“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 9:37-45:

In our previous lessons we have been on a mountain in the region of Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus has been transfigured in the presence of Peter, John, and James. We pick up in this lesson on the next day as Jesus and these chosen disciples come down from the mountain.

In Mark's account of His descent from the mountain, it is recorded that He would rejoin the disciples that had remained below, before the multitudes would once again assemble around Him (Mark 9:14).

The remainder of the disciples would not have thought His departure for the night was anything unusual because Jesus often went out alone at night to pray – Chapter 6:12; 21:37; 22:39.

Our lesson now begins with His contact to the multitudes renewed.

Text #1:

Luke 9:37-42 “Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. 38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. 40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
41 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.”

Also found in: Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29.

A Man from the Multitude: Now before we get to the request of the man from the crowd, much of what transpires in this text is a direct result of an association recorded in Marks account, note:

Mark 9:15-16 “Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”

First, we see that while Jesus was away, the scribes have become emboldened and have attempted to find fault with Jesus, because of the failure of His disciples.

Second, the answer to the Lord's question would come from the man in the multitude, whose son it was that is afflicted, instead of by the scribes. This was no doubt because of the sudden appearance of Jesus from the mount and the scribes had been caught in the act of duplicity which caused their silence.

All this helps us to really see the issues facing the Lord in this story, verses just the inability of His disciples to heal this boy as we will discuss more in a moment.

Teacher Look on My Son: When the scribes did not answer the question of the Lord, the father of the boy broke the silence by telling Jesus about the matter in question. His son had a mute spirit, and was an epileptic, which Luke attributes to a demonic spirit. The father suggested that the demon rarely relinquished the fits that victimized his son and that it had been going on since his childhood (Mark 9:21). In addition, he stated that he had already asked for the Lord's disciples to cast the demon out and they could not.

O Faithless and Perverse Generation: At first glance, one might think this a particularly harsh rebuke for His disciples. However, keeping in mind our earlier note about the emboldened scribes, there is every reason to believe that Jesus had them firmly in His sights as well. There influence on the disciples of the Lord has been evident in many of the questions the disciples of Jesus would ask Him (see: Matthew 15:12-20; 17:10-13). His rebuke resonates to His disciples for allowing these scribes to cause them to doubt, and to the scribes themselves for their perverse hearts.

Bring Your Son Here: The ability of the power of the Lord to heal this boy should have never been in doubt. Luke does not record it, but after Jesus would heal the son, the disciples would come to Him to ask why they were unable to heal him (Matthew 17:19-21; Mark 9:28-29). The Lord's response was two-fold; first because they did not have faith, which seemed to be because He was not with them, and second, because this kind of demon could only be cast out by them through much prayer and fasting. This is a unique thing to say to them, unless you understand how He had taught them to do both of these practices; not to be seen of men! Matthew 6:5-6; 16-18.

This may help us to understand that they may have tried to heal the son to be seen by the multitudes and to answer the challenges of the scribes, instead of trusting in God and humbly doing His will!

Text #2:

Luke 9:43-45 “And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.
But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.”

Also found in: Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 30-32.

Note: Luke's account does not mention it, but as the people marveled at all the things that Jesus did, He and His disciples left there (region of Caesarea Philippi) and went through Galilee. It would be while they were staying there that He would tell them these sorrowful words (Matthew 17:22; Mark 9:30). In addition, Mark's account would indicate that Jesus did not want anyone to know about it (Mark 9:30). The reason seemed to be that He wanted to instruct privately concerning this text (Mark 9:31), which seems to coincide with the emphatic instruction of the Lord in Luke's account to “Let these words sink down into your ears” .

There is no indication as to why Jesus selected this moment to tell His disciples this troubling news. He has already taught them this before, after Peter would make the good confession concerning who they thought He was (Luke 9:21-22). He would likewise teach them again after His final Passover meal with them (John 13:33-16:33), right after Judas went out to betray Him. In the first account, it seems to be in response to their understanding that He was the Christ of God and He wanted them to understand why He had come. In the account in John, He wants them to know that although He is leaving them, it is for their benefit that the Helper will come to them (John 16:5-15).

Here in the account of our text, Jesus seems to repeat this teaching during a time when the marvels of His works seemed to have strengthened them in order to bear the instruction.

Also here in Luke's account of this text, we are only told that Jesus is “about to be betrayed into the hands of men” . Matthew and Mark's account give more detail and state that they would kill Him and that He would rise on the third day after His death (Matthew 17:23; Mark 9:31).

Universally in all the times that the Lord would teach His disciples concerning His pending departure and the nature of it, they were unperceptive, sorrowful, and fearful.

For you and me; as it was made known to the Apostles afterward, we must regard that this was always the reason that the Lord came in the flesh. He was to be the true Lamb of God, the pure sacrifice on behalf of all men, past, present, future.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Hebrews 10:5-10 “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.”
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Additional reading on this subject: Psalms 22; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Romans 3:21-26; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 2:10-18; 5:8-9.

Next: “Proper Attitudes of Discipleship!”