We can all call on the Lord. Blind Bartimaeus did. The lepers did. A deaf man did. Even some who couldn’t talk did. They all called on the Lord. It’s not about praying a certain prayer with your lips. It’s what comes from the heart. It’s simple. We need to see our need for Jesus to be in our heart.
Luke 9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. 51 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.
Jesus knew before the fall of man that we’d need a Savior. God sent his sinless son who likened himself to us. All are guilty and Jesu took our sin. From the beginning he’s been the Savior. When Simeon heard him cry in the temple he knew he had seen the Lord’s Christ. He told Mary behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel. We’re in a fall because of sin. Before we find ourselves falling on our feet at the Great White Throne Judgment we can fall now and accept Jesus as Savior.
Jesus was in Galilee traveling south toward Jerusalem. This meant he was going through Samaria. People there didn’t like people from Galilee or Judah. Many Samaritans were Israelites but with intermarriages in their bloodline they were not considered a pure race of people. That doesn’t matter. None of us better shake the family tree too hard. Our bloodline is nothing; it’s the blood of Jesus that matters.
When we say yes to Satan we find that Jesus said no. He was steadfast. Here he was steadfastly setting his face to Jerusalem. He was determined to go; nothing would hinder him. The plot for his death was set and had been for a long time. Politically he wasn’t liked because he did nothing about the Roman occupation of Israel. He didn’t stop the taxation. They didn’t like him because of that. The religious groups had taken the Old Testament and put their own customs in and made a mess out of it. Right after being baptized Jesus went into Jerusalem and got angry upon seeing the moneychangers in the temple. He overthrew the tables. This isn’t my church. It’s not yours. This is the house of God. Jesus told them they had made it a den of thieves when it was to be a house of prayer. He wants to save us. He knew when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the moneychangers would be set up again in the temple. He did the same that time. Let Jesus be in charge, not a custom of man. He is set to be Master. Don’t remove him from what he is meant to be.
Jesus didn’t ignore the Samaritans because he was set to go to Jerusalem. He doesn’t overlook us. Do you wonder if he’ll take time for you? Yes! He will. He set his face for Samaria, Judah and Adwolfe! What he would accomplish at Jerusalem would help people everywhere. Messengers were sent ahead of Jesus that he was on the way. Jesus is coming! The invitation is given to everyone of us. He’s passing through.
The choice is ours. Jesus steadfastly set his face for everyone including you and me. He deliberately went through the middle of Samaria. Everyone had access but they chose not to believe. We must realize his saving power is greater than the sin in our life. As he passes by we must choose to believe. The people could do what they wanted but verse 53 says they didn’t receive him. His attention is always on us even when it doesn’t appear to be. He can give us all his equal and full attention at the same time.
We can trust Jesus because he is a steadfast Savior. We can do what he says if we’ll just come to him. Verse 56 says for the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. They didn’t receive Jesus so he went on to another village. Jesus didn’t ignore them; they simply refused him. They didn’t believe.
The Savior is set on delivering you and raising you up. Are you willing to believe him?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 