Luke 9:43 - Meaning and Application

We may notice here, first, the impression Christ’s miracles made on everyone who saw them (Luke 9:43). They were all amazed at the mighty power of God, which they could plainly see in the miracles Christ worked. God’s almighty works are amazing, especially those done by the Lord Jesus, for he is the power of God and his name is Wonderful. Their amazement was complete, every one of them wondered, and the reason was complete too, because they wondered at all the things Jesus did. Everything he did had something unusual and surprising in it.

Second, we see the warning Christ gave his disciples about his coming suffering. The Son of Man, that is, Christ in his human nature and office as Messiah, will be handed over into the hands of men, wicked men of the worst kind. They will be allowed to treat him however they want. What the other evangelists say plainly is implied here too, that they will kill him. What is special in Luke is the setting and the way Jesus speaks.

He gives this warning just after the people have been amazed at his miracles. While they were all wondering at all the things Jesus did, he said this to his disciples. They were still hoping for a worldly kingdom, with outward power and honor, and they thought his mighty works and public favor would help bring it about. But Jesus, who knew what was in their hearts, used that moment to tell them again that he was not going to have men delivered into his hands. Instead, he would be delivered into the hands of men, and not live in honor, but die in shame. Even all his miracles and all the favor he had gained among the people would not stop that.

He begins with a solemn warning: “Let these sayings sink down into your ears.” In other words, take special notice of what I say, believe it, and do not let your ideas about a political Messiah keep you from accepting it. Receive it and submit to it. The Syriac and Arabic versions read it as letting the words sink into their hearts. Christ’s words do us no good unless they sink into both mind and heart.

The disciples were sadly slow to understand this prediction. Mark says they did not understand the saying. It was plain enough, but they would not take it in its plain meaning because it did not fit their ideas. They could not make another meaning out of it either, and they were afraid to ask him, because that might have brought them out of their pleasant dream. Luke adds that it was hidden from them, so they did not grasp it, because of weak faith and strong prejudice. We should not think this was hidden from them in mercy, to spare them grief. Rather, they made it obscure to themselves by their own false expectations.

Third, Christ rebuked his disciples for arguing about which of them should be greatest (Luke 9:46-48). We have seen this before, and sadly we will see it again. Ambition for honor, and the desire to be first, are sins that easily trap Christ’s disciples. They deserve strong correction, because they grow out of corrupt desires that believers must fight and put to death. People who want to be great in this world usually aim high and are satisfied with nothing less than being the greatest. That brings them much trouble and temptation. Those who are content to be little, even least, are safe from much of that harm.

Jesus Christ knows the thoughts and purposes of our hearts perfectly. He perceived their thoughts. Thoughts are words to him, and whispers are loud cries. That is a strong reason to keep careful watch over our thoughts, because Christ watches them closely.

Christ wanted his disciples to seek the honor that comes through quiet, humble, and yielding behavior, not the kind that comes from restless ambition. He took a little child and set him beside him, because he always showed kindness to little children, and used the child as an example. They were to become like this child, humble, peaceful, and free from pride. They were not to chase worldly display, rank, or big titles, but to care as little for them as this child did. They were also to be free from bitterness toward rivals, and willing to take the lowest place if that would help them serve others.

He also showed them that this was the path to true honor. Such humility would win them the respect of their brethren, because those who loved Christ would welcome them in his name, seeing that they resembled him. It would also win them Christ’s favor, because what is done kindly to such a disciple is counted as done to Christ himself. Whoever receives one such child, that is, a gospel minister with this humble spirit, receives Christ. And whoever receives Christ receives the One who sent him. No one can gain a greater honor in this world than to be received by people as God’s messenger, and to have God and Christ count themselves welcomed in him. All humble disciples of Jesus have this honor, and in this way the least among them are truly the greatest.

Fourth, Christ rebuked his disciples for discouraging a man who honored and served him, even though he was not part of their group. He was not one of the twelve, or even one of the seventy, and had not traveled with them. But after hearing Christ at times, he believed in him and used Christ’s name with faith and prayer in a serious way to cast out demons.

The disciples tried to stop him. They would not let him pray or preach, even though it honored Christ, helped people, and weakened Satan’s kingdom, simply because he did not follow Christ with them. He did not belong to their company, had not been ordained like them, and showed them no special respect. In fact, if any group of Christians ever had a reason to silence someone outside their own fellowship, the twelve disciples then had it. And yet,

Jesus Christ rebuked them for this and warned them not to do the same again, or let anyone who claims to succeed the apostles do the same. “Do not forbid him” (Luke 9:50), but rather encourage him. He is carrying on the same work you are, though, for reasons known to himself, he does not travel with you. He will share the same final reward, even if he does not go the same way.

You do right to act as you do, but that does not mean he does wrong to act as he does. It does not follow that you may put him under a ban. “He who is not against us is for us,” and so he should be accepted by us. We should not lose any of our friends, since we have so few and so many enemies.

People may be true followers of Christ and accepted by him, even if they do not follow with us. See (Mark 9:38-39). How much harm to the church, even from those who claim close ties to Christ and pretend to be jealous for his honor, would be avoided if this story were well remembered!