Page 158 - Demo

Illustration from the Book of Hours of the Duc de Berry, early 15th century. With a single word Jesus liberates people from the powerful grip of evil.
9:42 In the ancient world, many di erent forms of illness were attributed to demonic possession. The description of the boy’s symptoms suggest that he may have had epilepsy. Notice how carefully Luke, himself a physician, describes the symptoms.
9:46 Jesus reminds his disciples that there will be no room for arrogance or ambition among them. Those without status—children, outsiders—are not at the periphery of Jesus’ mission, but at the center.
* [9:46–50] These two incidents focus on attitudes that are opposed to Christian discipleship: rivalry and intolerance of outsiders.
* [9:51–18:14] The Galilean ministry of Jesus nishes with the previous episode and a new section of Luke’s gospel begins, the journey to Jerusalem. This journey is based on Mk 10:1–52 but Luke uses his Marcan source only in Lk 18:15–19:27. Before that point he has inserted into his gospel a distinctive collection of sayings of Jesus and stories about him that he has drawn from Q, a collection of sayings of Jesus used also by Matthew, and from his own special traditions. All of the material collected in this section is loosely organized within the framework of a journey of Jesus to Jerusalem, the city of destiny, where his exodus (su ering, death, resurrection, ascension) is to take place (Lk 9:31), where salvation is accomplished, and from where the proclamation of God’s saving word is to go forth (Lk 24:47; Acts 1:8). Much of the material in the Lucan travel narrative is teaching for the disciples. During the course of this journey Jesus is preparing his chosen Galilean witnesses for the role they will play after his exodus (Lk 9:31): they are to be his
witnesses to the people (Acts 10:39; 13:31) and thereby provide certainty to the readers of Luke’s gospel that the teachings they have received are rooted in the teachings of Jesus (Lk 1:1–4).
* [9:51–55] Just as the Galilean ministry began with a rejection of Jesus in his hometown, so too the travel narrative begins with the rejection of him by Samaritans. In this episode Jesus disassociates himself from the attitude expressed by his disciples that those who reject him are to be punished severely. The story alludes to 2 Kgs 1:10, 12 where the prophet Elijah takes the course of action Jesus rejects, and Jesus thereby rejects the identi cation of himself with Elijah.
* [9:51] Days for his being taken up: like the reference to his exodus in Lk 9:31 this is probably a reference to all the events (su ering, death, resurrection, ascension) of his last days in Jerusalem. He resolutely determined: literally, “he set his face.”
* [9:52] Samaritan: Samaria was the territory between Judea and Galilee west of the Jordan river. For ethnic and religious reasons, the Samaritans and the Jews were bitterly opposed to one another (see Jn 4:9).
z. [9:49–50] Mk 9:38–40.
a. [9:51] 9:53; 13:22, 33; 17:11; 18:31; 19:28; 24:51; Acts 1:2, 9–11, 22. b. [9:52] Mal 3:1.
146
v. [9:43–45] 18:32–34; Mt 17:22–23; Mk 9:30–32. w. [9:46–48] Mt 18:1–5; Mk 9:33–37.
x. [9:46] 22:24.
y. [9:48] 10:16; Mt 10:40; Jn 13:20.
LUKE 
perverse generation, how long will I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.” 42As he was coming forward, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion; but Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and returned him to his father. 43And all were astonished by the majesty of God.
The Second Prediction of the Passion.v While they were all amazed at his every deed, he said to his disciples, 44“Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 45But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. The Greatest in the Kingdom.w 46* An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.x 47Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side 48and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all
of you is the one who is the greatest.”y
Another Exorcist.z 49Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” 50Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
V. THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM: LUKE’S TRAVEL NARRATIVE*
Departure for Jerusalem; Samaritan Inhospitality. 51* When the days for his being taken up* were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,a 52* and he sent messengers ahead of him.b On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, 53but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. 54When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven