Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“And after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two before him into every town and place where he was about to go.” (Luke 10:1)

In chapter nine, Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. So they were not having to ‘pray’ every time they ministered, but they could COMMAND healing of every type. Their mission was to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick – the healings would be visible proof that the preaching was trustworthy. They departed and went throughout the towns of the region, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. The news of Jesus was also spreading. Herod heard about it – the Herod who had beheaded John the Baptizer – and got REALLY confused. Herod hadn’t heard of Jesus before. He only knew about John’s ministry. So when he heard of an ‘old prophet risen again’ (verse 8), he thought they were talking of John BUT he had killed John. From that time he was trying to get a view of Jesus.

When the Twelve returned, they told Jesus everything that they had done. Jesus separated them from the crowd, taking them to a deserted place near Bethsaida. But the crowds figured it out and followed Him. He saw them coming, had compassion for them, and welcomed them. He spoke to them about the kingdom of God and healed everyone who needed healing – and asked Him for it. When the day was closing, they had eaten for hours. There were in a deserted place. Jesus told the dsiciples to feed the crowd. The disciples found food, but said it wasn’t enough. Jesus took the food, was grateful for it, blessed it, broke them up and handed it to the disciples to hand out. They fed the whole crowd with a lot left over – five thousand men, not counting woman or children.

Later, when they were alone, Jesus came and asked them who people said He was. There were several answers, but Peter said He was the Anointed One of God. Jesus commanded them to tell no one, but also started teaching them that the Son of Man (His favourite term for Himself) would suffer a lot and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes. They would kill Him, but He would be raised on the third day. He warned them that following Him wasn’t easy. That the darkness hates the light and always tries to block it. That it would get hard. But that those who were not ashamed of Him would be rewarded because HE would not be ashamed of THEM in the final judgment.

About eight days later, Jesus went up a mountain with Peter, John, and James. Jesus’ inner spiritual light shone out of Him and He was transformed before their eyes. While He was standing there in His glory, two men appeared (Moses and Elijah – who the disciples recognized for who they were). They talked with Jesus for a bit. Peter offered to build sanctuaries (temples) to the three of them. While Peter was speaking, the Father spoke from the glory cloud claiming Jesus as His Beloved Son and instructing them to listen to Him. Once the Father’s voice stopped, there was nothing there but Jesus. Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had witnessed. When they came down the mountain the next day, a man in the crowd below cried out for Jesus’ help. His son was possessed by an unclean spirit and it frequently tried to kill his son. He had begged the disciples for help, but they had been unable to do anything. Jesus rebuked the spirit and healed the child. Everyone was amazed at this mighty power of God – no one in the Old Testament had ANY power to command demons or unclean spirits so this was brand new to everyone. While everyone was busy being amazed, Jesus warned His disciples He was about to be betrayed. They were afraid to ask Him about it, but they did NOT understand Him at all.

Later, a dispute arose between them about who was the greatest. Jesus told them that a child should be their example. Whoever is least would be great. It was a message of service to others. Then John brought up someone who didn’t count himself as a disciple, but was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. They tried to put a stop to it. Jesus told them not to. When the time came for His final ministry, He set His face to go to Jerusalem. They travelled through a village of Samaria and sought some rest, but the Samaritans refused because Jesus was set to go to Jerusalem (John 4:19-20). James and John were ready to call fire down on the town like Elijah (2 Kings 1:9-18), but Jesus told them not to. It was not appropriate in the new Covenant. They went to another village.

There were people who desired to follow Jesus, but there were always excuses why it couldn’t be right then or they had a wrong picture of what discipleship was (fame vs service). Jesus gave them opportunities to change their thinking and truly follow Him, but they didn’t respond to it.

At the beginning of chapter ten, Jesus anointed seventy others (not the Twelve) to go two by two into the cities and places Jesus was coming. He gave them the same authority that He had given the Twelve (making eighty-two known Apostles at this point). He told them what their conduct should be and how they should act – both when they were accepted and when they were rejected. Jesus was talking about the region and kind of broke down, mourning the unrepentant cities who were choosing to harden their hearts and reject the gospel. When the seventy returned, it was with joy and wonder. They had been able to do the things that Jesus had told them they could do. He was trustworthy when He told them He was sharing His authority. [Nothing has changed since then.] Jesus was so excited by all that was going on that He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, praising His Father for what was happening. He told the disciples how blessed people were when they truly see what God has laid out for them to engage.

A lawyer stood up in the crowd to test Jesus. He asked what he needed to do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus asked him what the Law of Moses said. The lawyer summed up the entire Law with this: “And he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”” (Luke 10:27). Jesus said that was correct. The lawyer, wanting to justify his works, asked who his neighbour was. Jesus told a parable about a Jew who got hurt. A priest came by, but ignored him. A Levite came by, but ignored him. Finally, a Samaritan came by – one of those who Jews scorned. He helped the main, got him to shelter, and paid for all his expenses during his recovery. The lesson? Those who show mercy without caring about anything but the mercy, these are the neighbours of the world.

As they went from place to place, they stopped in a village and stayed in Lazarus’ house. There were two sisters there running the home. Martha and Mary. Martha got distracted from what Jesus was teaching, but Mary was at His feet listening avidly. Martha complained about the lack of help, but Jesus told her that Mary was focused on the important things in life. The good things that would NOT be taken from her (Matthew 6:19-21).

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Simon, James, John, Pharisees, a Lawyer, Jews

Key Verse(s): Luke 9:1-6; 10:17-24