#63 Luke 10:10-16 When You Are Not Welcomed

Joy:
Episode #63 Luke 10:10-16

Welcome

Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.

Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin

Amy:
Christgazing, similar to stargazing, is the act of looking steadily and intently at Christ, and we believe there is nothing more beautiful or transformational to gaze upon than him. In a world where greed, war, ignorance, and hatred weaken our eyes and exhaust us, we thirst and hunger to see his love, long, wide, deep, and high, strengthen and sustain us. In a world of many words, we believe his words are the best, which is why we make space for them on this podcast. Each week, Joy reads a passage from the Bible several times and creates stillness after each reading so that we might be still ourselves and know God more.

We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke.

Pour Out Your Heart to God

Amy:
Before Joy reads today’s passage, take a few moments to give God the things on your mind. Maybe it’s hope, hopelessness, joy, depression, gratitude, grief, or a mix of these things and more. Whatever is on your mind, name it, and bring it to the Lord in this next minute.

What Does This Passage Say About God?

Joy:
As I read the scripture for the first time, consider: What does this say about God?

In this passage, Jesus is giving instructions to 72 people he chose to go on ahead of him in small groups from town to town to heal the sick and tell them about Jesus.

Luke 10:10-16 “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me, but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Again?

Luke 10:10-16 “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about God?

[Pause and know]

What Does This Passage Say About People?

Joy:
As I reread the passage, consider the question: What does this tell you about people?

Luke 10:10-16 “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about people?

[Pause and know]

Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?

Joy: As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”

Luke 10:10-16 “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Take the next minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”

[Pause and listen]

Blessing

Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may hear his voice today and listen to him.

One Response

Amy:
Jesus said, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.” His words show me that the citizens of Chorazin and Bethsaida may have considered themselves better than the citizens of Tyre and Sidon, but God truly knows the heart of each person. He knows the background of each person. He alone can judge each person and will do so rightly.

His exclamation of grief also stands out to me today, “Woe! Woe to you who reject God.” Jesus feels grief-stricken to consider the ones who reject him. Why would God give a person a choice to reject him if to reject him is to die? Could it be because God has withheld nothing good from humankind, including the ability to love fully, which requires the ability to choose? 

God is grief-stricken by our rejections because he loves us fully. Romans 5:8 and John 3:16 show us that he demonstrated his own love toward us in this, that while we were still sinners, Jesus chose to die for us, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Closing

Amy:
Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christyou are one in whom he dwells and delightsa dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.

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