Things are moving, things are shaking! We're bringing in more people, sending good people out. Over 1 billion served!
The disciples perk
up as Jesus starts to make plans and arrangements for what seems to be a march
on Jerusalem. He organizes 36 teams of two and gives them travel orders and
instructions on how to prepare the way for His journey to the capital.
These are not,
however, scouts for the revolution or advance troops for an invasion. Like John
the Baptist, they are preparing the way of the Lord through the spiritual
wilderness that is the nation of Israel. They are calling the people's
attention to the first steps of the Via Dolorosa miles from Jerusalem. The way
of sorrow starts here and now – when Jesus knows fully where He is going and
why and yet still continues – not after Pilate crowns Him with thorns and
blood.
James and John have
already visited a Samaritan village as part of this effort. When the villagers
reject Jesus' coming because of where He's going, James and John show their
racism by asking Jesus if they should "tell fire to come down from heaven and
consume them."
The reason for the
refusal is pretty well known, so Luke does not mention it. The villagers are
not prescient, nor do they believe Jesus has a death wish. They're refusing
Jesus because He is going to Jerusalem for Passover, and the Samaritans are
still sore about not being allowed to help rebuild the temple in the days of
Ezra and Nehemiah. It's a 500-year-old grudge that's not going away any time
soon – an old, old argument that just won't die.
Jesus rebukes them
and rightly so. "We don't have time for that," he says, "there's
a plentiful harvest waiting in the fields. We're looking to hire more laborers
– not fire them (and certainly not literally)."
"You don't have
time to waste on arguing about ancient history or indulging in tit-for-tat
rejection and recrimination," Jesus continues. "Get over it! Move on to the next
village, reach out for the lost! If they, too, reject you then testify against
them by wiping the dust off your feet and telling them 'This was your chance,
and this was your choice. But know this: the Kingdom of God came near to you.'
Move on!"
"And another
thing," Jesus adds. "What's up with the racial bias? Do you truly
think the Jews have a monopoly on righteousness and that the Gentiles have one
on sin? No, I tell you. Remember Sodom? Nasty place, nasty doings, eh? Are you
offended? Well guess what? At the judgment, the men of Sodom – destroyed by
fire for their pride and all the sin that resulted – will rise up and testify
that they did not have that same chance or choice to repent. In that day, it
will be more tolerable for Gentile Sodom than for Jewish Capernaum, Chorazin or
Bethsaida – cities that knew Me, heard Me and rebuffed Me. Think on
that."
"Don't take
these things personally," urges Jesus, "but don't take them lightly
either. Remember: whoever receives a child in My name receives Me and My
Father. Whoever hears you, hears Me. And whoever despises and rejects you
because of what he hears, despises and rejects Me and My Father. Don't be angry
that they have rejected you – be sorrowful that they have rejected God."
It's at this point
– a most opportune time – that the remainder of the 72 disciples return with
joy, reporting on how it feels to wield power through His name.
They're all high on
success and it's another bittersweet moment for Jesus because He is already
looking back on it with nostalgia and comparing it to other distant moments.
"You are so
blessed, so favored," He tells them. "There have been prophets – Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah and Isaiah – and righteous kings – David, Uzziah and
Josiah – who were told of these things. They longed to see what you are
seeing, hear what you are hearing. I rejoice with you."
Relish this moment,
says Jesus, remember it well. Because you will not see its like again.
