v1-2: Jesus sent out the Twelve, with His authority and power. They were sent to do His works, and to preach His message. They were His representatives, and so are any who belong to Him.

When Christ sent them out, He have an explicit command to ‘heal the sick.’ This command has never been withdrawn, and was repeated in Mark 16, In contrast, in 22.35-36, Christ actually changes His command money and a purse.

v3-4: They were to trust in God in all things, taking no spare money or food. In this way, Jesus encouraged true faith in them. They would have to rely on someone providing accommodation for them.

v5: Jesus warned them that not all would accept their message. This warning would prevent discouragement when things became difficult.

v6: The Twelve went out, doing what Jesus had commanded. The key was obedience to Jesus Christ, rather than personal opinions, and God would give the increase; we must learn to do God's work in God's way. The Lord Jesus still entrusts His work to ordinary, sinful people; we expect any results to be imperfect and inconsistent, yet this is the way of grace.

v7-9: Herod's reaction. Luke refers several times to secular history, and the opinions of unbelievers. Each give us confidence that his writing is accurate. In v18, Jesus asked, "Who do the crowds say I am?" Herod was really no different from the nameless multitude.

There was a belief that a prophet who had been raised from the dead could perform miracles, see Matt 16.14.

v10: The Twelve returned to Jesus, and reported what they had done. Jesus took them aside.

v11-12: Jesus' concern for a needy people. He met their needs, He received them, He taught them, He healed them, He fed them; we can have every confidence that He will meet our needs too.

Although many followed Jesus, few really understood Him. This chapter begins His call to discipleship, and many leave Him; see also John 6.

v13: The challenge, "You give them something to eat." The tiny provision of a few loaves and fish was clearly insufficient for 5000 men, plus women and children.

v14-15: The people sat down in groups, enabling all to receive. They may have been groups of families, or from towns and villages.

v16-17: The wonderful provision for all the people. There were twelve baskets available, but the disciples had not brought them, see v3. Again, there was miraculous provision.

v18: Jesus was praying in private, and His disciples were with Him. This seems to indicate an intensity of prayer.

Jesus spoke to His disciples about who He was. The world cannot know such things; John 14.17; 1 Cor 2.

v19: The crowds' varying opinions; see v7-9 and Matt 14.2. We cannot expect unbelievers to be accurate about Jesus Christ.

v20: The general question was followed by the specific question, "But what about you?" Our answer does not affect God, for He remains God; but it does affect our lives. In context here, true discipleship begins with accepting Jesus as "the Christ of God". Doctrinally, we dare not compromise on this issue, but we must be dogmatic.

v21-22: These truths were to be kept amongst the disciples, and proclaimed only after His Ascension.

Jesus also began to predict His death and resurrection, Matt 16.21. The disciples struggled to grasp this, thinking that He had another plan, see 24.21; Acts 1.6.

The issue of what Jesus came to do is equally important; He came to give His life, and to rise again. Again, we dare not compromise over this issue.

The truths of who Jesus is, and what He came to do, provide the basis for true discipleship;

• self-denial, v23-27;
• our experience of Christ, v28-36;
• our experience of His power, v37-45;
• humility, v46-48;
• generosity of spirit, v49-50;
• putting Christ first, v57-62.

v23: The road of self-sacrifice; laying aside personal preference, ambitions, plans; and following Christ. Our example is Christ who did not please Himself. This is our deliberate and conscious decision.

v24: Christ laid down His life in full commitment to the Father; we must be those who do the same.

v25: They way of the world is gain for self, and to accumulate possessions, but to neglect the things of the spirit. Christ's question comes powerfully, 'What can a man give in exchange for his soul?' No price can be paid; yet to forsake those things which others esteem highly will bring us into misunderstanding, ridicule, rejection and persecution.

v26: To honour Christ will bring conflict with the world; yet there is no other option for the disciple.

v27: This statement was immediately true for Peter, James and John. It is true in a wider sense of all who trust in Christ; the invitation is clear; to see the kingdom of God demands that we become disciples.

v28: Part of discipleship is to experience Christ's presence in a special way. This is part of the path for us. As with other aspects of discipleship, its exact details differ for each individual. Paul had a different experience, see 2 Cor 12.

Such experiences are not frequent, or their value is diminished. This event seems to have been unique in the disciples' experience, but it really happened, 2 Pet 1.16-18. This was a private experience, and had to be kept private, v36.

It seems that the mountain was Mount Hermon, although it is unlikely that the group climbed right to the top, since it rises over 9,000 feet high.

v29: Christ's glory was revealed; His disciples saw Him in a different way. This 'transfiguration' was unique to Christ, providing further evidence that He was truly the Son of God.

v30: The appearance of Moses and Elijah; Christ is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, represented by these two men.

v31: They spoke of His decease; the death of Christ was central to His ministry. Other things, miracles, teaching, although of great value, are of lesser importance. We must emphasise what the Scripture emphasise.

The plan was that Christ would die; He would "bring to fulfilment", or "accomplish" His decease; this was His definite purpose and plan. As in v51, He set His face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem.

Greeks place emphasis on conversation, and so Luke speaks of the conversation between Christ and Moses and Elijah. They spoke of His death; Moses' and Elijah's deaths were known only to God. Jesus has previously taken Peter and James and John into the circumstance of death, with Jairus' daughter; later He will take them further in the Garden of Gethsemane. The word used for 'death' can be translated 'exodus,' or 'departure,' and implies death, resurrection, and ascension.

v32-33: The three disciples were sleepy, but they saw "His glory"; Christ was exalted above Moses and Elijah, two great figures from the past. Christ is consistently seen as "greater than" all the 'heroes' of the OT; Abraham (John 8.56-58), Jacob (John 4.11-13), David, (Matt 22.43-45), Solomon (Matt 12.42; Luke 11.31), and Jonah (Matt 12.41; Luke 11.32).

Peter looked for an earthly blessing for Israel, the Feast of Tabernacles, during which the people would dwell in booths (shelters). See Mic 4.4, about God's future promise for Israel. That time will come.

v34: The great cloud from Heaven; they were enveloped, or overshadowed (as in 1.35).

v35: The authority of the Lord Jesus, even over that given to Moses and Elijah. He is also greater than Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, and Jonah; the greatest O.T. saints bow before Jesus Christ. The Jew would listen to Moses and the prophets (16.31), since Moses was regularly preached (Acts 15.21); now they must listen to Jesus Christ, God's one and only beloved Son.

v36: For the time being, this experience had to be kept private, see Matt 17.9. The experience, although real and powerful, was not the whole; Jesus Christ is the exalted One, in whom we must place our trust.

v37-40: Soon after the experience on the mountain, the disciples saw a further demonstration of Christ's power. The boy was in a desperate state, and so was his father. His description of his son's condition was doubtless stated with deep emotion.

Sadly, he had brought his son to the remaining disciples, but they had been unable to help. The Twelve had much to learn; the previous successes (v6) were not replicated here.

v41: The generation was "unbelieving and perverse". We must appreciate the Lord's correct diagnosis. The Lord was certainly firm, but not uncaring. He came to remove our unbelief.

v42-43: The Lord Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit that had brought the condition. Whether or not we identify the unclean spirit as a real 'non-human person' is not the main issue. Our confidence is in Christ, who is fully able to rebuke and cast out all such things. Such miraculous signs displayed His divine power. He delivers ordinary people into true freedom.

v44-45: Whilst the people responded to the miracle, the Lord took aside the Twelve again, and again spoke to them of His death. Again, they struggled to grasp what He was saying. He was changing their focus, from miracles to His real purpose.

v46-48: Jesus dealt with pride. The disciples argued about who should be the greatest. This reflects a human desire for position and respect, rather than godly attitudes. The Lord Jesus knew their hearts. He brought the right word to challenge their unspiritual attitudes, and He brought that word in the right way, through the example of a little child.

v49-50: Jesus dealt with prejudice. John, with others, tried to stop another disciple who was driving out demons in Jesus' name. To "stop" (forbid) carries the idea of restraining or withholding; the disciples sought authority over another. The Lord Jesus rebuked their attitude.

We should not insist that everyone 'follow with us'; there is a broad width of Christian character and service and expression of faith. We should avoid criticising those who are being faithful.

v51: A key verse in the gospel of Luke. The time had come, and Jesus Christ got ready for His journey to Jerusalem. This verse introduces a long section, to 18.30, describing this journey. The other gospel writers do refer to this period, but in much less detail.

v52-53: His challenge, 'Are you ready to follow me?' Some were not willing. This challenge is repeated through the next chapters, and many would not follow.

v54-56: The attitude that wants to destroy others; Christ came to serve and to save, and that should be our attitude also. We know that the gospel condemns the unbeliever (John 3.18), but that requires no 'assistance' from us. James and John understood something of the power of God. Elijah had called down fire from Heaven, and they could also. But the issue here was different, and they failed to appreciate the purpose for which Christ came.

We go astray if we do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God; ignorance of one or over emphasis on the other, will cause us to err. Here, the over emphasis is on God's power, but the Scriptures are neglected. Elsewhere the balance is the other way. Again the Lord rebuked His disciples, that they might learn His ways better (Eph 4.20-21).

v57-62: Three incidents illustrating the teaching of v23-27, and emphasising the cost of following Christ. Each of us has to be prepared to forsake something which seems to be necessary; even legitimate comforts (v58) and family ties (v59,61) may have to be put aside. If Christ really is Lord, we cannot say, "first let me".

• The emotional hearer (v57-58) was not prepared for the cost.
• The reluctant hearer (v59-60) was not prepared for the urgency.
• The estranged hearer (v61-62) was not prepared for the commitment.

Before he became David similarly had nowhere to lay his head; such is one element of him being a type of Christ. Once Saul's jealousy arose, David spent many months, even years, moving from place to place, lacking any settled existence. Such was Christ's life during His ministry. And Christ calls us to find our security in Him, not in earthly security.

Reasons for not following Christ are reasons for disobedience; if we neglect Christ's priorities then we consider other things more important. The emphases of Scripture are:

• the person of Christ, His crucifixion and resurrection, His call to follow;
• apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer (Acts 2.42).

To neglect such things is to go into lukewarmness, nominalism, and backsliding. In 2 Tim 4.10, we meet Demas the backslider, Mark who had been restored, and Luke who had remained faithful. Backsliding is not always irreversible, but it is not always reversed.