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The Desire of Ages
than for men, through religious bigotry, to bring suffering upon those
who are the purchase of the Saviour’s blood.
“And He arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judea
by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto Him again;
and, as He was wont, He taught them again.”
Mark 10:1
.
A considerable part of the closing months of Christ’s ministry was
spent in Perea, the province on “the farther side of Jordan” from Judea.
Here the multitude thronged His steps, as in His early ministry in
Galilee, and much of His former teaching was repeated.
As He had sent out the twelve, so He “appointed seventy others,
and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place,
whither He Himself was about to come.”
Luke 10:1
, R. V. These
disciples had been for some time with Him, in training for their work.
When the twelve were sent out on their first separate mission, other
disciples accompanied Jesus in His journey through Galilee. Thus they
had the privilege of intimate association with Him, and direct personal
instruction. Now this larger number also were to go forth on a separate
mission.
The directions to the seventy were similar to those that had been
given to the twelve; but the command to the twelve, not to enter into
any city of the Gentiles or of the Samaritans, was not given to the
seventy. Though Christ had just been repulsed by the Samaritans, His
love toward them was unchanged. When the seventy went forth in His
name, they visited, first of all, the cities of Samaria.
The Saviour’s own visit to Samaria, and later, the commendation
of the good Samaritan, and the grateful joy of that leper, a Samaritan,
who alone of the ten returned to give thanks to Christ, were full of
significance to the disciples. The lesson sank deep into their hearts. In
His commission to them, just before His ascension, Jesus mentioned
Samaria with Jerusalem and Judea as the places where they were first
to preach the gospel. This commission His teaching had prepared them
to fulfill. When in their Master’s name they went to Samaria, they
found the people ready to receive them. The Samaritans had heard of
Christ’s words of commendation and His works of mercy for men of
their nation. They saw that, notwithstanding their rude treatment of
Him, He had only thoughts of love toward them, and their hearts were
won. After His ascension they welcomed the Saviour’s messengers,
and the disciples gathered a precious harvest from among those who