Lukas 9,37-50

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at 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 shatters him, and will hardly leave him. 40 And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” 41 Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” 42 While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

Jesus Again Foretells His Death

43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 
44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Who Is the Greatest?

46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

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.” 
50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” 

Hello everyone, I am kiki. Chinese name of our second phase of the program is „读经大讲堂“. The English name is „Bible study“.
We will adopt a relaxed also enjoyable learning mode to take you into a new learning world. Each time I will make a personal summary and analysis from the perspective of a learner, and then Sister Ingrid will help me conduct in-depth learning and problem discussions with everybody.
I hope that such an interesting and interactive process can bring new knowledge experience to you all. The following is my interview with sister on related issues. Today is the 26th lecture on the Gospel of Luke.
Everyone is welcome to leave a message in the comment area for discussion!

2.My summary of Luke 26th-time study:

Well, everybody! Firstly, is still my today’s personal study summary.
This Bible passage shows Jesus teaching his disciples two crucial lessons right after predicting his own death.
First, Jesus tells his friends he will be betrayed. They are confused and afraid to ask what he means. Instead of comforting each other, they start arguing about which of them is the greatest.
Jesus responds by bringing a child to his side. He explains that welcoming a humble child is like welcoming God Himself. He flips their worldview upside down, saying, „The one who is least among you all is the one who is great.“ His point was that true greatness is found in humility and service, not in status or power.
Next, John tells Jesus they tried to stop a man from driving out demons because he wasn’t part of their group. Jesus corrected him, saying, „Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.“ This means that anyone doing good in Jesus‘ name is on their side, and they should be inclusive, not exclusive.
In short, Jesus taught that his followers should be humble
Now let Ingrid sister make a go further summary.

3.Sister’s comment from my studying summary:

Hello, the story begins again with a boy who had a demon a Jesus set this boy free from the demon’s possession.

While the people still were astonished, he talked about his death, something that stands totally in contrast to the Jesus, that people know. They know a Jesus who has powers over all kind of sickness and demons and now he tells them, that he will die. Even the disciples did not understand this.

Since the disciples still waited for a kingdom on Earth, the began to discuss who of them will be the greatest after Jesus. But Jesus took a child and demonstrated, that receiving a child in his name is the same as receiving him.

The last passage is interesting for now-adays-churches: Many thinks when people not belong to their church or their communion, that they are wrong. But Jesus declares clearly, whom who is not against you is with you. So, if you meet a brother in Christ, who attends another church like you, you can have fellowship with him, as long he is a disciple of Christ, too.

4. Q list part: base on Luke 26th items:

Okay. Base on above bible study content, now let me ask sister some related questions.
We hope the following questions can be helpful to our brothers and sisters who have just become Christians.

1.Right after everyone was amazed by Jesus‘ power, what heavy news did he share with his disciples?

He shared the sad news, that they are going to Jerusalem and that he will die there on the cross.

2.Why do you think the disciples were afraid to ask Jesus what he meant about his future?

Maybe they did not want to know it more. Sometimes, when somebody tells you a shocking message, you don t want to hear more of it and you prefer that he keeps the message for himself.

3.What seemingly childish argument did the disciples start having right after Jesus‘ serious prediction?

They argued who will be the greatest after Jesus among them.

4.Instead of getting angry, how did Jesus use a child to teach them about true greatness?

He taught them, receiving a child or becoming humble as a child will be necessary to achieve greatness in the kingdom of God, because the one who receives a child will receive Jesus.

5.According to Jesus, how is welcoming a child connected to welcoming God Himself?

As disciples of Christ, we have to become as humble like a child. We have to be dependent on God. If we don t understand our dependence of God and that all we have comes out of his hand and stay in our pride, Jesus cannot connect with us.

6.What is the surprising rule Jesus gives about who is considered „great“?

The least of them will be the great. In the kingdom of God is everything upside down.

7.What did John tell Jesus they had done to a man who was casting out demons in Jesus‘ name?

He blamed the man and told Jesus, that he should not do this since he did not belong to their group

8.Why did the disciples try to stop that man? What was their reasoning?

They thought, only the group around Jesus has the right to cast out demons.

9.What was Jesus‘ simple and inclusive response to John about people who aren’t in their „group“?

Those who are not against them are for them.

10.If you had to sum up Jesus‘ main message in this passage in one sentence, what would it be?

The rules of the kingdom of God. Jesus explained, that it was necessary, that he dies in Jerusalem, that the least will be the first, that we have to come like children to him and that there is no difference between different protestant churches.