Scripture:
Vs 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them …
Vs 17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
Vs 20 (Jesus said to them) “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
…
Vs 21 In that same hour he (Jesus) rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth …”
…
Vs 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
…
Vs 40 “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.[e] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Observation:
A lot going on here in Chapter 10.
Jesus interacts with the 72 “laborers” sent out.
And Jesus interacts with a teacher of the law.
And Jesus interacts with sisters Mary and Martha.
But what’s more briefly mentioned is Jesus’ interaction with the Holy Spirit and His Father.
Jesus’ instructions to each are seemingly very different, and could even be seen as contradictory on the surface.
To the 72 sent out Jesus essentially says, “Don’t get excited about what you can do (rule over demons), get excited by what you know (your name is written in heaven, the Book of Life”.)
To the lawyer Jesus essentially says, “Don’t get excited about what you know (the answer to a law question), get excited about what you do (do this and you will live, show mercy).”
To the sisters Jesus essentially says, “Don’t worry about so much, choose the good portion, My presence”.
And for Jesus personally, he will rejoice with the Holy Spirit that the Father’s will is accomplished.
Application:
I can see myself in each of these interactions.
Sometimes I treat Christianity as if it’s a theology exam. Do I know all the right answers to the test?
I can even get rather proud of myself for what I know about God or His word.
I can even think more highly of myself (like the lawyer) because of what I know. I can look down on people because of their “ignorance” or “foolishness”. … Thank you, God for giving me wisdom!
But here Jesus is not satisfied with a right answer on the test. Jesus acknowledges the lawyer was right (“you have answered correctly”).
Jesus doesn’t want me to “know” the answer, He wants me to “live” the answer (“Do this and you will live”).
So, then I can swing the pendulum and get really frustrated with myself because I don’t “do” enough. I need to “do more”!
What am I really doing anyway?! The world is falling apart! People all around me need help!
What happens then? I can start to feel proud of myself, again! Look of what I have done! This person is better because of what I have done. This community if better because of me! … Look at me!
This, again, can make me think less of others around me.
Jesus, again, has an answer for this … “Listen up, Bud, any power you have to do anything is only because I gave it to you! …. Don’t rejoice in yourself because of what you do, rejoice in God because He knows your name and you will live forever with Him!”
So, when I get too proud of “knowing” … go and “do”.
When I get too proud of “doing” … rest in what I “know”.
When I get too anxious about the tug of war going on within me … “chose the good portion that will not be taken away” … the presence of the Lord.
And what should I celebrate through it all?
Rejoice with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that the will of the Father is done!
Prayer:
Thank you God for your word.
Thank you for your patience when I am proud.
Help me remember what to know and when to do it.
Help me see your will unfold
In Jesus name
Amen