In Luke 9:51–62, Jesus begins his final journey toward Jerusalem, fully aware of the suffering that awaits him. Despite warning his disciples multiple times (Luke 9:21–27, 44–45), they remain unaware of the depth of what is to come. Yet Jesus is unwavering—he "sets his face toward Jerusalem," a phrase that conveys not only his geographical direction but also his spiritual determination. This passage presents a turning point in the Gospel, one that brings us face to face with the radical demands of following Christ.

As Jesus travels, he passes through Samaritan territory, where he is surprisingly rejected. This rejection is notable because Jesus was usually inclusive toward Samaritans. The text tells us the villagers did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem, suggesting a clash of priorities rather than outright hostility. The disciples, however, interpret this as rejection and ask Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven—a misguided and impulsive reaction. Jesus rebukes them. He is not on a mission of vengeance but one of redemptive love. This moment sets the stage for Jesus to teach about the true nature of discipleship.

To deepen our understanding of this passage, we turn to Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book The Cost of Discipleship, in which he articulates the cost of following Jesus. Bonhoeffer contrasts "cheap grace" with "costly grace." Cheap grace offers forgiveness without repentance and demands nothing from the believer. In contrast, costly grace is the call of Jesus that demands everything—it costs one's life, but in return, it offers the only true life. As Bonhoeffer famously wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” This death is not only literal but spiritual: the death of selfishness, comfort, and worldly attachments.

Moreover, Bonhoeffer emphasizes that discipleship requires visible, concrete obedience. It is not a private, inward matter, but a public and often uncomfortable choice to live by Jesus’ teachings, particularly those found in the Sermon on the Mount. Disciples are called to live in a way that opposes the values of the world, enduring suffering, rejection, and practicing nonviolence in the face of evil. In this way, following Jesus means stepping beyond comfort and security to walk a narrow and sacrificial path.

Finally, Bonhoeffer argues that discipleship happens within the life of the Christian community. The church is the space where believers hear the Word of God, hold one another accountable, and bear one another’s burdens. True discipleship is not a solitary endeavor but a shared journey where each person supports others in the costly way of Christ. In this, the church becomes not only a gathering of believers but a community shaped by grace, truth, and sacrifice.

In conclusion, Luke 9:51–62 invites us to see discipleship not as an abstract idea but as a costly and embodied reality. Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem, calling us to follow him with the same determination. Bonhoeffer’s reflections help us grasp the weight of this calling: it is not comfortable, but it is holy. To follow Jesus is to surrender to the path of costly grace, to live in obedience, and to walk together in community, even when the journey leads to the cross.

The Gospel of Luke 8:26-39  takes us to an unusual and uncomfortable place. Jesus and his disciples arrive in the country of the Gerasenes — Gentile territory, across the lake from Galilee. This is unfamiliar ground. And almost immediately, Jesus is met by a man who is deeply troubled. He doesn’t live in a home but among the tombs. He wears no clothes. He speaks in the voice of many demons. The town had tried to control him with chains, but nothing could hold him.

This is a man completely lost — to himself, to his community, and to the life God intended for him. If anyone was beyond hope, it was him.

And yet, that’s exactly where Jesus goes.

1. Jesus Crosses Boundaries

Jesus crosses the lake, crosses cultural and religious boundaries, and meets a man no one else wanted to deal with. Why? Because grace always goes to the margins. Grace seeks out the hurting, the forgotten, the possessed, the people the world labels as too broken, too strange, too far gone.

Jesus steps into this man’s world — not with fear, but with authority and compassion.

2. Restoring Identity

Jesus asks the man a simple but powerful question: “What is your name?”

But the man doesn’t answer with his real name. Instead, he says, “Legion” — a Roman military word meaning thousands. He has lost himself in the voices that torment him.

We might not be possessed in the same way, but many of us know what it means to lose our identity to the voices of fear, shame, addiction, depression, or past mistakes. Sometimes we forget who we really are.

But Jesus comes to restore not just health, but identity. He sees the person behind the pain. He calls us back to ourselves. That’s what healing really is — not just fixing a problem but being made whole again.

3. Not Everyone Welcomes Grace

After the demons are cast out, the man is found sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind. It’s a miracle!

But the town isn’t rejoicing — they’re afraid. Why? Because grace disrupts. The people had learned to live with brokenness. They had found a way to manage it — put the man in chains, keep him outside the city, and pretend it’s normal.

But Jesus challenges all that. He breaks the systems of fear and control. And instead of celebrating, the people ask him to leave.

Sometimes, the presence of Christ exposes things we’d rather leave alone.

4. A Surprising Mission

Now, the man — newly healed, newly whole — begs to go with Jesus. That seems like a good request. Who wouldn’t want to follow Jesus?

But Jesus says, “No. Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.”

Think about that. The man becomes the first missionary to the Gentiles. Before Paul, before Peter, before the early church — this man becomes the first to preach the good news to people outside of Israel.

He doesn’t have theological training. He hasn’t been discipled. But he has a story. And that’s enough.

Your story is enough, too.

5. The Power of a Story

This is what I want you to hear today: your testimony matters. Whether you’ve come out of deep pain like the man in this story, or your journey has been quieter, more ordinary — Jesus has done something in your life.

Tell it.

Don’t underestimate the power of your story. Someone in your life needs to know that healing is possible. That grace is real. That even in the darkest places, Jesus shows up.

Conclusion

Friends, we live in a world where many are still tormented — by fear, by despair, by loneliness. The voices of “Legion” still speak. But Jesus still comes across the water. He still seeks out the hurting. He still asks, “What is your name?” And He still restores.

And when He does, He says to us — just as He said to that man — “Go back. Go home. Tell how much God has done for you.”

May we have the courage to tell our stories, and to live as people who have been healed and sent by grace.

Amen.

A mystery to live, not to solve

Trinity Sunday is unique—not tied to a specific event in Jesus’ life, but to the mystery of who God is: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet the Trinity is more than a doctrine to analyze—it is the reality of a living God who relates to us in love.

In John 16:12–15, Jesus prepares His disciples for what is coming. He promises the Spirit of truth, who will guide them—and us—into all truth. This passage opens a window into the deep and beautiful communion within God and invites us to live in that divine relationship.

1. The Trinity Is a Living Relationship

Jesus speaks of the Spirit, who does not speak on His own but speaks what He hears—glorifying the Son, who glorifies the Father. There is a divine dance here—a mutual indwelling of love, sometimes called perichoresis in ancient theology.

The Trinity is not a hierarchy but a relationship of love, honor, and shared glory. And this is the heart of our faith: not just beliefs, but communion. God with us, God for us, God in us.

2. The Spirit Still Speaks Truth

Jesus tells His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” What a compassionate word. God doesn’t overwhelm us. Instead, the Spirit meets us where we are and gently leads us forward, revealing truth in due time.

In a world overflowing with noise and misinformation, the Spirit’s voice is steady and true—not loud, but faithful.

I once sat with someone grieving the loss of a loved one. They couldn’t pray. They couldn’t understand. But later, they shared how a quiet moment of stillness gave them a peace they couldn’t explain. That was the Spirit—gentle, timely, and true.

The Spirit continues the work of Christ by speaking what comes from the Father and the Son, leading us not into fear but into faithfulness and freedom.

3. We’re Drawn Into the Divine Life

The Trinity is not a closed circle. We are not just spectators to this holy mystery—we are invited in.

Through Christ, we are reconciled to the Father. Through the Spirit, we are adopted into the family of God. That means the love that flows between Father, Son, and Spirit now flows in us.

We are called to reflect this divine unity in how we love one another, serve one another, and forgive one another.

The Trinity is not just something to believe in—it’s something to become a part of.

Conclusion – Living the Mystery

So today, don’t try to master the mystery—let it master you. Let the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the voice of the Spirit draw you deeper into God’s heart.

God is not far off. God is here—speaking, guiding, and loving.

You are not alone. You are being led. You are being loved.
One God. Three Persons. Always with us.

Amen.

Introduction – Presence, Not Absence

Pentecost is often misunderstood as the moment Jesus “left” and something else came in His place. But today we proclaim a deeper truth: Pentecost is not about absence — it’s about presence. Jesus had prepared His disciples for His departure, but He did not leave them empty. In John 14, He promises that the Father will send another Advocate — the Holy Spirit — to be with them forever. Pentecost celebrates the fulfillment of that promise. It is the day the Church was filled — with fire, with power, with guidance, with divine presence. In a world filled with loss and longing, the Spirit is God’s ongoing answer: You are not alone.

1. The Spirit Fills What Was Empty

In Acts 2, we read that the Spirit came like a rushing wind and filled the house where the disciples were gathered. That image echoes into John’s Gospel. Jesus promises, “He lives with you and will be in you.” (v.17) The Holy Spirit doesn’t just visit us — the Spirit inhabits us. The space that could have become a void after Jesus’ departure was instead filled with God’s very presence. And this same Spirit fills our lives today: our hearts, our worship, our community, our calling. Pentecost means that we do not live in a spiritual vacuum — we are temples of the living God.

2. The Spirit Brings Peace, Power, and Memory

In verse 26, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will “teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” This means that the Spirit is not just a vague force — the Spirit has a voice, a message, a memory. And it is the Spirit who enables us to remember Christ, to live by His Word, and to remain in His peace. That’s why Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” The Spirit does not bring chaos or fear, but calm assurance and inner strength. It is through the Spirit that we continue to walk with Jesus — not by sight, but by presence.

3. The Church as a Spirit-Filled Community

Pentecost was not just a personal experience — it was communal. The Spirit filled the whole house, all who were gathered, and sent them out into the world. From the beginning, the Church was not a building or a program — it was a Spirit-filled movement. Today, we are invited not just to believe in the Spirit, but to live by the Spirit. Our mission, our unity, our boldness — all flow from the presence of the Spirit in our midst. We are not simply people who remember Jesus; we are people who are filled with the same power that raised Him from the dead and sent Him into the world.

Conclusion – We Are Not Alone

Pentecost reminds us that God did not leave us behind when Jesus ascended. Instead, God drew closer — not beside us, but within us. In a time when so many feel empty, isolated, or spiritually dry, the message of Pentecost is this: God has filled the house, and God longs to fill your heart. The Spirit has come, and the Spirit remains. So let us not live as though we’ve been left alone. We are filled, not forsaken. Let every breath be a reminder that the Spirit lives, moves, and speaks — here and now.

The Church is more than a gathering of people; it is the living Body of Christ, called not only to love and abide in Christ but to be empowered and sent into the world. In Luke 24:44–53, we find the risen Jesus preparing His disciples for this very calling. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus opens their minds to the Scriptures, commissions them as witnesses, promises the Holy Spirit, and blesses them. In doing so, He shows us what it means to become the Church: not a passive assembly, but a joyful, Spirit-filled witness to the Gospel.

First, Jesus opens the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures, revealing how His life, death, and resurrection fulfill what was written. This is foundational for the Church. We are rooted in the story of Christ, and we are called not merely to remember it but to live it. “Thus it is written,” Jesus says, reminding us that repentance and forgiveness are not just theological ideas — they are our mission. Becoming the Body of Christ means embodying this good news in the world. The Gospel isn’t something we keep to ourselves; it is a story we are called to proclaim through word and deed.

Jesus then makes a striking declaration: “You are witnesses of these things.” The disciples are not simply spectators of God’s story; they are participants. Witnessing, in the biblical sense, means testifying with our lives. It is an active, ongoing role. This truth applies to every church member, old and new. New members are not just joining a community — they are stepping into a calling. The Church needs their voices, their experiences, and their faith. A church is not complete without the witness of all its people.

But Jesus does not send His followers in their own strength. He promises they will be “clothed with power from on high” — a clear reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit. This is vital: the Church’s power is not found in programs, traditions, or buildings, but in the presence of God’s Spirit. We are called to wait, to pray, and to be open to this power. It is the Spirit who transforms our love into action, our peace into mission, and our gathering into true witness. Even in seasons of waiting, the Church is being prepared to move.

Finally, Jesus blesses His disciples as He ascends. They are not left in fear but go forth in joy and worship. The Church is born not out of anxiety, but out of blessing and praise. Our mission begins with the knowledge that we are loved and sent. For new members, this is your commissioning: you are now part of Christ’s Body, empowered to witness. For long-time members, each new beginning reminds us that the Church is always being reborn, always being sent anew. Let us be the Church clothed with power, grounded in joy, and faithful in our witness to the world.