Luke 9:37-56

Luke 9

Jesus Heals a Boy With a Demon

³⁷ The next day, after they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ Just then a man from the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he is my only child. ³⁹ See, a spirit takes hold of him, and suddenly he screams. Then it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him and constantly tortures him. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

⁴¹ Jesus answered, “O unbelieving and perverse generation, ^[1] how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

⁴² As the boy was approaching, the demon threw him down and shook him with convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. ⁴³ They were all astonished at the majesty of God.

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

While everyone was amazed at all the things Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Let these words sink into your ears ^[2] and remember this: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” ⁴⁵ But they did not understand what he was saying. It was hidden from them so they did not grasp it. And they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

Who Is the Greatest?

⁴⁶ An argument started among them about which of them would be the greatest. ⁴⁷ Since Jesus knew the thoughts of their hearts, he took a little child and had him stand next to him. ⁴⁸ Then he said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. And whoever receives me receives him who sent me. In fact, the one who is least among all of you is the one who is great.”

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

⁴⁹ John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he is not following you along with us.”

⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Do not try to stop him, because whoever is not against you is for you.”

Jesus Is Determined to Go to Jerusalem

⁵¹ When the days were approaching for him to be taken up, Jesus was determined ^[3] to go to Jerusalem. ⁵² He sent messengers ahead of him. They went and entered a Samaritan village to make preparations for him. ⁵³ But the people did not welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” ^[4]

⁵⁵ But he turned and rebuked them. “You don’t know what kind of spirit is influencing you. ⁵⁶ For the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s souls, but to save them.” ^[5] Then they went to another village.