Unaccepted

N.T.#554 "Unaccepted"

May 21, 2025 

Luke 9-Part 11

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. (verse 51)

LET IT GLOW

Are there times you are unreceived or unaccepted as a part because you're a Christian? Jesus and His disciples had that problem, too. How did they react and should have reacted?

What was it time for Jesus to do? What came about or to pass? It was time for Jesus to fulfill His destiny. 

Stedfastly means to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or to confirm.

Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem in order to fulfill His purpose for coming to earth-die on a cross in our place for our salvation. Death was coming, a suffering death, a painful death was in the back of His mind to go through, but resurrection morning would make it worth it all. 

Jesus traveled through Samaria. He sent messengers ahead of the group of disciples so the Samaritans might make preparations for Him. (verse 52) The Samaritans there were part Jew and part Gentile. They lived on the eastern side of the Jordan River and had their own temple on Mount Gerizim. Problem was that these people despised the Jewish religious snobs and refused hospitality to them. So Jesus was not received there. 

It wasn't Peter this time, but brothers James and John who offered to call down fire to consume those unhospitable people. Jesus responded by pointing out that they didn't know what they were saying. It was a bad idea. Just shake the dust off your feet, boys.

In effect, Jesus was saying, "Don't get sidetracked by others' responses. Press on." (Swindoll)

Do we sometimes get tired of people's criticism or bad attitude that we want to slap them blind? Shake them so they get in their right mind? But that isn't Jesus' way.

LET IT GROW

Here is the reason for not destroying the Samaritans:

For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. (verse 56)

Jesus came not to destroy but to save, deliver, and heal. His followers should have that attitude as well.

How is our attitude toward those who oppose our values, attitudes, way of life? Do we see them as a lost soul in need of a Savior?

LET IT GO

Help us keep loving the unlovable. 

To You be glory forever, Sweet Jesus.