Who is This? [7-6-25)

July 6, 2025

Luke 9:1-9

“Who is This?”

Before we get to the answer of the sermon title, we’re going to spend a few moments looking at who these guys are. Who are these guys?

Here’s what we know about these twelve specific disciples.

Up until chapter nine, lots of followers…or disciples…of Jesus have been mentioned. They’re with him…they’re listening to him…they’re following him. Throughout the first eight chapters, some of them have even been mentioned by name. It wasn’t until chapter six that Jesus called twelve specific disciples by name. Chapter six marks the point where twelve followers have coalesced into the group of those specifically called by Jesus to be his chosen disciples. That’s a big deal.

So let’s now look at the first two verses of today’s passage:

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

Notice the new distinction. Again, we are at the halfway point of Jesus’ public ministry. About eighteen months of traveling and teaching and healing. Large crowds and small intimate gatherings. And now, we reach the point where Jesus sends out specifically called messengers for a specific task.

Here’s something you might want to write down:

JESUS NOW DELEGATES THAT SAME POWER AND AUTHORITY TO THE TWELVE.

In other words, as we’ve already seen, Jesus has demonstrated his mighty power over demons and disease. He now sends out the Twelve under his supernatural authority. But here’s the key point. The primary purpose isn’t to heal and cast out demons. The primary purpose of their going out is to proclaim the reign of God. The healing and the casting out are signs of that reign. Much more important is the message they spread. The healing and the casting are in service of bringing the message of salvation wherever they go.

Remember, verse two says, “and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God.” First and foremost, salvation is proclaimed. Remember the overall trajectory of Luke’s gospel – salvation history. And so, because Jesus proclaims salvation, that’s the most important thing the Twelve do. They proclaim salvation.

There’s a great word Luke uses in verse two – kerusso – which means “to herald, as a public crier.” Or, “urging acceptance of the message, with warnings of consequences for not doing so.” That’s a huge point. We will definitely get to that.

What was the primary message of the Twelve? The Savior is here. To borrow a bit of phrasing from Isaiah, “This is the acceptable year of the Lord.” Their authority over demons and sickness are signs that the kingdom of God is here. While there is a kingdom of light as well as a kingdom of darkness, they preach the good news of the kingdom of light. And here’s the key point of that message…of Luke’s telling of God’s salvation history:

YOU ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD IF YOU WILL REPENT OF YOUR SIN AND IF YOU WILL RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE AND BELIEVE IN HIS MESSIAH.

Here’s a side note. This observation applies beautifully to the grace and mercy poured into our lives through Jesus Christ:

“If you’re suffering, God sees you. He cares about you. And He will help you get through it. He is the God of the valleys as well as the hills. He will come through during your darkest moments. Praise His name, always.”

Renatta Michelle Oxendine

God has a Kingdom. You can enter His Kingdom. That’s the message Jesus gives to the Twelve. God’s Kingdom is an eternal blessing. That’s the message we have received from Jesus. And that is the message we share with others. That’s what we do. We preach salvation. We preach repentance. We preach against sin. Without Christ, people are poor, in prison, blind, and oppressed. Without Christ, people are in danger of eternal judgment. Those who are without Jesus in their lives need the wonderful work of mercy and grace.

That’s what Jesus sent the Twelve out to proclaim. We know who the Twelve are and what they were specifically called to do.

Let’s now look at the rest of our passage:

And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.

Luke 9:3-9

We now arrive at the question of the day – “Who is this?” Who asks the question? Herod. Who is Herod? Not a good guy, to say the least. Listen to what he so nonchalantly asks, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” Notice how he expresses neither regret nor remorse for murdering John the Baptist. Who is this? Already in Luke several different times the question has been asked by different people in different situations. Who is this? Luke wrote his gospel to answer that question.

Herod’s question is without a doubt the most important question a person could ever ask or answer. Who is this man? Eternity hangs on the answer given.

Over twenty year ago, ABC Television aired a special on the search for Jesus. The reporter asked the same question as Herod. Who is Jesus? Because it was an historical search, he didn’t ask people who knew Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In typical smug mainstream media mentality, he was content with the nonanswer he found. Do you think Herod cared if he got an answer or not? Do you think ABC cared whether they got an answer or not?

Who is this man? It’s tragic for anyone who doesn’t know the answer to that question. Eternity hangs in the balance. It’s a matter of heaven or hell.

The thing is, all four gospels were written to answer that question. Who is this man? Forget about secular news or entertainment. If you want to know the real Jesus, read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I especially love how John ends his gospel:

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:30-31

That’s the whole point. Jesus is the Messiah. He is the Son of God. And if

you believe in him, you will receive eternal life. Amen?

Finally, here’s something I almost missed. Keep in mind, Jesus sent out the Twelve. He empowered them to do miracles. These signs and wonders were to be a validation of the message of salvation from God. As they do these same things Jesus did, they are to preach the same message Jesus preached. Same message. Call to repent…repent of sin…be forgiven…grace and mercy pour into your life…receive assurance of eternity with Jesus. Again, that’s the trajectory of salvation.

So here’s what I almost skipped over. Jesus sent out the Twelve. They’ve been doing what he called and equipped them to do. Herod heard about all that was happening…meaning what the Twelve were doing. And he was perplexed. The Greek word means “to be utterly at a loss.” In other words, he hears things but he doesn’t understand. Compare and contrast that to the Twelve. They receive their directive…they hear…and they understand. Even better than that, their learning occurs as they do what Christ commands them to do. When you accept that truth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, you begin reading and studying and learning from God’s Word. You engage in the life of His church. Your life begins to express the Fuit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Jesus is equipping you to live a positive, impactful life. It is such a beautiful thing. It all flows out of being saved.

So back to Herod. He knows what the Twelve are doing. But what does he ask? He asks, “Who is this about whom I hear such things?” He doesn’t ask, “Who are these men?” They had the same power as Jesus. They preached the same message as Jesus.

Here’s the key:

IT’S NOT ABOUT US.

These were ordinary, uneducated men. They were not connected to the religious or political establishment. Everything they said and did, they said and did under the full power and authority of Jesus Christ. It had nothing to do with them. They wanted no share of the credit. They wanted no spotlight. It all went back to Jesus. It was all about Jesus. And so Herod asks, “Who is this about whom I hear such things?”

“Who is this man?” That is the question people have been asking for centuries. Every person who hears the gospel asks that question. Every person who reads the New Testament asks that question. Every Christmas season and Easter season, people ask that question. Upon hearing of his words and his works, if there is no clear understanding of the answer to that question, then there is no salvation. There is no eternity in the presence of the One, True, Living God without Jesus. He is the answer to everything the heart needs and desires. The answer has always been Jesus. The answer will always be Jesus:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to

the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

“Who is this man?” What tragedy there will be for those who choose the wrong answer. Or ignore the question at their own risk. But for those who hear and obey the call of Christ:

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God,

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them,

nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:9-17

We close with this affirmation from Charles Spurgeon:

“Salvation is, in short, deliverance from sin, deliverance from the guilt of it, from the punishment of it, from the power of it."