These three chapters are saturated with Jesus. His dealings with death, with demons, with disease, with hungry people, not to mention the centurion, the pharisee, the woman described as a sinner, just too name a few.
Yet, I am always intrigued with Jesus' patience regarding the twelve. They simply didn't get it, did they? Here are a few verses demonstrating this fact:
[46] An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. ... [49] John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." ... [54] And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" [55] But he turned and rebuked them. - Luk 9:46, 49, 54-55 ESV
When you read the context of these verses you really see it. They were simply self-absorbed human beings. I dare-say this is reality for all of us. These passages would be almost comical if they weren't so sobering. The sobering reality is that we were created in the image of God and yet our first parents choice to sin and our subsequent sinful nature continues to chip away at that image.
Jesus is a sharp contrast to the disciples self-absorbtion. It is wonderful to note that as you follow the disciples through the gospels and on into the book of Acts and the Epistles you see a result of salvation, the beauty of sanctification - growth into the image of Jesus.
One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is this -
[6] And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Phl 1:6 ESV
Yet, I am always intrigued with Jesus' patience regarding the twelve. They simply didn't get it, did they? Here are a few verses demonstrating this fact:
[46] An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. ... [49] John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." ... [54] And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" [55] But he turned and rebuked them. - Luk 9:46, 49, 54-55 ESV
When you read the context of these verses you really see it. They were simply self-absorbed human beings. I dare-say this is reality for all of us. These passages would be almost comical if they weren't so sobering. The sobering reality is that we were created in the image of God and yet our first parents choice to sin and our subsequent sinful nature continues to chip away at that image.
Jesus is a sharp contrast to the disciples self-absorbtion. It is wonderful to note that as you follow the disciples through the gospels and on into the book of Acts and the Epistles you see a result of salvation, the beauty of sanctification - growth into the image of Jesus.
One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is this -
[6] And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Phl 1:6 ESV
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