LUKE LESSON 25

    We will begin this lesson in Luke 9:37  "And it came to pass, that
on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people
met him."

    In the last lesson, you remember Peter, James, and John had been
on the mount with Jesus and had seen Moses and Elijah with Jesus. Now
this is the next day and Jesus and the three disciples come down and
join the others. Many people have gathered at the foot of the mountain
to see Jesus.

    Luke 9:38 "And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying,
Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child."

    We see, here, the great love of a father for his only son. He has
brought his son to Jesus for help. He cries out loud to get Jesus'
attention.

    Luke 9:39 "And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth
out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly
departeth from him."

    This is a description of epilepsy, and a very severe case at that.

    Luke 9:40 "And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they
could not."

    We remember, in a previous lesson, where Jesus empowered the
disciples to preach and heal and cast out devils. This is a very
severe case here, and the disciples for some reason have not been able
to cast him out of the boy. This father will not give up easily. and
he has brought his son to Jesus.

    Luke 9:41 "And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse
generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy
son hither."

    Jesus is speaking not only to this man, but to the disciples and
to others standing around, as well. Jesus cannot believe how little
faith they really have. Even though He is so disappointed in the
amount of faith they have, He still has compassion on the boy and the
father and says bring him to me.

    Luke 9:42 "And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down,
and tare [him]. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the
child, and delivered him again to his father."

    Immediately, Jesus rebukes the devil in the boy. It comes out and
he is totally healed. In St. Mark 9:29, we see that this type comes
out only by much prayer and fasting.

    Luke 9:43  "And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.
But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he
said unto his disciples,"  Luke 9:44 "Let these sayings sink down into
your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of
men."

    We see, here, at the very moment when they can hardly believe the
fantastic miracles He does. He abruptly changes the subject and tells
them of the terrible things that are about to happen to Him. On one
hand they feel as if they are in the presence of Messiah, but would
Messiah be destroyed?

    Luke 9:45 "But they understood not this saying, and it was hid
from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of
that saying."

    Not only did they not understand, they did not want to hear of
these terrible things. If this is Messiah. He must not suffer. He must
overthrow Rome and reign. They never believed that He would conquer
through death.

    Luke 9:46  "Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them
should be greatest."

    We see, here, that the disciples were not perfect men. Jealousy
has arisen among the twelve. They have not really understood what the
Master had tried to tell them, that the life of those who are truly
followers of Jesus is a life of self-sacrifice.

    Luke 9:47 "And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took
a child, and set him by him," Luke 9:48 "And said unto them, Whosoever
shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall
receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you
all, the same shall be great."

    We see by; this that Jesus is trying to explain to them that
jealousy has no place among His ministers. A little child is humble
and receives God with an humble heart, never questioning. He is saying
to the disciples, get your eyes off of yourselves. Those who are good
to those who cannot help themselves are great in the Master's eyes.
The one who is willing to work in whatever lowly job there is to do,
will be the greatest in God's sight. God does not view a situation as
the world does (from the outside). but looks on the heart.

    Luke 9:49  "And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting
out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not
with us."

    John is asking the Master a question that has really raged until
now. Can this other denomination be of God? They are not of our inner
circle of members. Look at exactly what he said. The man was casting
out devils which is one of the things the Master had told the
disciples to do. So really, there is no error in that. He was doing
good instead of evil, which also cannot be looked down upon. Last but
certainly not least, he was doing this in the name of Jesus. Truly.
there was no error at all in what he was doing. John, like so many
closed denominations today, thought if he were not of the 12,
something had to be wrong with him; and he and others of the disciples
rebuked him for doing good because he was not a disciple. These
disciples had missed the message of Jesus. This man, probably, had
been one of the multitude who had followed Jesus and heard His
messages. He had taken to heart Jesus' teachings and was going around
doing good. Let us see in the next verse what Jesus has to say of
this.

    Luke 9:50 "And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he that
is not against us is for us."

    We see, here, that this man is not against Jesus. In fact, he is
elevating the name of Jesus every time he ministers. I think we see
again in this a little jealousy on the part of the disciples. They
believe that they are the only ones that Jesus has endued with this
power. Jesus tells them, here, that there are only two sides to be on.
Those that are for Jesus and those that are against Jesus. One thing
in favor of the disciples, here, they are still in the learning
process. They have not been filled with the Holy Ghost, here. This
will come 50 days after Jesus' resurrection on the day of Pentecost,
and will guide them to all truth. Their selfish ideas will fade away
after Jesus is crucified and they begin to understand what He had been
teaching them.






























                           Luke 25 Questions

1.  When Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, who was
    there?
2.  Who had met with Jesus on the mount?
3.  Who cried out to Jesus?
4.  What was wrong with the son?
5.  Name some of the things this devil spirit did to him.
6.  Who had tried to cast this demon out and couldn't?
7.  What kind of generation did Jesus call them?
8.  Who was He speaking to?
9.  When did Jesus heal the boy?
10. In the 9th chapter of Mark, we find that this type comes out by
    what?
11. What were the people amazed at?
12. Just at the moment they are realizing His deity. What does
    Jesus tell them?
13. Why did they not understand in verse 45?
14. What question arose among the disciples?
15. The life of those who truly love Jesus is a life of what?
16. Who did Jesus use to show them who would be greatest?
17. Who in verse 48 receiveth Jesus?
18. How does a little child receive Jesus?
19. Who are great in God's sight?
20. God does not view as the world does. He looks in the __________.
21. Which disciple came to Jesus and told of someone ministering in
    Jesus' name that was not of them?
22. What was he doing?
23. What had the disciples done to this man?
24. What did Jesus reply to this?
25. Name 3 things the man did correctly?
26. What question in our day does this remind us of?
27. What do we see in these disciples by this?
28. At what time will the disciples better understand?