Pericope 14 (Luke 9:23-27)

Context & Background

• Galilean Ministry

• follows Peter’s confession, just before the transfiguration

• period: disciples share in blessing and Spirit empowerment “now”, but some of those benefits are “not yet” present as they wait for Jesus’ return (Talbert)

• Jesus prepares his disciples for the future of his ministry

Literary Forms and Techniques

• collection of sayings (Bultmann, Bovon, Berger)

Themes

• discipleship: commands to carry the cross, lose life to gain it and not be ashamed of Son of Man show following Jesus isn’t easy

Message

• suffering and self-denial to follow Christ: one must deny oneself and giving up physical and spiritual needs to God

• losing one’s life is to gain spiritual welfare, and seeking one’s life on earth is to risk forfeiting it all

V23 Discipleship

1. deny oneself

   • essence of saving trust: self-denial - recognition that God must save because humans cannot, life must be submitted to God’s care and protection (Bock), “daily” Luke only Synoptic writer to note this

2. take up the cross

   • much discussed (Fletcher, Green, (Schneider notes 6 views))

     • idea is submitting to authority; cross-bearing forces humility

       • background is Roman picture of crucifixion for a criminal who committed a heinous act

       • this criminal carried his cross, Jesus did the same (Fitzmyer, Josephus, Hengel)

     • slight difference: submitting to God means facing rejection

       • relates to Paul’s sufferings (Ellis)

       • reinforces the idea of self-denial and dependence on God

3. follow

   • follow Jesus continually

   • recognise commitment to him and enter into suffering of rejection

V23 general

• language is eschatological and relates directly to faith

• teaching was intended for disciples, but all should understand what following Jesus means

V24

• reversal: losing life gains life, and saving life loses it

• context foresees persecution; however it is figurative (Bock)

• theme of repentance and giving spiritual and physical welfare over to God

V25

• rhetorical question

• “forfeit”

  • suffering a loss (Arndt, Stumpff, Fitzmyer)

• NT frequently contrasts what the world offers with what benefits a person spiritually (Sasse)

• risk is greater in holding onto life instead of giving it to God

• idea parallels Jesus turning down the offer of “all kingdoms of the world” (Luke 4:5-8)

V26 ashamed

• those who are ashamed of Jesus are rejecting him and refusing to address him publicly (Arndt)

• those of whom Jesus is ashamed of are rejected by him

• cross-bearing involves public confession (Fitzmyer, Marshall, Bultmann)

V26 Son of Man

• reference to Jesus: his identify

• Jesus shares heavenly glory

V26 Jesus as eschatological judge disputed

• Jesus is to be heeded because he is the judge (Bock, Marshall)

• Jesus is the advocate for this people, not a judge (Fitzmyer)

V27 Kingdom of God

• “kingdom of God”

  1. full, consummated, glorious eschatological kingdom of the future

     1. popular among those who see Jesus as someone who emphasised instant apocalyptic fulfilment of God’s promise

     2. Jesus is wrong about nearness of kingdom coming

     3. lack of mention of judgment that comes with the final return

  2. glimpse of that kingdom’s glorious Christ

     1. Jesus introduced the “already” kingdom, near form of the kingdom

     2. many views - Jesus refers to:

        1. resurrection-ascension (Calvin, Beza)

        2. Pentecost (Godet, Hahn)

        3. spread of Christianity (K.F. Nosgen, Arndt)

        4. internal development of the Gospel (Erasmus)

        • view i. and ii. is best (Marshall, Hendriksen)

  3. kingdom of the resurrected and exalted Christ (the church?)

     1. only time Jesus came gloriously was during transfiguration (many church fathers, Liefeld)

     2. some disciples see the transfiguration

     3. special event is the guarantee of when Jesus will come back and fully manifest his power on earth

     4. Jerusalem’s destruction is a foretaste of judgment and Jesus’ glory (Wettstein, Alford)

     • combination of views 2 and 3 likely correct (Ellis, Bock)

     • view d is not associated with this event

     • summary: transfiguration previews full glory of Jesus, and kingdom program will end with the glory of Jesus visible to all

Message for original audience

• Jesus’ promise: many will live to see the beginning of his kingdom, and some will see a preview

• starting point has come, finishing point draws nearer

• disciples need to carry their cross and follow Jesus