Generous Ministry Luke 9:49-10:2 Generosity is more than financial. Currency is a means of establishing value. Generosity is a medium of important currency in God s kingdom because it places value on people. POINT: To see Jesus in generous ministry and to join with him in that ministry INTRO: Up to this point in Luke s gospel, he has emphasized Jesus coming: a) His birth b) The incident in the temple when Jesus was 12 c) His baptism d) His temptation e) First 2 ½ years of ministry f) The transfiguration (the pinnacle and tipping point in Luke s gospel) Luke 9:51 sets the context: When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. At this point in Luke s gospel, Luke begins to focus on Jesus going going to Jerusalem to die. Jesus Galilean ministry is finished and Jesus is headed to Judea. Immediately after his transfiguration Jesus said this to his disciples: Luke 9:44 - Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. Jerusalem is only two days walk from where Jesus spoke those words but he did not go directly there. Instead, he ministered in Judea and returned a few times to Galilee. Jesus focus also changes at this point in Luke. He is no longer interested in ministering to the crowds but in preparing the disciples for a lifetime of ministry without him. approaching = sumpleroo = to be fulfilled or completed. Jesus death is the culmination, the purpose for which he came to earth. Everything else Jesus did is pointless without his death on the cross. taken up = analempsis = ascension. OH/NT. The related verb, analambano = Acts 1:2, 11, 22 & 1 Timothy 3:16 = ascension. Luke s use of the term encompasses everything from the cross to his ascension in glory (Acts 1:9-11). determined = sterizo = something fixed, unmovable or firmly established. This expounds Jesus unshakeable commitment to the cross. 1
First: Jesus Global Ministry 51-56 Matthew s emphasis was on Jesus ministry to Jews. Luke, a Gentile, focuses on Jesus ministry to Jews and Gentiles. Matthew began his genealogy of Jesus with Abraham, the father of the Jewish people. Luke began his genealogy of Jesus all the way back to Adam, the father of the entire human race. Luke reminds us that Jesus ministry was not only for all ethnic groups, Jews, Gentiles and Samaritans but also for all classes of people in those groups: children, women, lepers, demon possessed people, tax collectors. Before he went to the cross, Jesus demonstrated ministry generosity across every ethnic and social line. 52 - On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus chose to travel through Samaria. Normally, Jews travelling from Galilee to Judea would cross to the east side of the Jordan River and travel south through Perea, and then re-cross the Jordan at Jericho and go into Judea. (See map at the end of the material) After the northern kingdom (Israel) was defeated by the Assyrians, the ten northern tribes were exiled to Assyria and the Assyrian king brought people from other countries to live in Samaria 2 Kings 17:22-24 - The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. (See picture of Jeroboam s altar at the end of the material). They did not depart from them, 23 until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had spoken by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day. 24 And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. Those Gentile foreigners intermarried with the Jews who had not been deported and formed a mixed-race known as Samaritans. The new arrivals borught their idolatrous false religion with them (2 Kings 17:29-31) which became missed with the worship of the true God (vv. 25-28, 32-33, 41). Eventually the Samaritans abandoned their idols and worshipped Yahwe alone, after their own convoluted fashion (for example, they accepted only the Pentateuch as canonical Scripture, and worshipped God on Mt. Gerizim, not at Jerusalem). This is the background of our Lord s encounter with the Samaritan woman, recorded in John 4:7-42 (JM). When the Jews returned to Israel out of Assyrian captivity under Exra and Nehemiah, the Jews first priority was rebuilding the temple. The Samaritans offered to hep but their offer was rejected (Ezra 4:1-4). This made enemies of the Samaritans who were then barred from worshipping at the temple in Jerusalem. The Samaritans built their own temple on Mt. Gerizim (c 400 B.C.). Between the Testaments, the Maccabean ruler, John Hyrcanus, destroyed that temple, worsening relations with the Samaritans. 2
53 - The worse insult the Jewish leaders felt they could make against Jesus was to call him a Samaritan (John 8:48). The Samaritans, as demonstrated in this passage, reciprocated the hatred and, not even knowing Jesus, rejected him simply because he was Jewish and traveling to Jerusalem. 54 Jesus nicknamed James and John Boanerges which means Sons of thunder (Mark 3:17) because of the volatile nature the two brothers exhibited in this village. Years earlier in this same region, Elijah had called down fire on a company of fifty men who came to arrest him. He actually did it twice. The leader of the third company begged Elijah not to kill him and his men who were only fulfilling the king s demands (2 Kings 1:9-16). 55 The occasion gave Jesus the opportunity to demonstrate gospel generosity. Note: Some newer manuscripts add And he said, You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man came not to destroy people's lives but to save them as the reason Jesus rebuked the disciples Unlike his disciples, Jesus granted mercy to the ignorant Samaritans The Inquisition, the Crusades, the persecution of the Anabaptists in Zurich and the execution of nonconformists by the Catholic Church and the Salem witch trials have all been a blight on the name of Jesus. 56 But Jesus also didn t leave Samaria. He simply went to another village and stayed and preached there. Generosity, ministry generosity (in this case) is the heart of the gospel and is extended to all sinners regardless of who they might be or the sin in which they might be involved. Second: Barriers to Discipleship 57-62 When Jesus called people to follow him he used the word akoloutheo, to follow or to accompany. He always employed the verb in the present imperative. a) Present moment-by-moment b) Imperative a command Jesus did not play on people s emotions and he did not ask people to make an impulsive decision. The goal of contemporary evangelistic methodology is to induce people to seize the moment, pray a prayer, and make a decision to accept Christ. But Jesus never tried to move people emotionally into a moment of crisis in which they would accept him. There is no record in the New Testament of Jesus or the apostles counseling someone to make such a momentary choice, 3
or pray a prayer in order to be saved.to Jesus, and the apostles as well, following Christ salvifically was not an event, but a way of life (JM) When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said Repent, He called for the entire life of believers to be one of penitence - Martin Luther In other words, when someone wanted to follow Jesus, he made it difficult for them to do so. He deliberately set up barriers between them and salvation. For instance 57-58 Matthew identifies this man as a scribe (Matt 8:19). Given the hostility the scribes had toward Jesus throughout his ministry, this is an amazing confession and courageous public step. No doubt, the scribe had just witnessed Jesus miracles (Matt 8:5-18), this scribe was no doubt, anxious to be associated with Jesus. Traveling rabbis attracted disciples who followed them and learned from them. Matthew 8:19 - And a scribe came up and said to him, Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go. a) Teacher = Submission as a pupil b) I will follow you wherever you go = Commitment to long-term loyalty (but remember that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem to die) Seemingly a prize convert, this respected scholar would appear to be a welcome defector from a group that was openly hostile to Christ.But as he does with all men (John 2:23-25), Jesus saw beneath the outer veneer of enthusiasm to his heart and refused to embrace his eager offer (JM). V 20 The Lord raised this issue because he knew the heart-barrier to this man s commitment. The scribe may have viewed his relationship with Jesus as a gain without consideration of loss. 59-60 Jesus immediately turned to a man who overheard the previous conversation and encouraged him to follow him. He man was willing on the condition he first bury his father. At first glance, this seems to be a reasonable request. The problem is that there is no indication his father was dead. Since the Jews did not embalm deceased bodies, it was imperative to immediately bury people. Lazarus (John 11:1,6, 17) was buried the same day he died. This man wanted to delay following Jesus until after he had received his inheritance. He was unwilling to leave everything to follow Jesus. Jesus response with a proverb. The spiritually dead have other priorities than spirituality. Secular people get preoccupied with secular matters. But Christians are to proclaim the kingdom of God. 4
61-62 Another person also volunteered to follow Jesus there was also a but in his surrender. Jesus perspective is If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26). Jesus considered the man s request looking back (v 62) and not looking forward. If he returned home, he would never leave either because of an emotional commitment or fear of rejection by his family. Only a little earlier Jesus had warned If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it (Luke 9:23-24). The text does not say what happened to these men but the implication is that they perished in their sin. a) 57-58 Comfort b) 59-60 Wealth/Material goods c) 61-62 - Relationships Third: Essential Elements of Discipleship 10:1-2 Most of Christ s followers were motivated by self-interest and eventually abandoned Him.There were, on the other hand, His true disciples who refused to leave. This passage introduces seventy of them, the first kingdom missionaries willing to deny themselves, take up their crosses daily and follow him (JM). On several occasions, Jesus acted as the greater and ultimate Prophet and Deliverer foreshadowed by Moses. This appointment and sending is the same. Numbers 11:16-17 - Then the LORD said to Moses, Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 24-25 - So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. The phrase after this places these men in contrast to the three men who had refused Jesus invitation on Jesus terms. a) Appointed = anadeiknumi = OH & Acts 1:24; appointing Matthias in Judas place. b) He sent them = Responsibility (to Jesus message and methods) c) Two by two = Security d) On ahead of him Where he himself was about to go = Accountability to b 5
V 2 Just prior to commissioning the twelve Jesus said, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Matthew 9:37-38). CONCLUSION: Jesus generous ministry motivates him to share himself, his salvation and his people with the world. The church is an expression of God s generosity to the world. Remember the point: To see Jesus in generous ministry and to join with him in that generosity of life We must ask ourselves if we are as generous as Jesus with our time, abilities and commitment to Christ? Small Group Questions (for use with CGs on Sunday also) 1 How does Luke 9:51 set the scene for Jesus discussions in this chapter? He is going toward Jerusalem to die. He s investing in the 12 and requiring those who want to follow him to be willing to die also. 2 Why did Jews segregate themselves from Samaritans? 3 Do you know of any groups, people, etc., whom the church ostracizes? 4 Why did Jesus name John and James the sons of thunder? 5 How do you how does the church have a tendency to want God to destroy people rather than save them? 6 - What is implied by the present, imperative mood of the words follow me? 7-1 Before sending out the disciples, Jesus clears up some misconceptions about what it means to follow him. What are some modern misconceptions about following Jesus? 8 - What were the misconceptions of Jesus listeners? 49-62 9 - What do you learn from Jesus response? 10 - What about Jesus life and death help us understand his rebuke in 49-62? He prized nothing above faithfulness to the Father and kept nothing back. 11 - See v 2. In what ministry areas do you see plenty of work but few workers? 12 - - How might comfort keep us from following Jesus? 6
13 - How might material goods keep us from following Jesus? 14 - How might relationships keep us from following Jesus? 15 What is the importance of being appointed and sent by Jesus? 16 - Why did Jesus send them two by two? 17 - What did it mean to the disciples, knowing that Jesus would follow their ministry? As the new king of the recently formed northern Kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam built an altar in Dan (BC 920) so that the ten northern tribes would not travel south to Jerusalem to worship and be influenced by Judah. The high place at Dan focused on golden calf worship. During Jeroboam II s reign, the prophet Amos predicted Israel s destruction because of this idol worship. Thirty years later, the ten northern tribes which comprised Israel were taken into Assyrian captivity. Here s a picture of the actual altar built by Jeroboam in the land of Dan. 7
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