Hey friends, I hope you had a good tenth day of December! Natalie and I are just home from London, where we spent time with friends on a layover on their way back to South Africa, Josh and Meagan Sullivan. We enjoyed praying with them as they return and seeing some of London, including a Christmas market. Catching a glimpse of Buckingham Palace, I remembered one of the last Christmas Day speeches of the late Queen, when she mentioned something from this chapter…
Luke 10 is a chapter full of urgency, compassion, and one of the most famous stories Jesus ever told. And today, it feels perfectly timed for Christmas.
Scene 1 – The Seventy Sent Out (vv. 1-20) Jesus appoints seventy others—two by two—and sends them ahead “into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” His instructions are urgent: “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves” (vv. 2-3). No purse, no scrip, no shoes, no long Eastern greetings—just heal the sick and preach, “The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” When they return, they’re buzzing: “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name!” Jesus replies, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven… Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (vv. 18, 20). Power over demons is wonderful, but the greatest miracle is that our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Scene 2 – The Parable of the Good Samaritan (vv. 25-37) A lawyer asks, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus turns it back on him: “What is written in the law?” The man answers perfectly: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart… and thy neighbour as thyself.” Jesus says, “This do, and thou shalt live.” But the lawyer, wanting to justify himself, asks, “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus answers with the story we all know, yet never outgrow:
A man falls among thieves on the Jericho road, stripped, wounded, half dead. A priest passes by—sees him and crosses to the other side. A Levite does the same. Then comes a Samaritan—despised, hated by Jews—who, when he saw him, “had compassion on him” (v. 33). He binds up the wounds, pours in oil and wine, sets him on his own beast, brings him to an inn, cares for him, pays the bill, and says, “When I come again, I will repay thee.” Jesus asks, “Which now of these three… was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?” The lawyer answers, “He that shewed mercy on him.” Jesus says, “Go, and do thou likewise.”
One of Queen Elizabeth II’s last Christmas broadcast in 2020 beautifully echoed this very parable:
“Light brings hope. For Christians, Jesus is the light of the world, but we can’t celebrate his birth today in quite the usual way.
“We continue to be inspired by the kindness of strangers and draw comfort that—even on the darkest nights—there is hope in the new dawn. Jesus touched on this with the parable of the Good Samaritan. The man who is robbed and left at the roadside is saved by someone who did not share his religion or culture. This wonderful story of kindness is still as relevant today. Good Samaritans have emerged across society showing care and respect for all… reminding us that each one of us is special and equal in the eyes of God. The teachings of Christ have served as my inner light, as has the sense of purpose we can find in coming together to worship.”
In conclusion, she said, “The Bible tells how a star appeared in the sky, its light guiding the shepherds and wise men to the scene of Jesus’s birth. Let the light of Christmas — the spirit of selflessness, love and above all hope — guide us in the times ahead. It is in that spirit that I wish you a very happy Christmas.”
She was exactly right. The light that shone in Bethlehem is the same light that moved the Good Samaritan, the light of a Saviour who saw us wounded, robbed, and left for dead by sin, and instead of passing by on the other side, came all the way down the Jericho road of this world, was stripped, wounded, and killed Himself, so that we might live. And one day He is coming again to settle every account.
Scene 3 – Martha, Mary, and the One Thing Needful (vv. 38-42) Jesus enters a certain village—Bethany—and Martha welcomes Him into her house. Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.” Martha is “cumbered about much serving,” stressed and snapping: “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” Jesus answers with such tenderness: “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (vv. 41-42).
Three scenes, one heartbeat: The harvest is urgent. The neighbour is anyone in need. The one thing needful is sitting at His feet.
Friends, this Christmas season, may we be labourers who pray and go, Samaritans who stop and love, and Marys who sit and listen, choosing the good part, because the Light of the world has come, and His name is Jesus.
And when He comes again, every Good Samaritan act done in His name will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.
Go, and do thou likewise.
(Watch to the end of the video version to hear Luke chapter 10 being read.)
See you tomorrow for Luke 11. Grace and peace! 🙏
