The Mountain Gathering: Luke 6:17-19
“17) Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, 18) who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. 19) And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.” Luke 6:17-19
Luke presents a slightly different account of the sermon on the mountain than Matthew. When they are studied side by side, Luke focused more on the occasion for the sermon while Matthew captured the content of the message itself. Both elaborate on the growing crowd that was following Jesus.
It is entirely possible that there were numerous times that large crowds gathered around Jesus and He sought open spaces to teach them. A mountain location was most likely chosen to form a natural amphitheater for sound to carry.
Whereas God called Moses alone to the mountain top and forbid the people from coming close, Jesus welcomed multitudes. The contrast highlights a key difference between the Old and the New Testaments. Jesus was indeed the way, the truth and the life. He was the only doorway to God. He welcomed the multitudes.
From the Luke account, Jesus was coming down from an all night prayer meeting with His twelve while a multitude ascended the mountain in search of healing and deliverance. They were seeking Jesus.
Twice in the text Luke emphasizes the large size of the crowd. Verse 17 talks about both “a great multitude of His disciples” and “a great throng of people.” Some had become devoted followers of Jesus while many more were curious seekers.
It reminds me that there are stages of drawing near to Jesus. The tug of the Spirit may start with personal needs, but soon the message of the gospel is planted in the heart and starts growing. It often results in being born-again through saving faith in Jesus Christ. This in turn becomes an invitation to follow Jesus Christ as a devoted disciple.
Notice from the context that Jesus chose twelve Apostles, but there were many disciples. These were the twelve apostles of the Lamb mentioned in Revelation 21:14. They were put in office by Jesus Christ prior to the day of Pentecost.
After Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out, spiritual gifts were given to believers. According to Ephesians 4:11-12, one of the five leadership gifts in the church also includes “apostles.”
These were “sent out ones” to carry the gospel to new regions and plant churches. I view them as the modern office of “the missionary.” Though the root Greek word is the same, there are considerable differences between the two groups of apostles. I believe in the Antioch model of multiple leadership offices in the local church. (See Acts 13:1-4)
It is noteworthy from our text in Luke 6:17 that the “great throng” included people from “Judea and Jerusalem and the costal regions of Tyre and Sidon.” Sufficient to say that people came from great distances to seek Jesus. But why did they come?
Verse 18 says; “who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured.” They came both to hear His message and to be healed from diseases and the side effects of unclean spirits.
Verse 19 then adds; “And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.” This is an insightful verse. This is the same word for “power” used throughout the New Testament for Spirit filled believers. (See Acts 1:4-8; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; and Ephesians 3:20-21… and many other places)
I will not elaborate further on the subject of “power” at this time; except to point out that in John 14:12-18 Jesus promised that His followers would do greater works than He did because He went to the Father and was about to send the Holy Spirit.
Every verse in the Bible on this subject of “power” should be carefully studied by every disciple of Jesus Christ. It is a profound study that frustrates and exposes the false teachings of the modern naturalistic theologians. It is a journey you must take for yourself on your way to discovering the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is also important to note that according to the text, Jesus was “healing them all.” There was no sickness, disease, injury or demonic bondage to difficult for Jesus! His authority triumphed over them all.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“17) Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, 18) who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. 19) And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.” Luke 6:17-19
Luke presents a slightly different account of the sermon on the mountain than Matthew. When they are studied side by side, Luke focused more on the occasion for the sermon while Matthew captured the content of the message itself. Both elaborate on the growing crowd that was following Jesus.
It is entirely possible that there were numerous times that large crowds gathered around Jesus and He sought open spaces to teach them. A mountain location was most likely chosen to form a natural amphitheater for sound to carry.
Whereas God called Moses alone to the mountain top and forbid the people from coming close, Jesus welcomed multitudes. The contrast highlights a key difference between the Old and the New Testaments. Jesus was indeed the way, the truth and the life. He was the only doorway to God. He welcomed the multitudes.
From the Luke account, Jesus was coming down from an all night prayer meeting with His twelve while a multitude ascended the mountain in search of healing and deliverance. They were seeking Jesus.
Twice in the text Luke emphasizes the large size of the crowd. Verse 17 talks about both “a great multitude of His disciples” and “a great throng of people.” Some had become devoted followers of Jesus while many more were curious seekers.
It reminds me that there are stages of drawing near to Jesus. The tug of the Spirit may start with personal needs, but soon the message of the gospel is planted in the heart and starts growing. It often results in being born-again through saving faith in Jesus Christ. This in turn becomes an invitation to follow Jesus Christ as a devoted disciple.
Notice from the context that Jesus chose twelve Apostles, but there were many disciples. These were the twelve apostles of the Lamb mentioned in Revelation 21:14. They were put in office by Jesus Christ prior to the day of Pentecost.
After Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out, spiritual gifts were given to believers. According to Ephesians 4:11-12, one of the five leadership gifts in the church also includes “apostles.”
These were “sent out ones” to carry the gospel to new regions and plant churches. I view them as the modern office of “the missionary.” Though the root Greek word is the same, there are considerable differences between the two groups of apostles. I believe in the Antioch model of multiple leadership offices in the local church. (See Acts 13:1-4)
It is noteworthy from our text in Luke 6:17 that the “great throng” included people from “Judea and Jerusalem and the costal regions of Tyre and Sidon.” Sufficient to say that people came from great distances to seek Jesus. But why did they come?
Verse 18 says; “who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured.” They came both to hear His message and to be healed from diseases and the side effects of unclean spirits.
Verse 19 then adds; “And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.” This is an insightful verse. This is the same word for “power” used throughout the New Testament for Spirit filled believers. (See Acts 1:4-8; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; and Ephesians 3:20-21… and many other places)
I will not elaborate further on the subject of “power” at this time; except to point out that in John 14:12-18 Jesus promised that His followers would do greater works than He did because He went to the Father and was about to send the Holy Spirit.
Every verse in the Bible on this subject of “power” should be carefully studied by every disciple of Jesus Christ. It is a profound study that frustrates and exposes the false teachings of the modern naturalistic theologians. It is a journey you must take for yourself on your way to discovering the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is also important to note that according to the text, Jesus was “healing them all.” There was no sickness, disease, injury or demonic bondage to difficult for Jesus! His authority triumphed over them all.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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