Bible Commentaries

As He sent His apostles out, He gave them power and authority. They went forth without any provision for the journey other than the things of spiritual equipment. Rumors of the ministry and power they exercised reached Herod, and he was filled with fear. The apostles returned from their fist mission, and our Lord took them to Bethsaida, where He performed the wonder of feeding the crowd. In a remarkable way, that feeding is a parabolic illustration of the method by which those who serve Him are to reach the needs of humanity. Their duty is to yield all they have to Him, and then to obey Him, no matter how mere prudence and worldly wisdom may question the method.

At this point our Lord began the second stage in the disciples' training. In answer to His inquiry, one of their number confessed in full the glory of His Messiahship. He then began to show them the necessity for the Cross. They failed to grasp the significance of the revelation.

The next scene we have is of three of them being taken to the mount, and beholding Him in His transfigured glory, and finding that there, in converse with Moses and Elijah, He was speaking of that self-same Cross.

Descending to the valley, we see first the disciples beaten by demon possession, and then the Lord exercising His authority and power in freeing the child from that possession.

The chapter closes with illustrations showing that in following Jesus there must be no compromise and no delay.