Luke 9:7-10 – Impact made by Jesus’ disciples

The dynamism of the Christ-empowered ministry was making great impact. Luke's phrase "...all that was happening...," in verse 7 speaks volume. It implied that the work of Christ was felt virtually everywhere. As surely as He had commissioned the work, the sick were being healed and the demonized, delivered. The Kingdom of Christ was truly exerting her influence and the kingdom of darkness was receding. The impact of the Kingdom was certainly the talk of the town.

Luke narrates the impact cleverly through the eyes of Herod: “Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again.” Herod the tetrarch, was amazed at what was happening. There were many postulations floating around. Many guesses were forwarded as to who was really behind the series of wonders that were happening. Some said that John the Baptist had arisen. Others thought it could be the prophet Elijah who was supposed to come and usher in the Kingdom. Then there were those who said, "One of the prophets of old had come back to life."

Here, the death of John at the hand of Herod was mentioned in passing. Luke probably did not want to disrupt his trend of thought, and deviate attention from the impact of the Lord's work. We can tell that Herod's conscience was greatly troubled. He was the one who ordered John to be beheaded in prison. So now his unjust killing of John the Baptist came back to haunt him. Naturally he was curious and wandered if John the Baptist, whom he had murdered, had truly come back to life. Thus, he was on a look out for him. But verse 10 implied that Jesus was the engineer behind all the mighty wonders.

People tend to look at the impact of a ministry and concentrate on the personalities as if they are the people who have brought about the miracles. Yet without a doubt, behind the success of any Christ-centred life and ministry, is the Lord's unseen hand working actively. As followers and workers of Christ, we need to learn to perceive the main thing and make it the main thing. All successes in life and ministry should point us and our hearers back to Him. Our message must always be Christ-centered, not man-centered. In fact we must be radically Christ-centric! The message of the Kingdom does impact, improve and affect life concerning relationship, marriage, parenting, finances, careers, and etc. Yet ultimately the message is centrally about the crucial question of who Christ really is. We would have fallen far short of God’s intention if we fail to make Christ known; if we fail to help others see that He is the Savior, King and soon coming Judge.

When the twelve returned to Jesus and reported to Him, it indicates to us that behind all the magnificent happenings, is the power of the Kingdom at work. Luke tells us that Jesus took them with Him as He retreated to Bethsaida. The retreat to Bethsaida was a call for a time of reflection. It tells us that after every successful experience in life and ministry, it's necessary for workers to take the time to reflect and know that the glory is truly His alone.

All of our life and ministry is about King Jesus. It will always be Him and forever be Him. When Christ is preached earnestly, and things happen, in one sense, what Jesus said, in John 14:12 is being fulfilled. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” It’s certainly incredible to experience all the miracles with Christ physically around. But now to experience the miraculous transformation of life when He is not physically present is quite another. It’s incredible that our message of the Kingdom still brings great impact to a world fraught with frailty. What a privilege Christ has given us! What marvelous grace that attends our work! Truly, He alone deserves the glory and the praise! Amen!