Basic HTML Version
Last Journey From Galilee
297
Samaritans. Though the Samaritans had rudely rejected Christ, His
love toward them was unchanged. In His name, the Seventy visited,
first of all, the cities of Samaria.
Samaritans Responded to Christ’s Love
In His commission to the disciples just before His ascension, Je-
sus mentioned Samaria with Jerusalem and Judea as the places where
they were to preach the gospel first. When they went to Samaria,
they found the people ready to receive them. The Samaritans saw
that, despite their rude treatment of Him, Jesus had only thoughts
of love toward them, and He won their hearts. After His ascension
the disciples gathered a precious harvest from among those who had
once been their bitterest enemies.
“A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.”
Isaiah 42:3
In sending out the Seventy, Jesus instructed them not to urge
their presence where they were unwelcome. “Whatever city you
[228]
enter, and they do not receive you,” He said, “go out into its streets
and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe
off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God
has come near you.’” They were not to do this from resentment or
wounded dignity, but to show how serious it is to refuse the Lord’s
message. To reject the Lord’s servants is to reject Christ Himself.
Religious Leaders Turned Many Against Christ
“I say to you,” Jesus added, “that it will be more tolerable in that
Day for Sodom than for that city.” Then His mind went back to the
Galilean towns where He had spent so much of His ministry. Day
after day the Prince of life had gone in and out among them. The
glory of God had been shining on the multitudes that crowded the
Savior’s steps. Yet they had refused the heavenly Gift.