What Jesus Did

But Jesus knew [the disciples' thoughts when they were arguing about who was the greatest], so he brought a little child to his side. Then he said to them, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest."

—Luke 9:47-48 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus turned the whole discussion of greatness upside down. Throughout history, most people have assumed that...

 

Then [Jesus'] disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest.

—Luke 9:46 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus had just warned his disciples that he was going to be betrayed. [1] Instead of each of them questioning if he might be the offender, they wrestled with their own delusions of grandeur. Rather than following Jesus in the way of the cross, they were looking for their own place in glory. So often our pride and desire to be noticed can blind us to our own potential for...

 

Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God's power [when Jesus cast an evil spirit out of a boy].
While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, "Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies." But they didn't know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn't understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

—Luke 9:43-45 NLT...

 

Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God's power [when Jesus cast an evil spirit out of a boy].
While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, "Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies."

—Luke 9:43-44 NLT

Key Thought​

So often our gaze is diverted from what our primary task truly is. Despite others talking about the many wonderful things Jesus...

 

The next day, after [Jesus and the disciples] had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. A man in the crowd called out to him, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn't do it."

Jesus said, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be...

 

[At Jesus' transfiguration,] a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him." When the voice finished, Jesus was there alone. [The disciples] didn't tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

—Luke 9:35-36 NLT

Key Thought​

The law (Torah) and the prophets were revered in Israel. At that time, they represented the heart of God's communication with his people, Israel. But, God subsequently spoke to Israel and to us definitively and comprehensively...

 

Peter and the others had fallen asleep [at Jesus' transfiguration]. When they woke up, they saw Jesus' glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, "Master, it's wonderful for us to be here! Let's make three shelters as memorials — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." But even as he was saying this, a cloud overshadowed them, and terror gripped them as the cloud covered them...

 

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem.

—Luke 9:28-31 NLT

Key Thought​

The glorious appearance of Moses and Elijah happened...

 

[Jesus continued,] "If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God."

—Luke 9:26-27 NLT

Key Thought​

Many of us live in a culture that ridicules faith. Oh sure, some give passing reference to Jesus, but their hearts don't belong to him, and they might as easily...

 

[After saying his followers must take up their cross daily, Jesus said,] "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?"

—Luke 9:24-25 NLT

Key Thought​

On earth, we get one lifetime. That's it. No more and no less. What we do in this life determines how we will spend eternal life. So if we live our lives trying to bring...