← All Chapters The Book of Luke · Chapter 9

Luke 9: Who Do You Say I Am

Jesus sends out the Twelve, feeds a multitude, is revealed in glory, and calls would-be followers to take up the cross.

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Luke 9 (WEB)

1 He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

2 He sent them out to preach God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick.

3 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats each.

4 Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.

5 As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”

6 They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him.

10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a desert region of a city called Bethsaida.

11 But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of God’s Kingdom, and he cured those who needed healing.

12 The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place.”

13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people.”

14 For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

15 They did so, and made them all sit down.

16 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

17 They ate, and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

18 As he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do the multitudes say that I am?”

19 They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.”

20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

21 But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one,

22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”

23 He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.

25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

26 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

27 But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see God’s Kingdom.”

28 About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.

29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.

30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,

31 who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.

33 As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said.

34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!”

36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him.

38 Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

39 Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely.

40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn’t.”

41 Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

42 While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

43 They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

44 “Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men.”

45 But they didn’t understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

46 There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.

47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,

48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”

49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us.”

50 Jesus said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.”

51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem,

52 and sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him.

53 They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem.

54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?”

55 But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are.

56 For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village.

57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.”

58 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

59 He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”

60 But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.”

61 Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”

62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.”

Summary

Jesus gives the twelve apostles power and authority over demons and disease, sending them out to preach the kingdom and heal. Herod hears of him and wonders who he is. When the apostles return, the crowds follow, and Jesus feeds about five thousand from five loaves and two fish, with twelve baskets left over. He then asks his disciples who the crowds say he is, and who they say he is; Peter answers, "The Christ of God." Jesus foretells his suffering and calls everyone to deny themselves and take up the cross daily. On a mountain he is transfigured before Peter, John, and James, and the Father's voice declares, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Below, he heals a boy a demon had thrown down, teaches that the least is greatest, and sets his face toward the costly road of discipleship.

Main Characters

  • Jesus — Sends the Twelve, feeds the multitude, is confessed as the Christ, and is transfigured in glory.
  • Peter — Confesses Jesus as the Christ of God and witnesses the transfiguration on the mountain.
  • Herod the tetrarch — Puzzled ruler who hears of Jesus' works and is anxious to see who he is.
  • Moses and Elijah — Appear in glory with Jesus and speak of his coming departure at Jerusalem.

Key Verse

Luke 9:20 (WEB)

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Lessons Learned

  • Jesus shares his authority with ordinary followers and sends them to serve.
  • Knowing who Jesus is matters more than any crowd's opinion of him.
  • Following Christ means daily self-denial and taking up the cross.
  • The Father commands us to listen to his beloved Son above all other voices.
  • Jesus equips those he sends. He "gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases" and sent them to preach the kingdom (Luke 9:1-2, WEB).
  • Christ provides abundantly for the hungry. From five loaves and two fish all the crowd "ate and were filled," with twelve baskets of broken pieces left over (Luke 9:16-17, WEB).
  • The heart of faith is confessing who Jesus is. When Jesus asked who the disciples said he was, Peter answered, "The Christ of God" (Luke 9:20, WEB).
  • Discipleship is a daily surrender. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me" (Luke 9:23, WEB).
  • The Father exalts the Son and bids us hear him. A voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him" (Luke 9:35, WEB).
  1. What did Jesus give the Twelve before sending them out, and what were they to do?
  2. How did Jesus respond to the crowd's hunger, and what does the feeding reveal about him?
  3. How did Peter answer Jesus' question about his identity, and why does that confession matter?
  4. What happened at the transfiguration, and what did the Father's voice command?
  5. Where in your own life is Jesus asking you to deny yourself and take up your cross today?
  1. Jesus gave the Twelve power and authority over demons and diseases and sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal (Luke 9:1-2). He calls ordinary followers into his mission and supplies what they need to carry it out.
  2. Jesus took five loaves and two fish, gave thanks, and fed about five thousand men until all were filled, with twelve baskets left over (Luke 9:13-17). His compassion and provision point to the One who satisfies every need.
  3. Peter confessed, "The Christ of God" (Luke 9:20). This is the turning point of the chapter; recognizing Jesus as the promised Messiah is the foundation of true discipleship.
  4. On the mountain Jesus' appearance was changed and his clothing shone; Moses and Elijah spoke with him, and the Father's voice said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him" (Luke 9:29-35). Glory and obedience belong together.
  5. This is a personal application question. Invite members to share where Christ is calling them to daily surrender (Luke 9:23). Encourage honest reflection, point back to Jesus' own path, and do not press anyone to share more than they wish.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.