Skip to main content

164. He Set His Face Like a Flint


Isaiah 50:4-9, Luke 9:51-56
Key Verse: "Because the sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I set my face like a flint, and I know I will not be put to shame."
Isaiah 50:7

These are brave words for someone who knows that His mission is to suffer and die for the sins of the world. The last leg of Jesus’ Journey has begun. He knows what awaits Him at His destination, but out of love for you and me, nothing can distract Him from His purpose. He is a man, no, a God, on a mission to redeem humanity. He will not be deterred.

Then, there is James and John, Sons of Thunder, who still want to take the world by storm. We respond so quickly to insults. They just couldn't believe that the people in the village, to which they had been sent for accommodations, wouldn't welcome Jesus, even if they were Samaritans! It was a, "Do you know who I am?" moment if ever there was one for these two disciples, but settling the score between Samaritans and Jews was not why Jesus had come.

Jesus wasn't interested in getting embroiled in any more conflict right now. There would be enough of that to come. So, I suppose we are left to wonder, why, if Jesus knows all things, did He send a couple of His disciples ahead, to a village where He would not be welcome?

I have two thoughts here. First of all, it could be said that Jesus was willing to stay at their village. Jesus would not be able to be accused of participating in the prejudice that Jews held against Samaritans. Most Jews would have just gone around the village with their noses in the air, thinking too much of themselves to ask for accommodations. Jesus doesn't make the distinctions that Man makes. His grace is for all.

Secondly, it was an opportunity for, at least James and John, and probably the other disciples, to learn the art of turning the other cheek. Proverbs 19:11 says: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." They would have to overlook much bigger offenses in the years to come. They'd better start now, while the Master is with them or they would risk walking into more trouble than they could handle, detracting from God's glory.

We could practice this art as well. It is part of the gift of love that God calls us to display. We don't always have to get our way just because we can. As Christ did not deserve to die, but chose to do so for you and me, so, we too can die a little to ourselves in love for another. We can be hospitable to those who would not welcome us, and we can be forgiving when we are not welcomed by them.

Hymn: "Christ Be My Leader" 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...
Post a Comment
Read more