Foreshadowing and Plot Twists

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting March 31 to study Luke 9:37-62 (or as far as we get).  A lot happens in this passage, so there will be plenty to look at.  One of the important elements is how Luke connects everything in a literary manner.  This is one of the places Luke is very different from Matthew and Mark.

Read through the passage several times.  Focus on the bigger picture of what is happening, but then focus on the pieces.  The smaller elements are broken up into topics of discussion.  In some sense they are connected, but sometimes it seems loosely.  If you put yourself into the action, the connections can become clearer.  Make sure to jot down questions and insights you gain as you do this.

After you have looked at the passage thoroughly, go through with a commentary or two.  Revise your questions, add some new ones, and see what new insights you gain.  Remember to consider why a commentator thinks what they do, and feel free to challenge that reasoning.

After you have gone through the passage go back through again with the questions below:

• In Matthew, Mark, and Luke the casting out of the demon is present.  But there are slight variations between the accounts.  Mark has the most detail, but in all three the statement of Jesus about putting up with this perverted generation is present.  Why do you think that is so important?  What do you think Jesus means by it?
• Luke compresses the aftermath of the account, omitting the question of the disciples about why they couldn't cast it out.  And Luke has a shorter statement by Jesus about His coming death.  Why do you think Luke might be shortening this section?  He keeps the point focused.  What do you think Luke is focusing on here?
• In all three accounts, the mention of Jesus' suffering is followed by a discussion of who is the greatest disciple.  What do you think might be the reasoning behind that?
• In all three accounts this correction by Jesus of who is greatest is followed by James, John, or another disciple mentioning the person they hindered from casting out demons in Jesus' name.  Why do you think the disciples would connect a child being greatest to a random exorcist operating in Jesus' name?
• Verse 51 is the "hinge" in the plot for Luke.  Think through how it connects to what is before and after in this passage.  How do you think the discussions leading to this verse support Luke's literary focus?
• After this verse, Samaritan villages don't welcome Jesus.  The reason given, that He is headed for Jerusalem, isn't unusual for Samaritan villages, it's sort of normal business for them to treat Jewish pilgrims this way.  So why do you think James and John wanted to respond by calling in artillery fire from Heaven?
• Jesus' response to the disciples is not the same in all versions of the Bible.  Commentaries should have some explanation of it.  The problem is that none of the other Gospels have this event, so how the extra text got in there, and where it came from is a mystery.  In general, the shorter reading is preferred.  Why do you think that might help in this instance?
• The last three statements of Jesus in this chapter come in response to persons either He invites or who say they want to follow Him.  Why do you think the person wishing to follow Him is told Jesus has no home?
• What do you think it means for Jesus to actually invite someone to follow Him when He's headed to His death?
• Why would Jesus tell the person to "let the dead bury the dead"?  What do you think Jesus means by this?
• Jesus then tells the man to go and proclaim he Kingdom of God.  How do you think the man would be capable of that?  Who do you think this guy might be?
• The last one is the most frightening.  What do you think it means to put your hand to the plow and look back?  What do you think that might look like today?

That should be more than enough to keep us occupied, probably for a few weeks.  I know this much material can be overwhelming, so think it through in smaller chunks to find those things that wake you up.  What elements is the Spirit using to jar you Awake?  What do you Honestly see in yourself when you look at these accounts?  What Action do you need to take in response?  Repeat those questions for each element that jumps out at you.

Seeing the Kingdom of God

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting March 24 to study Luke 9:18-36.  This passage will cover Jesus' questioning of His disciples and the Transfiguration.  There are some challenging elements here, especially for application to our lives.

Read through the passage with as many translations as you have available.  Look for where they differ the most and see if you can see why that might be (look up words on the Blue Letter Bible site for instance).  Make notes of questions and insights you gain as you read.

After reading it through and making your own notes, go to a commentary of some sort.  See what questions this answers and what questions they raise.  Adjust your notes, and then go back through with the questions below:

• In other Gospel accounts, Jesus takes the to Caesaria Philippi.  Luke isn't that specific, only that, once again, Jesus is praying.  Why do you think Luke leaves out the location here?
• Jesus asks the same question in all three accounts, "Who do people say that I am?"  Why do you think Jesus might be interested, concerned, or otherwise want to know what the disciples had heard of what other people thought of Him?
• Then, in all three accounts, Jesus asks, "Who do you you think I am?" which puts the challenge on them.  While the first question is debatable, for this one, what's the obvious reason for His asking?  On the other hand, what not so obvious reasons can you think of Jesus might ask?
• In all three accounts Peter answers for the group.  But only in Matthew is it the long version we normally hear.  In all three cases there are slight differences.  Why do you think there was such inconsistency among the three writers?
• Jesus then warns them to tell no one about Him.  He has just sent them out to preach the coming of the Kingdom of God, why do you think He now tells them to tell no one He is he Christ (Messiah)?
• Jesus then explains (but in varying detail) that He will suffer, be killed, and raise on the third day.  At this point Luke deviates completely from the other two Gospels. While the other Gospels have Peter's "rebuke" of Jesus, Luke skips to Jesus launching into a challenge about discipleship.  Why do you think Luke would leave out Peter's "rebuke" here?
• Matthew and Mark state that Jesus began to teach them about His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection.  Luke doesn't.  It's possibly a small point, but why do you think Luke wouldn't include such a detail?
• Jesus then says a famous statement about taking up a cross and following Him.  In Matthew and Mark, it seems to mean literally in Jerusalem to come.  Luke adds "daily" which puts in a more metaphorical sense.  Why do you think (what do commentators say) Luke would or might make this small addition?
• Then follows the reversal of saving versus losing our lives.  How do you save or sacrifice your own life?
• Then Jesus asks about the value of a soul.  But Luke skips the possibility of something in exchange for his soul.  Why do you think Luke would leave that out?
• Next Matthew leaves out the part about Jesus being ashamed of those who deny Him in this world (but see Matthew 10).  Considering these differences, what do you think the Gospel writers are doing with this material or what sort of material are they using?
• In all three Gospels, Jesus now makes a statement that some will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.  What do you think that means?  When did the Kingdom of God show up for them to see if Jesus hasn't returned yet?
• In three Gospels Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain.  In Luke it was to pray, and they fall asleep.  In Matthew and Mark Jesus is transfigured immediately.  Why do you think Luke makes this adjustment in his account?
• Luke includes the detail about the topic of the discussion between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  Why do you think he might include that?
• Peter says it's good for them to be there, and that they should make "booths" for the three of them.  Even though the three Gospel writers say he didn't know what he was saying, why would he say that?  Why booths (or tents or tabernacles)?
• A cloud comes down and obscures everything, and a voice comes out of the cloud.  What is the "cloud"?
• Luke skips the discussion about Elijah, and summarizes with the comment they kept this to themselves until after Jesus rose.  Why do you think Luke would make such a change in his account?

There's a lot here to discuss, but the real point is how it impacts each of us.  What about this passage Awakens something in you?  Be Honest about what you see in yourself and your relationship with Jesus.  What Action do you need to take in response to what you see in yourself?

The Confused Tetrarch and A Mass Meal

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting March 10 to study Luke 9:1-17.  This passage brings up to Peter's confession and the Transfiguration.  There's plenty to discuss just in this passage though.

Be sure to read through a few times in various translations jotting down notes.  You should have plenty of questions, especially if you look through the parallel passages in Matthew, Mark and John! The feeding of five thousand is one of the few things that made into all four Gospels.  Try, in each case to put yourself in the scene with the twelve and Jesus (and some kid with a huge lunch?).

After you've come up with your own questions, look through commentaries, and see what sort of answers and additional questions you come up with.  If you have access to a couple of commentaries, see what differences even between them you see.  These may be favorite stories of Jesus, but they are not always agreed upon by teachers and Bible teachers.

After all that, see if you can come up with a single main point to the "sending out of the twelve", and then a single point to the feeding of the five thousand.  What do you think Luke is saying Jesus' main point is?  Let's share those as we open each section; single summary points.

After all that work on your part, if you feel up to it, go back through with the questions below:

• Jesus gives the twelve "power" and "authority" over both "demons" and "disease".  What do you think the connection is between demons and disease for Luke?  He's a doctor, so why do you think he saw the solution to these two things as "power" and "authority" rather than medicine?
• The two-fold purpose in their being sent is proclaiming good news (preach the gospel) of the Kingdom of God and healing.  How is the same or different today?  If it's the same, why aren't we doing both?
• In Luke's version of this story, they are to take nothing.  At least in Mark they could take a staff.  In Matthew, it's back to nothing, and this isn't in John.  Why do you think it was important to be so dependent on their journey?
• What do you think about the point to remain with the initial hosts?
• "Shake the dust off your feet" has become a cultural idiom within our culture.  In fact we've shortened it to "shake it off" in may cases.  What does this concept mean to you?
• The twelve seemed pretty effective everywhere. What does this tell you about the power and authority Jesus gave them in verse 1?
• The passage about Herod can be somewhat confusing.  What do you think is Luke's basic point in mentioning Herod?
• Herod is concerned because he beheaded John the Baptist, but with the other options, why do you think Herod wants to see Jesus?  Why do you think it was so hard for him to see Jesus?  Who was too busy?
•  The disciples return and Jesus takes them to Bethsaida.  See if you can locate where this might be on a map.  If Bethsaida is a town, why would they need to dismiss the crowd to the surrounding villages? What's the possibility that Luke has "stitched" two accounts together?  There are lots of problems with such a view, but did you have any commentaries that suggested it?
• Jesus tries to get the disciples alone, but welcomes the following crowd.  Why do you think Jesus would have not tried more emphatically to get His disciples some time alone?
• What Jesus does is essentially the same as what the disciples were just doing really well.  Why do you think this is such a foundational ministry concept for Luke?
• The disciples urge Jesus to send the people away, but He tells them to solve the problem.  They've just been doing what Jesus spent the day doing.  Why do you think it was so difficult for them to think ahead to what He was intending do to?
• They had five loaves and two fish. This is a consistent detail among the Gospel accounts.  Why do you think such a detail stuck out so clearly to all four Gospel writers?  Okay, so what is five and two? So, in "biblical numerology" what is the significance of seven?
• Most Gospel writers note that Jesus looks into heaven.  Why do you think this is significant for the blessing?  
• Matthew, Mark and John all make a point of mentioning the grass (John says it's green grass and lots of it).  Why do you think this is not a pertinent point for Luke?
• In each case they gather up 12 baskets of left-overs.  Again, "biblical numerology" is probably a point here, so what do you think it means, especially starting with seven and going to twelve?
• Why do you think this event is so important for understanding Jesus and His ministry that all Gospels include it?

Keep in mind the main point for these two (sending out the twelve and feeding five thousand).  What about these accounts gives you a "wake-up call"?  If your honest about what you see here and in your own life, what do you need to do different?  Jot those down as notes as well!

See you Thursday!