Living Room Study

Read Luke 9

“When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, Jesus determined to journey to Jerusalem.  He sent messengers ahead of Him, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for Him.  But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem.  When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?  But He turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.”  Luke 9: 51-56

A Samaritan, in Jesus’ day, was a person of mixed (Jewish/Gentile) descent.  In ancient history, Israel had been divided, nationally & spiritually.  Ten tribes formed what was known as “Israel”; while the remaining two, (primarily Judah & Benjamin), formed what was known as “Judea”.  Judea worshipped in Jerusalem, and Israel worshipped in Samaria.

Israel’s (in Samaria) great evil was idolatry.  Their rejection of worship in Jerusalem and their acceptance of pagan deities grew, to the point that they were inter-marrying with Gentiles.  The presence of these “half-breeds” in Israel was a reminder of its nation sin.  It was also the focus of prejudice, on behalf of the average-to-religious Jew.  Note James & John’s attitude.  They wanted the judgment of Sodom & Gomorrah to fall on the Samaritans.

So, why wouldn’’t Samaria want Jesus to go to Jerusalem?  The answer is found in John’s gospel: The Woman at the Well.   John 4: 1-42   Prior to the events of today’s passage, Jesus had engaged in a conversation with a Samaritan woman of ill reputation.  The setting was Jacob’s well, located in Samaria.  The symbolism is that Jacob was the father of Israel’s 12 tribal patriarchs.  Jesus is speaking with a woman, who represents a people who are “kind-of” Jewish, and are dark reminders of Israel’s not-so-faithful history.

By the way, modern Judaism considers Jewish believers in the same light as the Samaritans of Jesus’ day: Partly Jewish + partly Gentile = Apostate.

Jesus’ offering of “living water” (different from “Jacob’s” well) to this Samaritan woman was culturally & spiritually revolutionary.  Remembering that He came to the “Jew first, we must deduct that Jesus was officially recognizing the Samaritans’ “Jewishness”.

In response, the woman ran and told the Samaritan men, who came to hear Jesus.  They too, believed and told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is Messiah!”  John 4: 42

Why did the Samaritans in Luke 9 not welcome Him on His way to Jerusalem?  I believe it’s because they loved Him, and they knew what the Jews in Jerusalem would do to Him.  In trying to protect Jesus, they were actually hindering His mission.

Let’s not commit the same offense!  We don’t need to protect Jesus.  Just share the gospel, and let Jesus complete the work He wants to accomplish in your friends’ lives!

Steve Wiggins