[:en]Jesus Sends Out the Seventy Two (vs. 1-12)
Jesus appointed seventy two, divided into two in each team, and equipped them with His power to reach out to all the people with the following instructions:
- Ask the Lord of harvest and mobilized worker into the harvest field
- Go out like lambs among wolves
- Do not take a purse or bag or sandals
- Do not greet anyone in the road
- Stay in one house, eating and drinking whatever they give you. Do not move from house to house
- Heal the sick who are there
Application:
- The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. Look for ways to help with the harvest.
- Be alert and remember to face your enemies with love and gentleness instead of aggression. Service commitment is required to accomplish this mission.
- Do not worry about your needs. God will take care of you.
- Accept hospitality graciously without being picky. Do not sift from house to house to avoid offending the family who took you in first.
- Healing is one way of showing God’s power and attract people to listen to the Good news.
Jesus mentioned the following cities to be judged: Sodom, Korazin, Tyre, Sidon and Capernaum (vs. 12-15)
The seventy-two returned with joy as they had seen tremendous result. But Jesus reminded them that the most important victory was that their names are written in heaven. (vs. 17-20)
*As we see God’s wonders at work in and through us, let us not only rejoice for the accomplishment but value the greatest wonder of all – all heavenly citizenship.
*In life, most of rewards go to the intelligent, the rich and the powerful, but the Kingdom of God is available to all irregardless of position or abilities because all have equal access to Him. By trusting in God’s grace, you are qualified to have the citizenship in God’s Kingdom. Don’t you want to acquire citizenship in heaven? (vs. 21-23)
The Parable of the Good Samaritan (vs. 25-37)
An expert of law asked Jesus: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself”. The expert in the law asked Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?”. Jesus used a parable to demonstrate what neighbor is. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest and a Levite passed by and when they saw him, they walked through the other side. But a Samaritan saw him, took pity and went to badge his wound pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn and took care of him. He paid the innkeeper and told him to look after for he shall return and reimburse the extra expense. Then Jesus ask the legal expert. “Which of these three was a neighbor to the man who fell into the robber? And the expert replied: “The one who had mercy on him”. Jesus told him saying: “Go and do likewise”
What are the principles of “loving a neighbor”?
- Our neighbor is anyone of any race, age, gender, social standing, religious background who is in need
- Love means caring and putting into action to meet the person’s needs
- Love demands sacrifice of your time, money or personal convenience to help someone.
*Do you love your neighbor?
At the home of Martha and Mary (vs. 38-42)
Martha opened her house to Jesus and was busy making preparation to serve Him. Mary, her sister was sitting at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. So Martha came to Jesus and asked that Mary should help her. But Jesus answered: “You are worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her”.
*Martha did not realize that in her desire to serve the Lord, she had neglected her guest. How about you? Are you so busy with the church activities that you are no longer spending time with the Lord? Have your read your Bible and pray everyday?[:]