Luke 9 – 10

The reading opens with Jesus sending out the 12. Later chapter 10 opens with Jesus training and sending 70 more disciples out to teach the gospel. Interesting the same instructions are found in Matthew 10 and Mark 6 when he sends the 12 out. Why is chapter 10 the only mention of 70?

Verse 9:17 ends the story of feeding 5000 plus:

Everyone eats. Everyone is satisfied. Nobody goes away hungry. In fact, when the disciples recover the leftovers, they have 12 baskets full of broken pieces.

Robert Morris has a great teaching on this passage, check it out at:

http://12stone.com/message/principle-multiplication/

He talks about this passage and why it was this way. Think about it the 12 did not have faith that they could feed all the people. The leftovers were doggie basket for the 12!! It’s a bit of God’s humor injected into the story and emphasizes that reliance on God. It also shows them that they are way beyond anything natural.

Verse 9:24 is a sobering message:

If you try to avoid danger and risk, then you’ll lose everything. If you let go of your life and risk all for My sake, then your life will be rescued, healed, made whole and full. 

This often gets twisted into the investment and gambling world and needs to be watched. What Jesus is saying is take risks proclaiming His name, not just take risks!! It mean more then when proclaiming Jesus could cost you your life. It means the same today if you travel in Islamic countries. Vern did a mission trip in east Africa and needed to be silent of her faith. See in that same region a few died spreading the gospel. Now is this saying all Christians need to flow into the Middle East to become martyrs for Christ? No, but it does mean stand tall and be strong in professing your love and faith in Jesus.

Verse 10:29 is the end of different slant to a similar theme:

The scholar was frustrated by this response because he was hoping to make himself appear smarter than Jesus.

Scholar: Ah, but who is my neighbor?

This is presenting the “two greatest commandments” in a different light. This time a scholar is saying what they are and getting frustrated when he is told he is correct and to live that way. This leads into the story of the good Samaritan which becomes the example of the “neighbor” for the scholar. We must learn to love all, not just those nice to us or who we respect.