Luke 9 Devotional: Witness the Transfiguration, the feeding of the five thousand, and the first clear prediction of Christ’s death. Explore the cost of following Jesus and the power given to the Church to proclaim the Gospel.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to Luke Chapter 9. This is a "mountain-top" chapter in every sense of the word. We see Jesus’ glory unveiled, His power over nature demonstrated, and His resolve to head toward the Cross solidified. As we read, let us ask the Lord for the courage to take up our own crosses and follow Him without looking back.
The Glory of the King and the Cost of the Kingdom
Luke 9 is a major turning point in the Gospel. It begins with Jesus empowering the twelve apostles to preach and heal, followed by the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. However, the spiritual climax occurs on a mountain where Jesus is Transfigured, His face and clothes glowing with divine light. Here, Moses and Elijah appear, speaking with Him about His "departure"—His upcoming sacrifice for our sins. As your Statement of Faith affirms, Jesus is fully God and fully man, and this moment pulls back the veil on His eternal glory.
What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we see the Mission of the Church. As your Statement of Faith says, the Church’s mission is to proclaim the Gospel and demonstrate God’s love. Jesus gives His followers authority, but He also gives them a sobering reality check: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily." Following Jesus isn't just about witnessing miracles; it’s about a total surrender of our lives. We learn that we cannot hold onto our old life and embrace the new Kingdom at the same time. Whether we are on the mountain-top of spiritual experience or in the valley of service, our focus must remain on the Son of God, whom the Father commanded us to "Listen to."
9 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.
13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
18 And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;
22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
The Father’s voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." As we enter into prayer, let us quiet our own voices and posture our hearts to listen and obey.
Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You for the glory of Your Son, Jesus Christ, which outshines the sun. We believe that He is the chosen One, the only Savior of humankind, who lived a sinless life and resolutely set His face toward Jerusalem to die for our sins. Thank You for the gift of Your Word, which reveals Your perfect will for our salvation.
Lord, I ask for the grace to be a true disciple. Forgive me for the times I have been "ashamed" of the Gospel or have tried to follow You on my own terms. Today, I choose to deny myself and take up my cross daily. Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to represent You well in my community. When I am tempted to look back at what I’ve left behind, fix my eyes forward on the prize of Your eternal Kingdom. Thank You for Your miraculous provision in my life; help me to trust that You can multiply even my smallest offerings to feed the needs of those around me.
We pray for our local church, that we would walk in the authority You have given us to bring healing and hope to the broken. We lift up those who are suffering for the name of Christ—our brothers and sisters carrying heavy crosses of persecution. May they feel Your presence and Your glory sustaining them. We pray for a world that is hungry for truth; use us to proclaim the Good News to all nations, so that many would see Your glory and be saved by Your grace. Amen.
Jesus said that anyone who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for service in the Kingdom. Is there a "past thing"—a regret, a habit, or a former identity—that you are still looking back at instead of fully following Christ today?
What was the purpose of the Transfiguration? It was a brief revealing of Jesus’ divine glory to Peter, James, and John. It confirmed that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) and prepared the disciples for the difficult days of the Crucifixion ahead.
Why did Jesus tell the disciples to take nothing for their journey? This was a lesson in total dependence on God’s provision. It taught them that the Worker is worth His keep and that the power of the message does not depend on earthly resources.
What does it mean to "take up your cross daily"? To the original audience, the cross was a symbol of death and submission to authority. For us, it means daily dying to our selfish desires, our pride, and our own plans, in order to live for the will of God.
Thank you for joining us for Luke 9. May you walk today with the glory of Christ in your heart and the mission of Christ in your hands. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow as we study the mission of the seventy-two in Luke Chapter 10.
Previous: ← Luke Chapter 8 | Next: Luke Chapter 10 →