<<< Go back to Luke chapter nine <<<
(57) Preparing for the harvest (Luke 10:1-9, 10th January 2010)
(58) Real danger, real hope (Luke 10:10-20, 24th January 2010)
(59) Better days (Luke 10:20-29, 31st January 2010)
(60) Wise men and little children (Luke 10:29-42, 7th February 2010)
>>> Go on to chapter eleven >>>
The last chapter saw Jesus' mission step up a gear as he set out for Jerusalem (9:51). That atmosphere of intense demands and time pressure now continues as Jesus appoints 72 support workers. By comparing this mission with the apostles' similar one (9:1-10) we see some important differences which help us understand our verses: the 72 do not have Jesus' authority like the apostles (6:13; 9:1) but rather prepare towns for Jesus' arrival (v1); they work in twos (v1); will be in danger (v3); operate at speed (v4); bring a special blessing to those who welcome them (v5-6); and have a simple message (v9). So what is this mission's purpose? It stems from Jesus' desire to be heard throughout Israel before his time runs out, so that people either stand with or against him (v11-16) – then when Peter later tells Israel that they killed the Christ (Acts 2:36) none will be able to say “never heard of him!” This mission, however, is not all about judgement. Jesus knows that there will be a great harvest (v2) of Israelites for God (8:8; Acts 2:41; 4:4) and he wants to prepare for that by sowing the seed of his message everywhere. But that's a big task and Jesus' time is very limited, so he appoints the 72 to prepare the way for him by making sure that places are ready and waiting for his visit, and to hear of God's kingdom (v1). And in fact Jesus is so confident about the size of the coming harvest that he knows 72 is only a start; his people must pray for more (v2)! Jesus' passion here should inspire Christians to support evangelism. Our situation in the UK is very different to his: this is not a time of harvesting for us. But in some places of the world it is and there are still some coming to Christ even in the UK. So what should we do? Well whatever else we do, we must pray (v2)! Pray that the Lord will provide people with time and different skills who can spread the gospel, and that he will put them in the best locations. But to return to the 72, we see that Jesus doesn't send them casually, because he knows that Israel is turning against him and so this mission will be dangerous (v3). It will also be incredibly fast moving (v4-8) because of the time limitations and so the teams will take no provisions but must expect hospitality; and if they don't receive it, then that will show the attitude of their hearers to God's kingdom (v9-12). Clearly, then, this will be a difficult mission and that may partly be why Jesus sends the workers in pairs (v1) – for mutual support. However, it won't all be trouble for they will find responsive listeners and to be with them will be a joy, for God's blessing of peace will rest upon them (v5-6) – which is a great encouragement. We should pray that workers we know will experience this and, indeed, that our homes will be houses of peace.
(1) Think about the people you know in full-time Christian work. Try to list out ways in which their experiences may match those being described by Jesus in this passage. Turn that list into prayer for these workers.
(2) What do you know about unreached areas of the world where the gospel hasn't yet penetrated? Try to find out about some of them (for example using this website: http://www.global-prayer-digest.org/). Pray for workers for these areas.
(3) Read Luke's earlier chapters where John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus have used planting, harvesting and winnowing imagery. What do these teach us about the different stages of God's work in this world? Can we apply the different stages to different societies? If so, what stage is the UK at and how does that affect us?
(4) Is your home a place of God's peace? If not, why is that?
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The same words can have different implications depending upon the person to whom they are being spoken. That's seen in Luke 10 where Jesus' message of “the kingdom of God” can mean blessing (v9) or trouble (v11). Jesus is heading to Jerusalem where he knows he will die (9v44). But before then, he wants to visit as many places as possible. Positively, this will allow him to sow the seeds of the great harvest of people who will follow him (v2). Negatively, those who reject him will mark themselves out for God's judgement. Either way his support workers speak the same message. For Israel this is a defining moment in her history. Over centuries God has patiently dealt with these people, but now time is running out and they must either commit fully to God's king or face destruction. To emphasise this monumental choice, Jesus contrasts the situation with that of Sodom (Gen 19) saying his generation are facing a worse punishment! Jesus even bursts into cries of pain over some of the local towns: woe! They have seen such wondrous things which would have caused others to repent (v13,14); yet these Israelite towns remain unconcerned by Jesus' message! So what else can God do except bring punishment? But why are they so careless towards God? Well in the case of Capernaum (v15) it is pride. The town has been the centre of Jesus' operations in Galilee (4v23) but rather than learning repentance from him, instead it boasts of its importance; like ancient Babylon it claims heavenly status! But like Babylon such pride will be its downfall (Isaiah 14:12-15) under the hand of God. Jesus is making plain just how serious it is to ignore his message: it is to reject God himself (v16). We should learn from the sinful stupidity of these towns. God has sent his king – Jesus – to reclaim the world for Himself. If we stand with him and become his citizens, it will bring eternal blessing. But if we remain as rebels against heaven, then it will be our destruction. And if we call ourselves Christians, then we must make full use of the privileges the Lord has graciously given to us to learn from him and live for him. Well contrary to Jesus' warnings (v3), the workers return full of joy in easy success (v17). But one small battle does not win a war. Satan, the ruler of this world, remains a dangerous force for evil. He is being thrown down from his position (v18) but as he falls he is like lightning: burning, hurting, destroying as he goes. So Jesus' workers must expect trouble and not become self-confident like the Israelites in the desert (v19; Deut 8). Rather they, and all Christians, must build their hopes only upon Christ. There is a heavenly register of all Christ's people (v20) and we live with the hope of future eternal life because of him.
(1) Read Deuteronomy 8 (which includes the imagery Jesus uses in Luke 10:19) and hear how God warns the Israelites about trusting themselves. Look at your own attitudes. How much do you live actually trusting Christ to bring you through life? Turn your thoughts into repentance and prayer.
(2) Do you take the devil seriously? Give some time to look at different passages in the Bible which talk about this evil being. What are we told about him? How does our knowledge inform the way the live and pray?
(3) Jesus' message includes warning the Israelites about God's judgement. How often does he do this? What do we learn from him about our own evangelism?
(4) Would it be right for Christians today to think in terms of judging towns or is this unique to Jesus' work? What other Bible passages help us with this question?
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Jesus' team return enamoured with their successes and so he has to teach them that it will not always be like this. However, he still rejoices with them and, in fact, takes their joy to a higher level (v20) by pointing to God's heavenly register of those who will be resurrected to eternal life (Daniel 12). This is the goal of the kingdom which God is building through the events of which the team have been a part. And this so thrills Jesus that he prays in praise his Father (v21) – a moment in which the wonder of the Trinity is displayed. The Bible teaches there is only one God but He exists in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The disciples discovered this as they spent time with Jesus, realising he was the Lord and yet also hearing him speak with his Father and about the Holy Spirit. V21 shows this as Jesus rejoices in the Spirit over the work of the Father, in which they share. But what particularly pleases him about the Trinity's work? It's grace. God's plan is to rescue the world from sin and populate it with sinners made holy. And with whom has God shared this plan? With some of the most “insignificant” people in the world. That's grace! Jesus speaks of his followers as “little children” (in contrast to the “wise & learned”) by which he means those whom the world writes off as unimportant. Previously Jesus described his people as the “poor, hungry, crying & hated” (6:21-23). Yet it is to them that God has opened his heart and the way into his kingdom of eternal safety. Jesus says that the Father and the Son share intimate secrets about their plans; but these secrets are now being revealed to his people (v22). Christians live in the finest time of history; a time only vaguely understood by believers who lived before Christ (v23,24). And to drive home this huge privilege, Luke next tells us of a lawyer who questions Jesus (v25). This lawyer wants to catch Jesus out, but his actions actually expose his own ignorance. He's supposed to know the Old Testament and God's ways very well. In fact he knows little, for he isn't even sure how to enter God's kingdom: how does one gain an inheritance in the resurrection world? Jesus' followers know, but this “wise” man doesn't! Well Jesus gets the man to offer his opinion – obedience to the two great commandments (v26,27) – and then responds by telling him to go and keep them (v28). But instead of replying “I can't”, the man assumes he is loving God and asks a petty question about defining neighbours (v29)! Jesus has brilliantly exposed this man's folly and will next use it to shame him using a story. This passage teaches Christian to rejoice. God's grace has been poured onto us and our future is unimaginably good. We are heading towards a glorious new home. In the midst of present trials, we too can praise God, and know happiness, like Jesus.
(1) Do you rejoice when others are rejoicing as Romans 12:15 says we should? Do you try to understand the lives of fellow Christians and stand with them in their joys and sorrows? Are there any ways in which you could do more of this?
(2) How much do you know about the Trinity? Why not find a Christian book which will help you discover more or simply read through the New Testament just looking for occasions where the Trinity is visible. Turn what you read into praise.
(3) God's grace – his undeserved kindness and love towards his enemies - is a wonderful theme in the Bible. In what ways have you experienced the grace of God? What are you looking forward to receiving from God. List out your thoughts and pray them through, to give thanks to God and renew your hopes in him.
(4) Where today do we see people like the lawyer in our passage?
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Luke, here, gives living examples of Jesus' words of v21: wise men who do not know God (v25-37), and little children who do (v38-42). It begins with an Old Testament expert who fears God, wants a place in God's future kingdom and comes to trap Jesus with a question about this. But Jesus brilliantly turns the conversation and humbles the man. He begins by asking the man's opinions – it's good in evangelism to listen to the other person and then apply the gospel to their particular circumstances. Jesus does this by telling the lawyer to go and keep the two commandments he has quoted (v28). This troubles his conscience, making him defensive, and so he pursues the issue of “who is my neighbour?” However, this opens him up to further analysis which Jesus does by telling a story. On the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho – steep, craggy, secluded – a man is badly robbed and left half-dead. Two temple workers pass by, one after the other; these are the lawyer's type of people (v31-32). But they stay on the other side, not wanting to get involved. Notice the lawyer doesn't complain about Jesus' depiction – he knows it's realistic; maybe he's done something similar. However, Jesus then inserts a marvellous twist. A hated enemy of the Jews – a Samaritan (v33) – then appears: if anyone isn't a neighbour to the Jews it's him (even though their countries share a border!). Yet the Samaritan feels compassion and very generously comes to the victim's aid (v34-35). Jesus then asks the obvious question: “which of the three showed neighbourly love?” (v36) The lawyer will be feeling rotten; his conscience nags him to say the (hated) third man. Jesus then tells him to behave likewise, making him sense his sinful lack of love. Jesus' story exposes the type of love we must show: generosity to those in need, without discrimination. It may be through limited acts (the Samaritan had to move on, v35) but when we are confronted with need, our desire must be to offer what help we can, however small. And when we fail to love we must humbly repent (although we do not know if the lawyer ever did). Luke, however, has not finished and moves to his second living example of v21. Jesus arrives in a village and the home of two sisters is open for his use (v38). But whilst Martha provides hospitality, Mary sits like a child listening to Jesus. As a result Martha becomes cross and complains to Jesus like a child moaning to a parent about her sister (v39-41). Jesus, however, gently replies that Mary is right to listen; to learn from Jesus is to know God (v22, 42). Martha wants to know Jesus but needs to change her priorities: practical love for others must be built upon first love for God and appreciation of his love for us (v27; John 13:34-35). It's not enough simply to be a “Good Samaritan”; one must begin with total love for God.
(1) Jesus' story is very poignant given that Jesus is on a dangerous journey to Jerusalem where he will be beaten and killed. However, he goes ahead believing his Father will care for him. Meditate upon this and turn it into praise and thanksgiving.
(2) Think further about Jesus' way of dealing with this Bible expert. What can we learn here about telling others the gospel? Apply this to the conversations you've had this past week. How could you have spoken better for the Lord?
(3) How might Christians today make Martha's mistake? Can you see this in your own life? Turn your thoughts into prayer for yourself and others.
(4) 2 Chronicles 28:1-15 contains a story which has some interesting similarities with Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, as well as noticeable differences. What lessons are common to both? What should the expert have learned from Chronicles?
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