LUKE 9:37–45
“I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not”
(Luke 9:40).
On the day after the Transfiguration, Jesus and His three closest disciples came down from the mountain and were met by a crowd. A man in the crowd called out to Jesus, begging Him to heal his son who was subject to savage demonic attacks. The man said that he had asked Jesus’ disciples for help, but they had been unable to do anything.
Why were the disciples powerless? After all, Jesus had sent out the Twelve with power and authority to drive out demons (Luke 9:1). Nine of the disciples had been waiting for Jesus at the foot of the mountain.
I think we have to see that before the glorification of Jesus, the power given to His people always faded. Remember how Moses was transfigured when he spoke with God, but the glory faded from his face after a while (Exodus 34:29–35). Similarly, Jesus had given power to His disciples, but that power had faded. The Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out, and the kingdom had not been established in permanence.
The sinfulness of man was such that the kingdom suffered and unbelief prevailed. Jesus lamented, “O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?” (v. 41). Then Jesus drove out the demon that had been tormenting the boy.
After doing this, Jesus instructed His disciples, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men” (v. 44). The disciples, however, did not understand that the kingdom could not be permanently and powerfully established until the problem of sin had been permanently dealt with. And that meant Jesus would have to die as the Lamb of God.
Why didn’t they understand? John the Baptist had called Jesus the Lamb of God, after all. These men knew that Abraham had been called on to sacrifice Isaac. They knew to what the sacrificial system pointed. Once again, it was human sinfulness that was clouding their minds.
CORAM DEO
2 Chronicles 1–3
John 12:1–19
The church today is not particularly known for its mighty deeds of faith and works of love. It would seem the church is still beset by a feeble and fading faith, despite the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. Evaluate whether Christ’s rebuke may have to be levied against you.
For further study: Psalm 25; Isaiah 41:8–20
TABLETALK
from ligonier ministries and teaching and encouraging believers • june 1990
HELD CAPTIVE BY TIME
Daily Studies From The Teaching Fellowship Of R. C. Sproul
publisher Ligonier Ministries executive editor Ralph Veerman editor Robert F. Ingram
assistant editor Michael S. Beates design David K. Freeland marketing Gretchen L. Suskovic
production W. David Fox, Melissa A. Prichard circulation Gwen Weber writer Sharon J. Anderson
board of directors Bruce Fogerty, G. Richard Hostetter, Robert C. Legler, Stephen H. Leveé, Jr., C. G. Mills, Archie B. Parrish, James M. Seneff, Jr., R. C. Sproul, John Thompson, Ralph D. Veerman, Luder Whitlock, Charles Colson (Director Emeritus)
Published by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, Inc. under license granted by Ligonier Ministries, Inc. Copyright 1990, Ligonier Ministries, Inc. This Bible study is based upon teaching material by Dr. R. C. Sproul. Unless noted, all Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishers.
member evangelical press association
On the Cover: “Infinity,” by David Spindel. Superstock, New York.
robert ingram • editor
Coram Deo
I was first exposed to the word triage several years ago while watching a late-night rerun of M*A*S*H. It wasn’t until recently, however, that pursued its dictionary meaning:
Triage: the sorting of and allocation of treatment to patients and especially battle and disaster victims according to a system of priorities designed to maximize the number of survivors.
One need not be Hawkeye or a member of a M*A*S*H unit to daily practice triage. We are all too familiar with having to make tough administrative decisions, whether in the marketplace or at home. Some projects are so past the point of survival that they seem to have a death rattle. One good idea soon dies because other needs, demands, and priorities have suffocated it. There are only so many hours in a day, and not everything that can be salvaged is salvaged.
Competing time demands can make Hawkeyes of us all. Administrative triage leaves us worried, anxious and guilt-ridden. We long for a simplicity that may never return. Certain aspects of our work, relationships, and recreation are left to suffer and die and we are forced to enact triage to try and save what we can of our dreams.
I don’t believe Jesus was governed by this principle of triage. Although events moved quickly in His abbreviated life. He never appeared to be in a hurry. He was not governed by the tyranny of the urgent. He too had only twenty-four hours a day. Still, within three years, He fulfilled the plan of redemption. Undoubtedly He accomplished this because He trusted the Father.
With renewed zeal I have been reading the Gospels to discover how Jesus lived His life Coram Deo—in the presence of God, under His authority, and unto His glory. I am convinced that living life in this fashion can relieve us of time constraints that steal away the delight for life that God intended. ■
table of contents