Year 2, Week 34, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 34, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Luke 10; John 10

Today’s reading consists of two chapters from two separate Gospel accounts, which contain unrelated events surrounding Jesus’ ministry and teaching. John 10 notes Jesus’ usage of shepherding imagery as a way to distinguish Himself from the Jewish religious leaders that He had been in dispute with: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them” (John 10:11-12). John not also notes the hostile unbelief that the Jewish leaders had toward Jesus: “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (John 10:37-38). Luke 10 records the work of seventy-two people appointed and sent out by Jesus to extend His ministry and teaching: “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:1-2). The seventy-two report back with a sense of joy and amazement: “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (Luke 10:17).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was a common thread pertaining to the blindness of human unbelief, but also the Divine judgment upon unbelief. First, even though Jesus had provided able signs to validate His claims and teaching, many rejected Him: “Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:25-27). While Jesus’ works demonstrate that He is from the Father, unbelief toward Jesus demonstrates that they do not belong to Jesus. Truly belonging to Jesus is evidenced by believingly following Jesus. Second, even though Jesus offered Himself to anyone and everyone who would listen, many refused to follow Him: “In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Luke 10:21-22). The inability to truly recognize who Jesus is, requires a gracious eye-opening, heart-changing work by the Father. Without such gracious work, there will be a deep void of humility. Such arrogance persists in unbelief.

In John 10, the Jewish religious leaders ask Jesus for a sign to show them who He is: “So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly” (John 10:24). They ask for a sign that would show that Jesus is the Messiah in the context of having been given numerous signs that He was in fact the Messiah. But Jesus complies with their request when He simply states: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus’ clarity does not invoke a faith that is submissive to Him, but a rage that seeks to kill Him: “The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God” (John 10:31-33). Their unbelieving response simply demonstrates that they are not known by Jesus to be His sheep. He already knows that about them; but through their persistent rejection and even intense hostility, they are given a chance to see for themselves that they do not belong to Jesus.

In Luke 10, the belief that the disciples displayed toward Jesus is explained as a blessing from God: “Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Luke 10:23-24). When God reveals the truth concerning Jesus to people, it is a blessing from Him. On the other hand, when God hides the truth from the wise, this does not absolve them of responsibility. God hides the truth from the wise, for those who see themselves as wise are arrogant before the Lord. Such arrogance is an act of defiance against God. The Lord never conceals the truth from the humble. Therefore, anyone who wants to truly understand who Jesus is, must humble themselves. The disciples see what many have never nor will never see. It could be said that they humbled themselves before the Lord; but also that, the Lord in His mercy humbled them before Himself.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe