After such a high as the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus and his close disciples come back down into a world full of corruption.  Jesus’ frustration is apparent as he chides the people.  He points out that the people themselves are corrupted as they wrestle with evil influences all around them.

Have you ever come down from a mountaintop experience to face the realities of a fallen world and evil all around?  How did Jesus address the situation?

Luke 9:37-50

³⁷ The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹ A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

   ⁴¹ “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

 ⁴² Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. ⁴³ And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

    While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” ⁴⁵ But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

 ⁴⁶ An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. ⁴⁷ Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. ⁴⁸ Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

 ⁴⁹ “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

   ⁵⁰ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Questions

1. What is the first problem Jesus encounters as he coomes down from the mountain?
2. How does Jesus respond?
3. After the people are amazed what does Jesus tell them?
4. How is your life a mixture of mountains and valleys?
5. How do you cope?