Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem Luke 9: 51-62. In our Gospel reading Jesus knows that his ministry will soon be fulfilled, so there was a sense of urgency to get the kingdom message out. In this incident at the Samaritan village Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. “For the Lord our God helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore my face is like a flint, and I know I shall not be put to shame.” Isaiah 50: 7.
Jesus was not deflected from his task by the Samaritan’s rejection of him.
Jesus had sent messengers before him to make it known to the people in the Samaritan village that he was coming. The men on entering the village would look for hospitality where he was going to eat or maybe sleep and where he would preach and minister. When the disciples made contact with the people at the Samaritan village, the residents did not want Jesus to come to them. It no doubt was because the religion of the Jews differed from the Samaritans.
Jesus was not deflected from his task by the Samaritan’s rejection of him.
Jesus had sent messengers before him to make it known to the people in the Samaritan village that he was coming. The men on entering the village would look for hospitality where he was going to eat or maybe sleep and where he would preach and minister. When the disciples made contact with the people at the Samaritan village, the residents did not want Jesus to come to them. It no doubt was because the religion of the Jews differed from the Samaritans.
Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible. The Samaritans. “These were the descendants of the pagans that settled in the land at the time of the captivities along with the few Jews who remained in the land. (2 Kings 17: 24-34.)They formed their own religion, a mixture of Judaism and paganism. They adopted the Pentateuch as the sole sacred book and erected a temple on Mt Gerizim near Shechem. 331 BC. The returning exiles rejected their help in rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. (Ezra 4. Nehemiah 1. 4. 6.) The breach between the returning Jews became permanent and so acute that the Jews would not pass through Samaria to go into Galilee, but had a circuitous(round about) route east of Jordan.”(John 4: 9. 8: 48)
The disciples James and John wanted Jesus to send fire down from heaven against these Samaritan villagers, who in fact were their neighbours. But we read that Jesus was not pleased, he rebuked them for their suggestion and they went to another village.
The Samaritans were their neighbours and we know that Jesus taught that the law was fufilled in loving God and our neighbours as ourselves.
Paul in his letter to the Galatians wrote that they should not use their freedom in Christ to return to sinful ways: like retaliation against our neighbours. Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Today retaliation figures high amongst people who bear grudges, it is as a result of unforgiveness and in many cases it continues down the generations.
Always Follow Jesus.
Below a children’s quiz with 8 pictures based on the Gospel reading with a boy and girl on skate boards going around the board.1. Fox. 2. Birds. 3. Roundabout (keep going and don’t look back). 4. Joseph and Mary. 5. Wreath. 6. House. 7. Mum waving goodbye. 8. Plow.The right answers to questions about the story to move around the board. For example: What were the people called who lived in the village? Where do foxes live? Bird build themselves —– to lay their eggs in. etc.
The Samaritans were their neighbours and we know that Jesus taught that the law was fufilled in loving God and our neighbours as ourselves.
Paul in his letter to the Galatians wrote that they should not use their freedom in Christ to return to sinful ways: like retaliation against our neighbours. Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Today retaliation figures high amongst people who bear grudges, it is as a result of unforgiveness and in many cases it continues down the generations.
Always Follow Jesus.
Below a children’s quiz with 8 pictures based on the Gospel reading with a boy and girl on skate boards going around the board.1. Fox. 2. Birds. 3. Roundabout (keep going and don’t look back). 4. Joseph and Mary. 5. Wreath. 6. House. 7. Mum waving goodbye. 8. Plow.The right answers to questions about the story to move around the board. For example: What were the people called who lived in the village? Where do foxes live? Bird build themselves —– to lay their eggs in. etc.
“As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you, wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, the birds have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said,”Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9: 57 – 62.
The three people who are mentioned in the reading two of them were identified by Matthew in his account of this incident. Matthew 8: 18-22.
Matthews writes, “Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side of the lake. “And there a scribe came up to him. . .”
The first man was the scribe, he said “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied that foxes find shelter and rest in holes in the ground and the birds have nests. The scribe was making his commitment to Jesus, unlike many of his fellow scribes who had turned away from Jesus.
In Jesus’ reply he indicated his sorrow for the people of the Samaritan village he had been refused somewhere to lay his head, a bed for the night. Jesus’ ministry was to bring healing between Jew and Samaritan. The parable of the ‘Good Samaritan’ is where the Jewish man who was injured and robbed was helped by the Samaritan and taken to the Inn to be cared for. Also the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus spoke to her and in their conversation Jesus made it known to her that he was the Messiah. She then went and evangelized the people at Sychar her home town and many came to faith.
The second person – Matthew identifies as a disciple. Jesus spoke to him saying; ‘Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
He genuinely had a problem with his father’s death, under law the eldest son had the duty to see to the funeral arrangements. This man’s family would not be too pleased if he did not comply with the law. ‘The dead bury the dead’ – his family would put duty over following Jesus.
But here Jesus who is God revealed in the flesh, he instituted the law. He was giving this man leave to be set free from the law with its customs and rules.
Jesus was giving this disciple the freedom to go and proclaim the Kingdom of God message. In the following verse in Chapter 10 Jesus chose seventy disciples to go ahead of him. Maybe two of these three disciples had been chosen by Jesus to go before him with the message.
“Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, “The Kingdom of God has come near to you” Luke 10: 1, 9.
The third person said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Had this man last minute nerves making an excuse to delay going out with the seventy or maybe in his love for his family, he wanted to go and say goodbye before setting out with the other disciples.
First and foremost we are called to love the Lord our God.
A father asked his child, how much do you love me? I I so much. He repeated: how much do you love me? I I and again, how much do you love me? I arms stretched wide I. I love you that much Jesus loves us that much embracing all our sin on his cross, setting us free from our sins.
Matthew’s testimony Matthew shared with me his testimony – When a visiting Methodist preacher Otto from South Africa stayed for a short time with the Methodist Circuit in Rossendale. On this particular Sunday he was preaching at Longholme Methodist Church, during his sermon he went around the congregation asking people face to face, “Do you love me?” When he came to Matthew and looked at him squarely in the face and said, ‘Do you love me,” Matthew’s head knowledge about Jesus became heart knowledge at that moment. He knew how much Jesus loved him so much to die for him, bearing his sin on his cross.
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Paul and Barnabas had been joined by another disciple John Mark at Salamis Cyprus. However, he left them shortly afterwards and returned to Jerusalem. Acts 13: 5, 13. When Barnabas and Paul decided to make a return visit to all the churches where they had been. Barnabas wanted John Mark to accompany them, but Paul thought it best not to take him with them, as he had withdrawn from them at Phamphylia and had not gone with them to do the work. Acts 15: 36-41.
Paul and Barnabas their faces were like flint towards their task, but John Mark looked back he was not up to the task he perhaps looked to himself and his own capabilities rather than keeping focused on Jesus.
The plowman has to focus on his plow going in a straight line and keeping as close as possible to the furrow. Keeping our eyes focused on Jesus and for him to be the center of our life.
Jesus at the center of all we do.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look into his wonderful face and the things of the earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.” Hymn Mission Praise
Eddie Askew in his book, “Talking with Hedgehogs’ It is a collection from his Radio Programme ‘Thoughts for the Day.’
Eddie’s radio spot first thing every morning was designed to start the day focusing on the ‘Word’ Jesus. Often the Lord gave him something that he had observed in his daily life and related it to scripture, so that the word would speak to his radio listeners at various times during the day, making Jesus’ comforting presence apparent within us.