Introduction: We are starting our journey with Jesus, not at the beginning of Luke’s gospel but in the middle, at the beginning of what is called the “Travel Narrative” (9:51-19:44). As v. 51 puts it, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” By foot, the journey from the Galilee region in the north, where Jesus was, to Jerusalem in the south, where Jesus was heading, is only 3-4 days. But it actually takes Luke ten chapters to get us there, far more than any other gospel writer. In those ten chapters, there is much that is unique to Luke’s gospel. What Luke shares with us is teaching from Jesus that relates to how we are to live, as his followers, while “on the way.” To put it another way, while he is on the way to heaven, Jesus shows us how we are to live and to think, as citizens of the kingdom of God, while we travel on that same road.

 

In that sense, starting in the middle of Luke’s gospel is not a bad place to start because, as I hope we will see, it meets us where we are, seeking to follow Jesus right in the middle of living our life. What we will see in this opening account of the travel narrative is a word from Jesus to those who are already followers, and a word to those who are considering joining in the journey. To those who are already following, Jesus wants them to know that the journey takes patience, particularly with those who are not yet following. To those who are not following but considering it, Jesus wants them to know that the journey is not a hobby but a priority. Let’s look at both.

 

I. Rejection in Samaria – Patience

            A. Unless you take a huge detour, as many devout Jews did on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the journey from Galilee to Jerusalem runs right through a region called Samaria. A detour was often taken because Samaria was hostile territory. As far as a good Jew was concerned, there was no such thing as a “good” Samaritan, and vice-a-versa. Jews and Samaritans got along about as well as Red Sox and Yankee fans, or, to be a bit more serious, about as well as whites and blacks in the turbulent 60’s. To the Jews, Samaritans were traitors and half-breeds. The name came from the capital city – Samaria – of the northern kingdom of Israel, which had separated from the south after the days of kings David and Solomon. Samaritans themselves were the children of Jews who had intermarried with Assyrians that had populated the area following the defeat of Samaria by Assyria in 722 B.C. By the time of Jesus, the mutual hatred had gone on for hundreds of years.

 

            B. But Jesus, as we will see, often reaches out to the most unlikely of people, and so he does not skirt around Samaria but goes right through it. As Psalm 145:9 puts it, “The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” The problem is, when his PR team went ahead to get things ready for his arrival and arrange for accommodations, they were rebuffed. Anyone heading to Jerusalem, they were rudely informed, was not welcome in Samaria.

 

Pastor and writer Eugene Peterson makes the thoughtful observation that much of our Christian life is lived in “Samaria.” That is, between the time when we begin walking with Jesus, and the time when we arrive in heaven, we live much of our life bumping up against those who do not welcome Jesus and so will not welcome us. At least part of our journey is made along inhospitable stretches of roads. The question is, how will we respond when faced with rejection?

 

            C. The temptation is not to be gracious and patient, but to be condemning and judgmental. That was the immediate reaction of the disciples, James and John, who had the nickname, “sons of Thunder.” They immediately had the notion that those who rejected Jesus should be nuked: “…call down fire from heaven!”

 

Illustration: Is that not at least one reaction we all from time to time have? I think of President Obama, when he was addressing Congress last week and promised that any new health care plan would not be made available to illegal immigrants. “You lie!” shouted one congressman in response. Had I been the President, I would have wished for a button I could press to instantly zap my hostile opponent. Fortunately, President Obama was more gracious in his response, and because he was, there was made available an opportunity for repentance and forgiveness, which, I’ve read, actually did take place.    

 

Jesus’ response was not to nuke. He simply moved on to another village. His teaching to his disciples had been that they should love their enemies, do good to those who hated them, bless those who cursed them, and pray for those who mistreated them (6:27-28). If they were not welcome in a particular place, they should simply move on (9:5). Peter, perhaps, has a comment on this virtue of Jesus. He writes that with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. God is patient, not wanting any to perish (2 Pet. 3:8-9). Unfortunately, in the name of Jesus, Christians have killed Jews, Muslims, communists, witches, heretics, Native Americans, and abortion doctors. But violence accomplishes nothing but more violence. The word of Jesus to those who are already following him on the journey is that this time of the journey, this time before the return of Jesus and the fullness of the kingdom, is to be a time of mercy not judgment. It is a time when Christ’s people are to exhibit patience toward those who reject them, loving them and interceding for them, not blowing them away. Worth noting is that in the book of Acts (ch. 8), through the later ministry of a man named Phillip, it seems that Samaria has become more receptive to the person of Jesus. Patience, we see, pays off.   

 

II. Follow Me – Priority

            A. In addition to a word to those already following, Jesus has a word to those who are interested in starting the journey. While it is certainly a journey in which don’t have everything figured out as we begin and so continue to learn on the way, Jesus wants these would be followers to know that to set out with Jesus is not a hobby or casual affair. It takes intentional, focused commitment, and must be a priority. It’s a word all of us probably need to hear from time to time.

 

B. Jesus brings it home through three individuals who express interest in joining up with him. To the first, who declares his willingness to follow Jesus wherever he goes, Jesus wants him to know that they won’t be staying in the best hotels. In fact, to follow Jesus is to live outside the norm. To the second and third, who want to follow Jesus but have some family responsibilities to attend to first, Jesus allows for no such delay. Following Jesus isn’t something we can put off until it’s convenient for us to do so – in the case of the funeral – and following Jesus isn’t something we can do while continually looking back to second guess the value of following him. Like plowing a field while always glancing back, we’ll be in danger of running off course or running into things.

 

C. Now these last two responses by Jesus seem especially harsh. Certainly burying a loved one and bidding farewell to our families are not bad things. In other places Jesus exhorts us to care for our families. But I think at least three things are going on here.

 

1. First, Jesus is not creating a new set of laws that all disciples have to keep. He is not saying “You cannot ever stay at a nice hotel.” He is not saying, “It will always be wrong to attend your parent’s funeral.” He is not saying, “You must never look back to where you have come from.” But Jesus does know everyone’s idol. He is able to look directly into our hearts and he knows what is competing for our affection. He knows that until our affections are properly ordered, with love for him at the top, then nothing else will really come out right. In fact, making our relationship with Jesus a priority – learning to both receive and give his love – necessarily flows down to, and affects all of, our other relationships in the most positive of ways. Jesus loves our loved ones, too, and knows that he is the one who can help us to properly care for them.

 

2. Second, the call to follow Jesus into life into the kingdom of God involves a redefinition of what is truly family. Last week at the picnic, a grandmother came and put her lunch down on the table and expressed surprise and delight that her children and grandchildren had come. She said, “Oh, my family is here.” To which I responded, “You are actually surrounded by your family, just by virtue of being at this event!” Earlier, when someone told Jesus that his mother and brothers had come to see him but they were having trouble getting near him because of the crows, Jesus replied that his mother and his brothers are actually those who hear God’s word and put it into practice (Lk. 8:19-21). There is, another words, a new greater family of which we become a part when we begin to journey with Jesus.

 

3. Third, I think Jesus wants us to know that following him takes place on his terms, not ours. He is not like a used car salesman with whom we can bargain; he is Lord of the universe! Trusting that he knows best is a significant part of what it means to follow him. In a small way, it’s what we do when we give our offering – we trust that he will provide for us out of what is left. It’s what we do when we mark the Sabbath – we trust him to be at work while we take the day off to worship and play.

 

D. Trusting Jesus in this way, making him a priority on his terms, requires two things. It requires that we believe he is good, and that he is Lord (that he rules over the affairs of the world). Whether we’re thinking of following Jesus, or are having trouble in our journey with him, we often stumble right at this point. Here are the questions we ask: “If God is so good, why does he allow evil things to happen? And “If God is in control, why is the world in such a mess?” These aren’t necessarily easy questions to answer. For some, we may have old wounds that need to be healed. For others, we may have a few intellectual hills we need to climb. But it’s important that we pursue them because it’s hard to make someone a priority, to surrender to them, to pray “Thy will be done,” when we have doubts about their goodness to us, or if we have doubts about the control they have in the world. If you’re still wrestling in this regard, know as you wrestle that the testimony of scripture and the life of Jesus reveal both his goodness and his lordship. To this testimony we must cling if we are to travel well with him, through both the ups and the downs of that journey.

 

So what do you need? What is Jesus’ word to you? Is it “be patient?” Or, is it “are you willing to make me a priority?” Both are important words to hear, and respond to. Both, as well, Jesus promises, will bring great blessing into our lives as we walk with him.