Day 298—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 298 – Luke 10 (the 72 sent out, unrepentant cities, good Samaritan, Mary & Martha)

Jesus now sends 72 of his followers, two-by-two, to “every town where He was soon to go.”  He tells them to enter a town and establish one house to stay in. They then are to give the message, “The kingdom of God has come near to you,” to the whole village and confirm it by healing the sick. 

“The harvest is plentiful, but the labors are few. Therefore, PRAY earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest.” 

Jesus also tells them to take no extra provisions but “live by faith.” And any town that does not receive them they are to shake off its dust from their feet and go to the next.  “It will be more bearable on “that day” for Sodom than for that town.”  Indeed, Jesus says that it will be more bearable in the judgment for Sodom and Tyre than for Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum because it was in THESE towns that the Son of Man had ministered and taught in person. 

Sometime later, the 72 return with joy.  “Wow, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!”  Jesus tells them He saw their leader, Satan, fall from heaven.  This was either to encourage them that the devil and his demons have already been defeated OR to warn them against pride in their efforts against them…the very thing that made Satan fall. 

Jesus then rejoices in the Holy Spirit and thanks His Father for revealing the truth to His disciples.  “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!” He tells them. “For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it!”

A scribe/lawyer approaches Jesus with the thought of testing Him: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life.”

“What is written in the law?” Jesus asks, right back at him.

The scribe responds by summarizing the law in Leviticus 19:18:  “Love God supremely, and your neighbor as yourself.”

“Do that and live, says Jesus.

“Yeah, but WHO IS my neighbor?” the man says, seeking to justify himself.

Jesus tells him the story of the “Good Samaritan.”   It’s about a man traveling through a very rough wilderness territory from Jerusalem to Jericho. A gang of robbers attack, strip him, and beat him up, leaving him naked and half dead.  First, a priest chances along, sees the injured man, and passes by on the other side of the road. (It’s too much trouble to help, and he might get “unclean” touching him.)  The same thing happens when a Levite (a temple worker) comes by.

Finally, a Samaritan… (Surely the lawyer objects to hearing this!!) …sees the man and has compassion for him. He binds up his wounds, pouring on his own oil and wine to cleanse them. He sets the fellow on his own donkey and takes him to an inn.  He pays for several night’s and promises to pay more if needed when he returns. 

“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the injured man?”  Jesus askes the lawyer.

“The one who showed him mercy,” he answers grudgingly.

Yep. “You go, and do likewise.”

.

Later, they entered Bethany and the house where Mary and Martha (and their brother Lazarus) lived. Martha welcomed them and set about preparing lodging and a meal.  Mary, meanwhile, sat down at Jesus’ feet and listened to Him teaching. Out in the kitchen, Martha fumed.  ‘Why is she just sitting there?  I need some help!’  Finally, she went to Jesus.

“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her to help me!”

Jesus looked up at the hard-working woman and said with tenderness, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen that, and I won’t take it from her.”

(NOTE: When I read this, I always wonder if Martha then pulled up a stool to sit by Mary, looking to Jesus for the “spiritual food” her sister was feasting upon. )