jerusalem

in Jerusalem

Jesus is going

to bring people

out of their

slavery

and into freedom

a new

exodus

awaits

we're going

to get rid

of the

Romans

God's going

to come

in power

and release

us from

the Romans

and their

cruel regime

and set

us free

not quite

it's not

the kind

of freedom

that Jesus

had in mind

second

the death

we get

to understand

what the

departure

means

as we

read on

look at

verse 43

the second

part of

verse 43

while everyone

was marvelling

at all that

Jesus did

he said to

his disciples

listen carefully

to what I'm

about to tell

you

literally he says

put my words

in your ear

listen carefully

the son of

man is going

to be betrayed

into the hands

of men

now that's

another prediction

of Jesus'

death

the one

with all

glory and

greatness

will be

betrayed

to those

who are

going to

reject him

and kill

him

you see

Jesus has

come to

rescue us

from slavery

but that

rescue is

from a

greater

slavery

slavery

to sin

and death

Jesus has

come to

bring us

a freedom

but that

freedom is

from a

more terrible

master

the rule

of Satan

and Jesus

is going

to set

us free

by his

death

his death

on the

cross

the bible

is very

clear about

this

look at

the screen

Jesus

says I

tell you

the truth

everyone

who sins

is a

slave

to sin

so if

the son

that's

Jesus

sets you

free

you will

be free

indeed

or here's

another one

so that

by his

death

by Jesus'

death

he would

destroy

him who

holds the

power of

death

that is

the devil

and free

those who

all their

lives were

held in

slavery

by their

fear of

death

revelation

to him

who loves

us

and has

freed us

from our

sins

by his

blood

or by

his

death

and has

made us

to be a

kingdom and

priest to

serve his

God and

father

to him

be glory

and power

forever and

ever

amen

it's for

freedom

that Christ

sets us

free

you see

what Luke

is doing

here

he takes

us from

one mountain

the mountain

of transfiguration

and he

brings us

to another

mountain

the mountain

of crucifixion

because through

the departure

and death

of Jesus

we get to

see the

glory and

greatness of

Jesus in

all its

magnificence

you think

this mountain

is great

you think

that what

he did

with that

boy

is great

now he

says I

want you

to look

at the

cross

and see

how glorious

and great

that is

at the

cross

as Jesus

dies

we see

the beauty

the power

and the

authority

of God

on display

Jesus

in all

his splendor

is dripping

in blood

Jesus

in all

his power

is now

cursed

on the

cross

Jesus

in all

his beauty

is dying

for me

he takes

my sin

and through

his death

sets me

free from

my slavery

to sin

and Satan

at the

cross we

see the

greatness

and glory

of God

on display

we say

well what's

that got

to do

with following

Jesus

well the

departure

and death

of Jesus

becomes the

path

and the

pattern

for us

the departure

and death

of Jesus

becomes the

path and

pattern

for us

so third

the call

and the

cost

of following

Jesus

first look

at the

call

verse 51

as the

time

approached

for Jesus

to be

taken up

to heaven

Jesus

resolutely

set out

for

Jerusalem

now Jerusalem

we've already

learned is the

place of

execution

isn't it

when Jesus

gets to

Jerusalem

Jesus is

going to

die

he's going

to be

mocked

and beaten

he's going

to be nailed

to a

cross

and so

from this

point onwards

in Luke's

gospel

everything is

focused on

Jesus going

to the

cross

everything is

pointed towards

there

that's the

direction

he's

traveling

he's

committed

determined

undistracted

I am

going to

the cross

end of

verse 51

Jesus

resolutely

set out

for

Jerusalem

nothing

and no

one

is going

to stop

him

now if

we're going

to follow

Jesus

we need

to follow

him

on his

journey

we need

to walk

his path

we need

to follow

him to

the cross

that's

the call

but as

we've

said as

well

this call

is not

easily

followed

in verse

52

we read

that Jesus

is heading

for Jerusalem

and as he

makes his way

to Jerusalem

he goes

through a

region

the region

of Samaria

now that

was a

problem

because

well Jews

and Samaritans

hated each

other

they didn't

get on

they have a

long history

of religious

and political

conflict

you avoided

places like

that

you didn't

go there

so when

the disciples

learn that

Jesus is

heading for

Jerusalem

through Samaria

they've got

a great idea

verse 54

when the

disciples

James and

John saw

this

they asked

Lord do you

want us to

call fire

down from

heaven to

destroy them

go on send

that bolt of

lightning

bang

destroy them

fire

get rid of

them

you see

they think

that

following

Jesus

is all

about

glory

and

greatness

it's all

about

power

and

authority

an

opportunity

to put

people

in their

place

especially

those

we don't

like

verse 55

but Jesus

turned and

rebuked

them

that's not

what it's

about

that's not

what following

Jesus means

remember

verse 23

if anyone

would come

after me

they must

deny

himself

take up

his cross

daily

and follow

me

if anybody

needs to

die

well we

need to

die

we need

to die

to self

we must

walk the

path towards

Jerusalem

committed

determined

undistracted

we must

follow Jesus

to the

cross

because it's

only at

the cross

that we

learn to

die to

self

glory and

greatness

and live

for the

glory and

greatness

of Jesus

so what

will it

mean for

you

what will

it mean

for me

to die

to self

what will

it mean

to die

to myself

well in

verses 57

to 62

we're

introduced to

these three

characters

we don't

know their

name

but they're

following Jesus

on the road

towards Jerusalem

and they

make promises

I'm going to

follow you

and each

little interaction

shows us

what we

must die

to

so I want us

to think

about this

what it means

to die

to self

first

it means

dying to

my rights

look at

verse 57

as they were

walking along

the road

a man said

to him

I will follow

you wherever

you go

wherever you

send me

whatever you

want me

to do

I'm going

to go

Jesus

Jesus replied

foxes of holes

and birds of

the air of nests

but the son

of man

has nowhere

to lay his

head

look around

at nature

he says

look at the

animals

look at the

birds

they've all

got somewhere

to sleep

and somewhere

to stay

they've all

got the

right

to comfort

and security

but the

son of man

look at

Jesus

he's got

nowhere

to put

his

head

he hasn't

got a

home

he can

call

home

he's

given up

his

rights

to comfort

and security

to follow

Jesus to

the cross

means

putting to

death

my

rights

it's

putting an

end to

me

and to

I

second

it's about

putting my

priorities

to death

verse 59

he said

to another

man

follow me

but the

man replied

Lord first

let me go

and bury

my father

Jesus said

to him

let the

dead

bury

their own

dead

but you

go and

proclaim

the kingdom

of God

wow

sounds harsh

doesn't it

well I don't

think Jesus

is saying

you can't

go to

your father's

funeral

the man

it seems

is wanting

to stay

at home

until his

parents have

died and

then he

will follow

that says

Jesus

your priority

should be

for those

who are

spiritually

dead

that's

your

priority

look at

the end

of verse

60

let the

dead

bury

their own

dead

but you

go and

proclaim

the kingdom

of God

people

who do

not know

about me

that's

the

priority

to follow

Jesus to

the cross

means putting

to death

my priorities

it's

executing

me

and I

to death

and third

I think

it means

putting

my dreams

to death

verse 61

still another

said

I will

follow you

Lord

maybe he

was listening

to the

other characters

and he

kind of

comes through

look

these guys

mightn't

but

I'm going

to

but first

let me go

back and say

goodbye to my

family

Jesus replied

no one who

puts his

hand to the

plough

and looks

back

is fit

for the

service

in the

kingdom

of God

this person

it seems

has lots

of plans

he wants

to stay

home with

his family

more than

likely at

that time

because work

was connected

and tied up

with your

family

he wants

to stay

home with

the family

business

wait till

all that's

kind of

dealt with

and he's

climbed the

ranks

and Jesus

response is

clear

no one who

puts his

hand to

the plough

and looks

back

is fit for

the service

in the kingdom

of God

you may have

dreams about

work and

career

where you want

to work

what you want

to do

how you want

to live

your life

but the

work of the

kingdom

must dictate

absolutely

everything

every choice

every decision

the kingdom

must dictate

everything

to follow

Jesus to

the cross

means putting

to death

my dreams

and asking

what is it

that God

puts at the

priority

what is it

that is

center for

him

it's putting

an end to

me and to

I

you see

as we travel

this journey

with Jesus

it's only

at the cross

that we learn

to die

to self

glory and

greatness

and live

for the glory

and greatness

of Jesus

and in

response

the musicians

start

and we

sing the

hymn

so I will

go wherever

he's calling

me

I lose

my life

to find

my life

in him

I give

my all

to gain

the hope

that never

dies

I bow

my heart

take up

my cross

and follow

him

easy to

read

sometimes

easier to

sing

but if we're

going to do

that

we need to

have a view

of the cross

and see

the beauty

of Jesus

the glory

and greatness

of Christ

who dies

on the cross

for you

and for me

who gives

his all

so that we

might gain

everything

who takes

our punishment

and our

judgment

and sets

us free

so that we

can live

for him

we're going

to sing

this song

and I want

us to sing

it in a

sense

praying

that the

Lord would

help us

to follow

him

and that

wherever he

calls us

whatever he

asks me to

let go of

whatever I

need to

bow my

heart to

I will

do it

and I

will follow

him

so

musicians

help us

as we

sing

thank you