03.20. Outreach southwards

Outreach southwards

After further work in Galilee, Jesus headed south. He knew that his mission would finish in Jerusalem, but first he had much work to do in Samaria and in regions east of Jordan and elsewhere. Among the twelve, some were not yet ready for this. For example, they resented the Samaritans’ animosity to Jews and would rather see them killed than converted. Jesus’ rebuke shows that such bigotry should never be found among his followers.¹ This was not the only attitude that needed to change if people were to be true followers of Jesus. Jesus gave lessons to three would-be disciples to show that following him means putting up with hardship, placing his interests before all others, and sticking with him to the end, even if the journey becomes difficult.² With each passing day, the time available to Jesus to complete his ministry diminished. There was still much to do, because he wanted to spread the message of his kingdom as widely as possible across the region. Therefore, just as he had sent the twelve into the northern areas, so now he sent a much larger number, seventy, into the southern areas.³ His instructions to the seventy were similar to those he gave the twelve.

Some time later, probably several months, the seventy returned. They were excited at the success they saw in exercising the powers Jesus entrusted to them. Jesus saw this as the triumph of his kingdom over Satan’s – ‘I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven’⁴ – and therefore as an assurance of ultimate victory.

Amid the excitement, however, Jesus issued a caution. Those who serve him must remember that their greatest cause for praise is not what they have done for God, but what he has done for them.⁵ They know their weaknesses, and are humbly grateful that a gracious God has given them his salvation.

1. Luke 9:51-56

2. Luke 9:57-62

3. Luke 10:1-16 4. Luke 10:17-19

5. Luke 17:20

Roman ruins, Samaria