Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #48 Jesus, the Seventy, the Samaritan and the Sisters Luke 10

 

Jesus: Creator, Savior, Lord and King #48
Jesus, the Seventy, the Samaritan and the Sisters
Luke 10

 Introduction:

I resolve to check in my mirror more closely on Sunday morning. Hair and razor.

The only show in the Disney Star War franchise worth watching was a show called “The Mandalorian. It is about a tribe of people who are highly disciplined and distinctive in their looks and in their acts. Whenever one of the Mandalorians does something that is a part of their training, teaching or traditions, they will say, “This is the way.” Now I’m an old Star War Fan beginning at the original 1977 movie, one of the only movies I ever stood in line to go see. Most of the new films and shows are to put it mildly garbage. It turned out Disney was the dark side. But the exception has been Mandalorian. So, I checked it out and when I heard them say, “This is the way” it surprised me because that is a Biblical term, found in from the book of Acts.

People of The Way

Acts 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way,

Acts 19:23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

Acts 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

In our passage today Luke chapter 10 Jesus teaches the Christian way. Now it is not a direct lesson like the Sermon on the Mount, it is a lesson in life, lived by the Seventy who were sent, the story of the Samaritan and the Sisters in Bethany.

Or as Warren Wiersbe puts it, “Whether we are in the harvest field, on the highway, or in the home, our highest privilege and our greatest joy is to do the will of God. - Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary,

Seventy Sent Luke 10:1-37

Spreading The Gospel

Commission vss. 1-9

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. 7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

This is a second wave of Jesus’ disciples sent out to prepare the way for Jesus to come. The first was of course the forerunner, John the Baptist sent to the people of Israel. Then Jesus sent out the twelve in Matthew 10 and Luke 9, then here only in the book of Luke do we have the send of the seventy. After Jesus preached the Bread of Life Discourse found in John 6, he was abonded by all by the 12, now here a few months later he has made new disciples or some of the old ones have come back, either way these 70 are found faithful enough by the Lord to be commissioned in the work of the Gospel.

Like the Twelve, the seventy were: (1) sent out in pairs, (2) sent as precursors of Jesus’ visit, (3) sent like lambs among wolves, (4) not to take extra provisions, (5) to graciously accept hospitality without taking advantage of it by moving from house to house, (6) to bless homes with peace or curse towns by shaking dust, (7) granted supernatural power, and (8) to announce the presence of the Kingdom of God/Heaven.

Just as the Twelve were associated in number with the twelve sons of Jacob and the twelve tribes of Israel, so the Seventy may be associated with the seventy nations listed in Genesis 10. Luke’s emphasis as a Gentile was to show that Gospel was for all nations. It is reasonable to think hat he would be led by the Holy Spirit to include this event while the other writers of the Gospels did not.

The Way of The Message

The 70, were not the 12, but they shared many of the same orders, today we are not the 12, nor the 70 and their commissions are not our commission. There are no longer apostles. If someone claims to be an apostle they are really saying they are apostate and you need to get away before their judgment falls on you. The commission of the 70 included the power over demons, serpents and disease. Many foolish, very, very foolish people have tried to claim this commission as viable for today and have suffered from it greatly. Needless to say, if someone invites you to church and they start pulling out rattle snakes and copperheads you need to get out of there. That’s not just foolish ignorance it is dangerous ignorance.

All of those who follow Jesus are given a commission for their time and the people they ware sent to reach. Our commission, the Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

That is our commission and it supersedes all the other commission, this the Great Commission, it is given to the church as Jesus ascended to heaven and it has never been updated or changed. There is nothing in there about healings, exorcisms or thank goodness snake handling.

This commission is hard enough to fulfill. It will take all our lives and all the help the Holy Spirit can give us. It our calling, our commission, our life’s work as members of the Lord’s body. It will stay in effect until the Lord comes back and claims His bride. The only thing in question about the Great Commission is, “Am I and my church obeying it.”

This is the way if we support the church with my attendance, my time, my prayers and my tithe. This is the way if we give above and beyond our tithe and prayer fo missions outside of my local church. This is the way of the Gospel if I invite others to hear the message of salvation, if I share with them that eternal hope and if I prepare myself to be worthy of that task through Bible study, prayer and dependence on God’s people. This is the way that marked the disciples of Jesus during Jesus ministry, during the book of Acts and this is the way that changed the world.

Within the commission to the Seventy there was also a terrible condemnation. It’s found in vss. 10-14

Condemnation – Luke 10:10-15

10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. 15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. 16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Jesus tells the 70 that if any city, town or village should reject them or their message the disciples were to step outside the limits of the city and to pronounce a curse upon it. “Luke 10:11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”

Then in vss. 12-15 Jesus give examples of cities that were already under this curse and condemnation, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum. These were cities where Jesus had done great miracles and was rejected. In Bethsaida he had cast out the legion of demons from the two demoniacs and the people told him to leave because they valued the worth of pigs more than worth of people. Capernaum was where Jesus lived with the apostles and did more miracle there than any other city and yet, they did not accept Him as the Messian or Son of God. Luke 10:15 “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.”

Why were these cities and the ones cursed by the 70 singled out? It’s because of what Jesus says and what we have been saying as we’ve gone through this series. The only point of judgment is Jesus.

He says it plainly, Luke 10:16 “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.”

Our Own Condemnation

We’ve already said that the commission to the 70 is not our commission. So, if someone refuses your invitation to church, or won’t take a tract at the community market, don’t take off your shoe and shake the dust off. That is just being overly dramatic and for some of us dangerous, if we lose our balance and fall on our face.

We don’t carry that same kind of curse because we are not part of the 70 that was sent during the time Jesus was on the earth. But understand that when anyone hears the Gospel, hears that Jesus, the Son of God, come to earth, died for their sin on the cross and they reject or ignore that message, they are rejecting the Lord and Heavenly Father.

And though we are not authorized to curse them, they are nevertheless cursed. Just as Jesus cursed Capernaum, “you shall be thrust down to hell.”

John the apostle said it this way, John 3:18-19 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

There is no gray areas in eternity, there is only light and dark, salvation and condemnation, eternal life or eternal death. Here is the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you must choose eternal life because eternal death is already your natural choice.

Look at vss. 17-25  

Celebration

17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Notice there are three reasons for celebrations given here.

1. The 70, return with joy (what a great phrase) because they had power over the kingdom of Darkness in Jesus name, His authority.

2. Jesus rejoiced in spirit because His Father had revealed this great power and understanding to babes. This was God’s will, it was what He judged as good and right.

3. His disciples in vs. 23. This seems to be referring to the apostles. They can rejoice because they have personally seen the fulfillment of all the prophecies and promises of the prophets and Kings. Things they glimpsed with the eyes of faith but did not see with the physical eyes. Luke 10:23 , “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:”

I Just Want to Celebrate!

When you walk in the way of the Lord, when you carry out the Commission of Christ and you see all that He does in the lives of family, friends, strangers and even enemies, it is a cause for celebration. We should rejoice in all our Lord and Savior, Jesus can do through us.

We see it and like the Psalmist all we can says is Psalms 118:23-24 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Don’t you want more of that kind of celebration, more of that marvelous joy? Then, like the 70 it will comes to us and to the Lord when we carry out the commission, when we walk in the way of the Gospel.

Nest in the 10 chapter Luke places the story of the Good Samaritan. Just like the sending of the 70 this is only found in Luke’s account. If you think about both you will see why The Holy Spirit would guide Luke, a Gentile Luke to include these. And why as Gentiles these stories are so precious to us.

Samaritan Saves

Showing God’s Love

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 -- He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Twenty-one of Luke’s twenty-seven parables are found in Luke’s ‘travel narrative’ in chapters 9:51–18:14. Sixteen of those parables are unique to Luke, that includes ‘Good Samaritan’ and the ‘Prodigal Son’. - Michael A. Eaton, The Branch Exposition of the Bible: A Preacher’s Commentary of the New Testament, Yes, I counted them all myself. No, I just read a lot of commentaries, and those guys counted them all.

The purpose of the parable of the Good Samaritan is to answer the question posed by this lawyer, not like our lawyers today, but almost as bad. (joke “my watch.) This was a scholar who studied the law of Moses. He and those like him were part of the Pharisee poison which denied Jesus and destroyed the nation of Israel.

The lawyer tests Jesus by asking “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” In other words, what can I do, what work can I work, what law can I obey in order to earn salvation?

We might expect that Jesus would say you can’t earn salvation, salvation is by grace through faith. Which if the lawyer really knew the first five books of the Bible, he would know that Noah found grace, Abraham was chosen by grace and Israel was delivered by grace from Egypt, None of them did anything worthy of salvation, they simple believed in God’s promises and trusted in His grace. Jesus gives an answer that shows this lawyer the danger and impossibility in his trying to earn salvation by works.

Jesus, playing to this man’s ego and pseudo knowledge, asks him a question in turn. What does the law say? What is your opinion. The man gives the Shema from Deut 6:5 and part of the 10 commandments, Luke 10:27 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Jesus says, “Good answer. Now you go and do just exactly that.” But the lawyer trying to “justify himself” (notice the wording) asks, “But who is my neighbor.

To answer that Jesus gives the famous parable, In the story two “good” men a priest and a Levite go out of their way to avoid the dying man. The law said that to touch a dead body was to be unclean and rather than check to see if the man is actually dead they pass by on the other side of the road. (You know what this is like when you are in Walmart and see someone you don’t have time to tale to, you pass by on another aisle.) That is what they did here, they just don’t want to take the time so they go to the other side of the road where they can’t see the man or be seen.

Jesus then introduces a Samaritan into the story. To the Lawyer this is a man who is unclean simply by his birth as a Samaritan. He is considered as a filthy dog to the Jews of Jesus day. Yet this filthy dog goes to help the injured man, who we would assume is a Jew. He treats his wounds, he takes him up, he carries him to a place of healing and refuge and he tells the innkeeper as he leaves what ever he needs when I come again I will repay you.

Now I don’t have to tell you that the Good Samaritan is a picture of Jesus. He finds us dying, He treats our soul wounded by sin, He carries us to safety and puts all the expense of our salvation upon himself. Not to mention He is coming again. (Maybe I should have preached that message. Sure would have been shorter.)

But the lawyer is not a Christian, he is a Jew believing in Salvation by his own works, not the work of Jesus. He believes in his own worth, not the worth of the Son of God. So Jesus asks the question, Luke 10:36-37 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

We know, as did that lawyer that day, that he could not do what Jesus said. He could not uphold the law to its full extent or even in its most basic elements. He could not love his neighbor as himself. The lawyer, like the priest and the Levite, would look away and walk away. He needed grace and mercy to be saved, just like the man dying in the ditch at the side of the road, but he would not admit it or plead for it.

The Way of The Work

To us this parable speaks of mercy and grace, certainly we can identify with the dying man in the ditch but I think to keep Luke 0 as the way of Christianity, we should identify with the Samaritan. He does something that shows compassion, love and mercy. That is the way of the work of the Lord.

It is not enough to simply speak the Gospel we must also show the Gospel with our work. James the brother of Jesus said, James 2:18 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

The same is true of the Gospel. It should be seen in our work, our deeds, our actions. People should be able to see Jesus in you, without you having to tell them He is your Lord and savior. Do that as well, but long before they hear it that should have seen it.

The final part of Luke 10 is our introduction to the two most famous sister in the Bible, Mary and Martha, the dear friends of Jesus.

Sisters Serve and Sit - Luke 10:38-42

Serving and Worshiping The Savior

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Now this is a familiar story, almost as well know as the Good Samaritan, but Martha and Mary are not characters in a parable but very real, very precious people in the Lord’s life on earth.

Jesus is in their home, a very great honor and also a very great responsibility. Notice it is Martha that receives Jesus into her home. She is the hostess and as the hostess of the home, it is Martha’s duty, tradition and glory to serve the Master. This she is busy doing and it was no light task as any of our folks who prepare for a potluck or even our fellowship meals can tell you. In Martha’s time it was much, much more. To fail in caring, feeding and providing for a guest was a shame that you could not undo. Martha knows this but in our day of fast food and closed homes we forget it and we condemn Martha because she goes to Jesus to ask Him to tell her sister to help her.

It is easy to see ourselves in Mary at Jesus feet isn’t it. We can’t see why Martha is making such a fuss, to us she seems selfish and preoccupied with worldly things. But we often forget that Martha is trying to serve the Lord. She is the opposite of selfish, she has a servants heart. More of us need to have the heart of Martha.

Nor should we look down on Mary, the Lord did not. He tells Martha, Luke 10:41-42 Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Can you hear the tenderness in Jesus voice. He calls her name twice, this is no reprimand, it is simply a reminder of what is most important when Jesus is near.

Martha’s nature was to show her love by serving. Mary’s nature was to show her love by sitting at Jesus feet. Neither are wrong. A lot of preachers one day will have to apologize to Martha and to Peter, the easy targets of shallow sermons. I wish I could have the heart of Martha or the boldness of Peters. They are in the Gospel accounts because they stand out in their devotion, love and service to Jesus.

Jesus didn’t condemn Martha, he simply told her, “When trying to do many things, even when they are for the Lord, choose the essential, choose the good that will never be taken away from you.”

Listen you can’t sit around all day at the feet of Jesus, nor should you be so caught up in your work for the Lord that you don’t take time to be with the Lord. But both are important. Serve Him and Sit with Him. Just make sure you know which one is the most important right now.

I know people who do all kinds of things for the Lord but if he knocked on their door they wouldn’t know Him. People who do things like go to church, give their tithe, attend work days and if anything needs to be done they are there, but things like prayer, real Bible study or living a sacrificial life devoted to Jesus are completely alien to them.

We need both, Serve the Lord but don’t neglect to Sit with the Lord. The Bible is filled with verses telling us to do both. Just know as Jesus told Martha that day, one thing is needful. Your relationship with Jesus must come first or all the things you do for Him will only be empty works and traditions that won’t bring the joy of being with Him.

We see a strong reflection of this in Psalms 100, don’t we.

 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3

Serve Him with gladness and come before His presence with singing. It takes both in the Christian Way of Life.

Conclusion:

Luke the Gentile outsider wrote more words in the new Testament than any other, even Paul.

To him hearing the good news that by grace and faith, he would no longer be an outsider, but instead a person of The Way, a follower of the Christ, a Christian, that had to be such a joy.  And here in his letter to Theophilus, the share the story of the Gospel and what it means to be a Christian. He tells us today, what it means to walk in the Way of the Lord as a child of God.

Now, we are sent to share the Gospel like the Seventy. We are to Show the Gospel like the Samaritan. And like Martha and Mary we are to see the two sides of a relationship with Jesus, service and sanctification.

What great chapter to remind ourselves of who we are and what we should be doing as the People of This Way.