Date: Sunday Evening – October 28, 2001

Tape # W-65a

(Luke 9:51-56) "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, {52} And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. {53} And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. {54} And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? {55} But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. {56} For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."

1. There was a time fixed for the sufferings and death of our Redeemer.

He knew the hour appointed. He knew his time was at hand. Yet, he never paused, never hesitated, never flinched from his purpose. He never thought about hiding from his enemies or saving himself. He had come to save others. Himself he could not save.

2. When he saw the hour approaching, he looked through his death and sufferings and looked beyond them, to the glory that should follow.

The Lord Jesus knew what his reward would be. He knew that soon he would be received up into glory (1 Tim. 3:16), received up into the highest heavens, to be enthroned as Zion’s King. Moses and Elias spoke of his death as his departure out of this world, as the death he would accomplish at Jerusalem. The Master himself looked upon it as a thing to be desired. Why?

• By his death, he would save his people.
• By his death, he would honor his Father.
• By his death, he would be translated into a better world, a better life, in better company.

May God give us grace to look upon death as a desirable thing, not a thing to be dreaded and feared. If we are Christ’s, death should be looked upon as a welcome friend. Soon we shall be received up, to be with Christ where he is.

(John 14:1-3) "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. {2} In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
(2 Corinthians 5:1-9) "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. {2} For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: {3} If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. {4} For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. {5} Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. {6} Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: {7} (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) {8} We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. {9} Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him."
(Philippians 1:21-23) "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. {22} But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. {23} For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better."

1. Knowing that the hour had come, anticipating the joy set before him, the Lord Jesus steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem the place where he was to suffer and die.

He was fully determined to go, and would not be dissuaded. He went directly to Jerusalem, because there his business lay. There he must lay down his life for his sheep.

• He went to Calvary courageously.
• He went to the cross cheerfully.
• He went to Jerusalem to die for us.

Yes, he knew all that would befall him there. But he had a mission to accomplish. He did not fail nor was discouraged, but set his face as a flint, knowing that he should be not only justified, but glorified too (Isa. 50:7). -- Not only would he not be run down, but he would there be received up.

How should this shame us for, and shame us out of, our reluctance and backwardness to do anything for him, suffer anything for his sake, or bear any reproach for him! How can we draw back and turn from him and his service who steadfastly set his face against all opposition, to go through with the work of our salvation.

1. Let us ever give thanks to God our Savior for his willingness to suffer for us and save us!

The Lord Jesus knew full well all that awaited him at Jerusalem. – The Betrayal! – The Mock Trial! – The Mockery! – The Crown of Thorns! – The Spit! – The Spear! – The Agony! – Yet, he never flinched! His heart, set upon us from eternity, drove him as it were, to the torment of divine wrath and judgment. His love for us, caused him to hasten to his torment, that he might redeem us from the wrath of God. It was the desire of his soul to die in our place at Jerusalem!

Amazing love! How can it be?

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!

In the light of these things, who could ever question the willingness of God to save sinners? Jesus Christ is an able, ready, willing Savior! He who was ready to suffer at Jerusalem is ready to save today! Nowhere is it written that he is unwilling. Everywhere it is written that he is willing to save!

 

2. May God give us grace to follow our Lord’s example.

Like my Master, I pray that God will give me grace to spend my life for him who spend his life for me. Let me be ready and willing to go anywhere for Christ, do anything for Christ, endure anything for Christ. When his will is known, my duty is clear. Let my face be set steadfastly, for the glory of God.

The Samaritans’ Great Loss

1. There was a village of Samaritans who allowed racial prejudice to rob them of eternal blessedness (vv. 52-53).


(Luke 9:52-53) "And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. {53} And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem."

If you want to see the origins of the racial strife between the Samaritans and the Jews, you can read about it in 2 Kings 17 and Ezra 4. But whatever the origin, racial prejudice is a horrible evil and often is the cause of even greater evil. These unnamed Samaritans would not receive the Lord Jesus because he was evidently determined to go to Jerusalem, and the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. What a sad picture this is of man’s obstinate unbelief!

1. The Lord Jesus sends his messengers.
2. By the gospel we preach, we make ready for him, prepare the way of the Lord.
3. Yet, multitudes, the vast majority, like these Samaritans, find a reason not to receive him.


Be sure you understand this. – CHRIST MUST AND WILL BE WILLINGLY RECEIEVED, or he will pass you by.

Angry Apostles

 

1. James and John were enraged by the behavior of these Samaritans who so ill-treated the Master (v. 54).
(Luke 9:54) "And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?"

 

They were in a tizzy! They said, "Lord, give us leave to do so and we will command fire to come down from heaven and burn them to ashes. We will make them like Sodom!’’

Much could and should be said about this. James and John were zealous, but wrong. They used the Scripture, but did so rashly. They cited the prophets, but cited them in an manner never intended. Let me just say this: Zeal without knowledge is a dangerous thing. It is an army without a general, a ship without a rudder. Multitudes have done great harm in the kingdom of God, with true zeal for the honor of Christ, but zeal that refused direction. – Be warned!

The Master’s Reproof

2. The Lord Jesus sternly rebuked James and John for their suggestion and thereby sternly rebukes the spirit of persecution (v. 55).
(Luke 9:55) "But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of."

 

The reproof he gave to James and John for their fiery, furious zeal is high instructive. Human religion often seeks to establish itself by the sword or by legislation. The kingdom and church of God has other weapons.

(2 Corinthians 10:4) "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."

 

Our Master’s Mission

3. The Lord Jesus came to save (v. 56).


(Luke 9:56) "For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."
(Matthew 1:21) "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
(John 3:16-17) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. {17} For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
(1 Timothy 1:15) "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

 

Everything revealed in this Book about the lord Jesus Christ proclaims with loud voice, "Jesus saves! Jesus saves!"

• His Sovereign Purpose
• His Covenant Engagements
• His Incarnation
• His Miracles of Mercy
• His Doctrine
• His Sacrifice
• His Dominion
• His Intercession
• His Second Coming




Application:

(Isaiah 45:22) "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."

(Matthew 11:28-30) "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

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Don Fortner