This week we
will continue to study the Gospel of Luke.
Why did Jesus only pick the three disciples closest to Him to have such an unusual encounter, especially in light of 9:27?
(1) Does such a special spiritual experience need to happen in a place like a high mountain?
(2) What does “transfiguration” mean? (Refer to Rev. 1:12-16.) How would you feel if you were one of the disciples upon seeing Jesus in His transfigured form? Read Isa. 53:2. Can you define “humility” in light of Jesus’ incarnation?)
(3) Moses gave the Law and Elijah was often perceived as one of the greatest prophets (if not the greatest). What was the significance of their presence here? Why did they talk about Jesus’ departure which is the word for Exodus in the original language?
(4) As much as Peter spoke in haste and fright (Mk. 9:6), what might the suggestion to build shelters reveal about the mindset of Peter?
(5) The Father spoke words that were similar to those at Jesus’ baptism (see Matt. 3:17), but with one difference. What is that difference, and how would this reveal the purpose of this unusual spiritual experience?
(6) Mark (9:9) tells us that it was Jesus who cautioned them not to share this experience with others. Why? What if they shared this with the other nine disciples? How would they feel?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) In the case of this boy, describe what a demon-possessed person could look like or experience?
(2) Why did the father come to the disciples for help? (See 9:1-2)
(3) Why didn’t the father give up?
(4) The general rejection by the people in spite of the many miracles He performed, the prevalence of demon-possession and the inability of the disciples together formed the backdrop for the words said by Jesus in 9:41. Would Jesus say the same about our generation today? Why or why not?
(5) Mull over v. 42 and compare this demon to other demons which were about to be tossed out by Jesus (e.g. the one in 8:28ff). How different was this demon? Was the result any different?
(6) What does “they were all amazed at the greatness of God” signify?
(7) Up to this point, describe what the disciples had witnessed in terms of who Jesus was and His power:
a. In healing the sick
b. In driving out demons
c. In raising the dead
d. In countering the verbal challenges and plots of the religious leaders
Had He once
failed to manifest His power?
Had He once lost
to the religious leaders?
(8) Given the above facts, what questions would the disciples have when Jesus said, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men”?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Similar to Mark, Luke places this argument (9:46) about who is the greatest after (i) the transfiguration witnessed by the three chief apostles (9:28-36), and (ii) the repeated assertion by Jesus of His impending sufferings and death (9:22, 44).
a. For Peter, John and James, what was the purpose of transfiguration?
b. What impact might it have on them since they took part in the argument here?
c. Did Jesus’ repeated emphasis of His impending sufferings and death have any impact on the disciples? Why or why not?
(2) We all love children. Why then did Jesus imply that we in fact have a hard time “welcoming these little children”? What does welcome mean? Under what circumstances might we not welcome children and why?
(3) Jesus says, “For he who is least among you all — he is the greatest”. Then, if we work hard at serving others and at making sure we occupy the least important role in order to be the greatest, would it work? Why or why not?
(4) How can we cultivate the attitude or mindset of being “the least”?
(5) Why didn’t John “welcome” the man who drove out demons in Jesus’ name?
(6) We always like to say that no one can be neutral when it comes to how we treat Jesus Christ. How then should we understand v. 50?
(7) What might be the message to John when Jesus appointed 72 others in 10:1?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) Luke mentions that Jesus “resolutely” set out for Jerusalem. In using this word, Luke implies that it was not easy for Jesus to do so and there were things that might sway His “resoluteness’. What might those things be?
(2) Given the discrimination of the Jews against the Samaritans, why would Jesus wish to visit the village of Samaria?
(3) What was the reaction of the local people and why?
(4) They have had contact with Jesus previously, (see especially Jn. 4:41-42). Why would they still treat Jesus like this?
(5) Have you come across rejection against Christians based on similar circumstances?
(6) What was the reaction of John and James? Were they justified, given the example of Elijah (see 2 Kings 1)?
(7) Can you think of any modern-day situation that might invoke a similar reaction on your part?
(8) Some manuscripts also have these words of rebuke by Jesus, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are…” What kind of “spirit” were John and James then?
(9) In contrast, Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.’’ What kind of “spirit”, is Jesus’?
(10) V. 57: This man appeared to have decided to follow Jesus voluntarily, and he highlighted one special aspect of his resolve. What was it? From Jesus’ response, can you tell what He emphasized concerning the challenge of following Him?
(11) V. 59: This other man was invited by Jesus to follow Him but he wanted to go and bury his father “first”. Was Jesus’ reply to him too harsh?
(12) There are at least two very important points that Jesus wanted him to understand about “following” Him. What might they be?
(13) V. 61: Still another man indicated his willingness to follow, but not before returning home to say good-bye “first”. Again, was Jesus’ reply unreasonable? What did his saying good-bye amount to, as far as He is concerned?
(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Jesus had previously appointed the Twelve as Apostles (meaning those being sent) in Luke 9:1. Why did He also appoint and send another 72? (see 10:2)
(2) What were they to do and what were they able to do? (see10:17)
(3) What message might Jesus be sending to the original Twelve?
(4) Who is the “Lord of the Harvest”? Why would Jesus teach us to ask Him to send out workers? What would be the result of our asking? Have you ever so asked? Why or why not?
(5) The instructions given to the 72 were quite similar to those given to the Twelve in chapter 9:3-5, with the following additions:
a. They were being sent like lambs among wolves: Would lambs stand a chance before wolves? Did they survive the sending? What might be the message to us today?
b. The ministry of the gospel is certainly a ministry of faith, but Jesus adds that they “do not greet any one on the road” (10:4). How does this instruction echo what Jesus said to the three would-be disciples in 9:57-62?
(6) Jesus also told them to say, “Peace” (10:5) as they enter into a house. Jesus was obviously not talking about a superficial greeting, but one that imputes divine peace:
a. What is that peace? (See Jn. 20:19-20; 14:27)
b. It appears that not everyone who welcomes them could necessarily receive this peace, only if “a son of peace is there”. Who does this refer to?
(7) What should they do to towns that do not welcome them? What does this action signal? Why then should they still remind these towns that “The Kingdom of God is near”?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Capernaum, Korazin and Bethsaida were like a “tri-city” to the west of the Sea of Galilee with Capernaum being the largest of the three, as it was situated close to the major road to Damascus. According to Matthew 11:20, Jesus performed most of His miracles in this region and yet they did not believe in Him.
(1) Look up Ezekiel 26 and 28 and get a sense of the sin and judgment of Tyre and Sidon in the Old Testament. (You may want to quickly scan these two chapters).
(2) What was the purpose of comparing the two Jewish cities, Korazin and Bethsaida, to the two Gentile cities of old?
(3) It is obvious that Capernaum thought very highly of itself, perhaps in terms of its own prosperity and its major synagogue. Jesus frequented Capernaum and considered it His home town (Matt. 9:1). What was the reason for their downfall according to Jesus?
(4) What was the result of this “short-term mission” of the 72?
(5) Why did Jesus say, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven”?
(6) What then is the reason for Jesus being “full of joy” (10:21)? How then can we give joy to our Lord Jesus?
(7) What lesson(s) can we learn from this in terms of our priorities and emphases on church ministries?
(8) From
the immediate context of this chapter (10:1-20), answer the following questions.
a. Who were the wise and learned (from whom God has hidden His things)?
b. Who were the little children (to whom God has revealed His hidden things)?
(9) V. 23 indicates that the revelation of the Father is totally the prerogative of the Son. What then is the basis on which the Son chooses to reveal the Father?
(10) Has Jesus revealed to you the Father? (10:22)
(11) What was Jesus referring to when He called the disciples blessed?
(12) In that case, are we less or more blessed compared to the disciples? Why? (See Jn. 20:29)
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Why did the expert in the law test Jesus by asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life”?
a. What kind of a test was it?
b. What answer did he expect from Jesus? (Note: In their opinion, Jesus has repeatedly broken the law, especially with the rules governing Sabbath.)
c. What was right about his question?
d. What was wrong about his question?
(2) Perhaps, to his surprise, Jesus referred him back to the Law. The lawyer rightly cited Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 which summarize the essence of “All the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:40):
a. Why did Jesus say “do this and you will live”?
b. Did He endorse salvation by work?
c. Can anyone truly and fully “do this”?
(3) The lawyer obviously did not ask out of humility and belief, but to test and perhaps, even trap Jesus. However, Jesus, as He always did, took command of the dialogue which did not sit well with this lawyer:
a. Why did he bring up the issue of who his neighbor was?
b. Whom did he have in mind as his neighbor?
c. Whom did he have in mind as not his neighbor?
(4) The parable from vv.30-36 is a familiar one:
a. How did this parable answer his question as to who his neighbor was?
b. How did this parable answer his notion on who his neighbor was not?
c. The question Jesus asked at the end of the parable is interesting:
- Should Jesus not ask, “Which of these three do you think consider the man a neighbor of his?”? Why or why not?
- Why then did Jesus ask instead, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man?”? (v.36)
- It appears that Jesus’ focus is not on “who our neighbor is” but on “be a neighbor!”. How does this focus reveal the true meaning of “Love... your neighbor as yourself”?
d. Which of the characters in the parable can you identity with the most?
e. Which of the characters in the parable speaks to you the most? How so?
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?