Simply Jesus The Life and Ministry of God s Son Lesson 16 Introduction God s big blueprint for reaching a lost world includes using all types of people who comprise His body the church. One can t help but wonder why He chose to use sinful, incompetent human beings to accomplish a holy goal when He could ve used angelic beings who are far more dependable and accurate in their methods of communicating such an important plan of salvation. Extraordinary as it is, for whatever reason, God chose to use us. After these things is a reference to the previous encounter Jesus had with three individuals expressing varying degrees of commitment on His way to Jerusalem. The lesson of those encounters conveyed how often commitment to Christ is at best half-hearted and full of excuses. Here in Luke 10, Jesus appoints seventy men, sending them out two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go (v.1). Eighteen months prior, Jesus had sent out the twelve; those names and personalities we are somewhat familiar with. However we know nothing about the seventy other than the fact that they were willing to be used by Him. That fact alone should encourage each and every believer today that even if no one knows who you are, they should know who s you are! God indeed wants to use you in His grand plan of reaching the lost. Did you know The Greek word for disciple means student. Upon receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, every believer enrolls in God s school of obedience. They sit in the classroom and learn for a season as part of their own growth process, but it doesn t end there. God s goal for His children is that they would like the disciples become messengers of the Good News. Jesus referred to the twelve as His disciples until He sent them out (Matthew 10:1). After that they became known as apostles ones divinely commissioned to be sent out as ambassadors to represent Him. Open your Bible and lesson each day by beginning with a word of prayer. 1
Up Close ~ The chart below represents a reader s guide to the contents of this week s lesson. The topical teachings and/or events covered are followed by the primary scriptural text as well as the supportive parallel passages. You will be able to receive and grasp a well-rounded picture of the story narrative in the Gospel harmony by reading every passage. However, using the bolded text as your point of reference (your anchor text) will allow you to determine the facts, lessons, and personal applications necessary to formulate your own conclusions. Teaching / Event Scripture Text Parallel Passages The Seventy are Sent Out Luke 10:1 16 Messengers Return with Joy; Jesus Rejoices in the Spirit Luke 10:17 24 Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25 37 Mary and Martha Worship and Serve Luke 10:38 42 First Impressions: Group Discussion Reflect for a moment on the passages you have just read. Respond by recording your first impressions from your initial reading of the text. Be prepared to share one of your impressions with your discussion group. Heartbeat: Luke 10:41 42 NKJV (Memory verse) (Write it out once in the space below. Practice it each time you open your lesson.)... Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, And Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. 2
Part One: Luke 10:1 24 Real Service Real Joy! The area we know today as Amman, Jordan was on the main trade route bordering the eastern side of the Jordan River. It was heavily populated by Gentile towns and when Jesus was ready to pass through the area, He hand-picked thirty-five pairs of men to go before Him. As we will see, He gave them very similar directions to that of the twelve when they were sent out. His desire was that as they went they would be led by His vision for them: The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2). Just before Jesus had sent out the twelve, Matthew tells us (9:36 38) that He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. The harvest was plentiful then, just as it is now; it s the laborers that are still hard to find. 1. What do we find as one of the reasons we still need to pray for more laborers? How did Jesus send them out? v. 3 2. With faith in the Lord s provision and a sense of urgency for the task, what instructions did Jesus give them in the following verses? a. v. 4 b. v. 5 c. v. 7 3. If these ambassadors were received, what was the blessing bestowed? v. 6 a. What were they told to do in the towns where they were welcomed? vv. 8 9 b. What about where they were not welcomed? vv. 10 11 c. Whether or not they were received by the townspeople, what truth were they told to declare? vv. 9 and 11 3
4. Using verses 12 16, sum up in your own words the fate of those towns unwilling to repent upon hearing the good news. a. Contrast the critical difference between those who would listen and those who would not. v.16 Selah ~ Ultimately, we each must either say yes or no to being used to share the gospel. If you re hesitant or even reluctant to do so, then you re not the first; in fact, you re in very good company. But instead of ignoring your potential, learn from those who have gone before you and let God use you. Take a look below at two individuals who at first said no to being God s mouthpiece. Moses was eighty years of age when God called him; the prophet Jeremiah was a young man of just eighteen years of age. Note what stands out to you from their conversations with God about their call to service. Exodus 4:10 16 Jeremiah 1:4 10 Personal: To which one do you most easily relate? Why? Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 4
5. When the seventy returned, they did so with joy! What point stood out to them? v.17 No doubt Jesus welcomed the stories they all shared with one another. It must have been startling and at the same time exhilarating to know they possessed the divine power to drive evil away. Jesus, however, gently corrected their perspective. a. Rather than rain on their parade, what does Jesus tell them is far more important than the spirits being subject to them? v. 20 It really isn t so much a matter of what we do, rather who we are that s important and that our names are written in heaven. Our greatest joy in this life will come as the direct result of our relationship to Him. Everything else comes to us out of the abundance of our riches in Christ, the supernatural outflow that stems from His abiding presence. The word rejoice in verse 21 is different from the word used to define the joy of the seventy upon their return. Jesus rejoiced as He began to pray in the Spirit. Before Him stood a gathering of very ordinary men with no particular distinction other than the fact that they believed in Jesus and acted on that belief. The result astounded everyone. These seventy men were the personification of the Apostle Paul s words in 1 Corinthians 1:26 27, 29: For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty... that no flesh should glory in His presence. 6. Personal: Have you come to the place in your Christian walk where you realize your greatest joy is in God using you? To realize experientially that God wants to use you in His grand plan for the ages is to know joy unspeakable! Please compose a prayer to God, expressing your greatest joy in serving Him. Part Two: Luke 10:25 37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan During the final year of Jesus ministry, those approaching Him had the opportunity to know the way to heaven. In these next verses, one comes forward who would be considered wise in the world s eyes, but who needed the truth Jesus came to give. 1. Who stepped forward and what did he want? 5
Since most lawyers were scribes, experts in applying the law of God to daily life, this man approached Jesus to test Him. The word tested (v. 25) refers to the intention of discrediting or disproving someone. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, He referred to this same word in speaking of the temptation. 2. The man asked the right question but with the wrong motive. What did he want to know? This lawyer wasn t really interested in the truth but in debating his question with Jesus to discredit Him. Jesus turned the question back onto the man: What is written in the law? What is your reading of it? a. Even though he had the wrong motive, the man had the right answer; what was it? v. 27 Here we see it isn t enough to have the right answer; the question is can he live up to the law s demands? Jesus taught that it was man s failure to meet God s demands that brought the realization of his need for a savior. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit those who know they have failed for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. They are the ones whose hearts are prepared to receive their Savior. Merely wanting to justify his own actions, the lawyer turns the tables again, this time on Jesus, asking, And who is my neighbor? In the seven verses that follow (30 36), Jesus uses the Parable of the Good Samaritan to teach that the human heart can only be changed by faith in God. Notice it is the difference between belief in religious practice and genuine faith in action. It would help to know that the city of Jerusalem was perched three thousand feet above sea level. Jericho was situated twelve hundred feet below sea level. The road between them was fraught with danger from the thieves and robbers lying in wait along the way. 3. Note the responses of each of the three men to the injured man. a. The priest leaving Jerusalem after serving the Lord... b. The Levite who came and bent down to look upon the man... c. The Samaritan who came to where the man was... Selah ~ Jesus point to the lawyer was that religion couldn t make him a neighbor, but God could by changing his heart to want to help his fellow man in need. God always comes to us and meets us in our need right where we are. He bends down, sees us just as we are and lifts us up to life. To whom would God have you reach out as a neighbor today? 6
Part Three: Luke 10:38 42 Worship and Service In the five verses that bring Luke 10 to a close, we are introduced to two sisters, Mary and Martha, who along with their brother Lazarus provided the protection of a home environment to Jesus whenever He was in Bethany during His final year of ministry. 1. Looking closely, note what you learn about each one... a. Martha s priority and the effect on her perspective in the moment? b. Mary s priority and the difference it would naturally make in her demeanor? Clearly, the lesson to be learned in these few verses is that if there is a choice to be made between intimate fellowship and serving, Jesus would put first the time we spend with Him as the most important. Why? It bears heavily not only on our perspective but also on our motive for service. He wants us to serve Him, but to do it with a right heart. 2. What does Jesus have to say about Mary s choice? Explain why He would not take that one thing away from her? Mary obviously loved Jesus because she chose to spend the best of her time sitting at His feet; but Martha also loved Jesus, using her gifts to serve Him. Was Martha wrong? No, but her priority was the work, not the fellowship with Jesus. The right order is in for worship and out for work! 3. Are you a Mary or a Martha? Please explain. 4. Take a few minutes to meditate on Psalm 27:4 14. What in these verses can you take away that will help motivate you to make Jesus your first priority? 7
Behold & Be Transformed What did you see as you beheld God s Son? How does beholding (looking upon) Him, motivate you to change your thoughts, habit, attitude, speech or actions? Pause... What is the most significant lesson you have learned this week? Ponder... How will you put it into practice? Pray... Write out your prayer and be specific. 2013 Janis J. Vance, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. 8
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