The Power to Grasp Christ's Love

July 28, 2023

Luke 9:37-45 | Ephesians 3:14-21

Sometimes…it seems like it’s hard to win with Jesus. Some aspects of today’s passage demonstrate just how hard it can be to see where he’s at.

The man’s request is easy enough to understand. Apparently, the disciples had tried to heal his son for him, but couldn’t. And at this news, Jesus seems frustrated. Why couldn’t the disciples do it? Jesus seems to say it’s a lack of faith.

This is somewhat confounding. Surely the disciples wanted to be able to heal the boy. What exactly is the difference between desire and faith?

Before anyone can even really dial down on the question, Jesus has moved on to tell the disciples about his forthcoming betrayal and arrest. Slow down, Jesus! You just did a miraculous and compassionate thing in healing that young man…can we celebrate for a moment?

But Jesus is on a mission. And we just may not always understand it.

---

Luke 9:37-45

The next day, when Jesus, Peter, John, and James had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. A man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to take a look at my son, my only child. Look, a spirit seizes him and, without any warning, he screams. It shakes him and causes him to foam at the mouth. It tortures him and rarely leaves him alone. I begged your disciples to throw it out, but they couldn’t.”

Jesus answered, “You faithless and crooked generation, how long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him down and shook him violently. Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. Everyone was overwhelmed by God’s greatness.

While everyone was marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Take these words to heart: the Human One is about to be delivered into human hands.” They didn’t understand this statement. Its meaning was hidden from them so they couldn’t grasp it. And they were afraid to ask him about it.

Ephesians 3:14-21 & Prayer

This is why I kneel before the Father. Every ethnic group in heaven or on earth is recognized by him. I ask that he will strengthen you in your inner selves from the riches of his glory through the Spirit. I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.

Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.