Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Jan 22 2020 - Luke 10:13-37 – Compassion

It is difficult to choose which verse or theme to comment on this morning – so I shall take two.

When the 70/72 return from their mission, they are full of excitement at what they have accomplished saying, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name" (Luke 10:17). Jesus reflects their excitement when he affirms that they have been instrumental in defeating Satan's stranglehold on God's world and unseating him from his position of power. When Jesus says, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (10:18) I believe that he is saying that their ministry anticipates the day when he will be utterly unseated and destroyed. Similarly, when Jesus adds, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy" (10:19) he is surely echoing the promise of Genesis 3:15 – the promise that the ancient Deceiver will be crushed.

These are heady words and must have added to the disciples' excitement – they were now in the business of destroying Satan's kingdom. But Jesus then adds, "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (10:20). Jesus knows that there will be days when demons do not seem to flee before them; days when opposition may grow rather than be crushed; days when they will face persecution and even death. But there are some things that can never change and can never be taken away from them. They are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and he has guaranteed them a place with him in his glorious kingdom. It is this hope that must sustain them – and us – in the difficult days, as well as in the days when Satan seems to flee before us. It is this that must be our joy.

But secondly, I cannot pass over the parable of "The Good Samaritan" without comment. Jesus is responding to one of the Jewish legal experts who asks him what he must do to inherit eternal life. The man knows that he is to love God and to love his neighbour, but he wants a clearer definition of his neighbour – he does not want to squander his love on the wrong person. Jesus tells the parable of a man (ethnic origin unknown) who is set upon by robbers and left for dead on the Jericho road. A priest going along the road passes by on the other side; so also does a Levite. A Samaritan passing by sees the man and has compassion on him. He takes him to an inn where he looks after him and ensures his recovery. This man demonstrates what it means to be a neighbour – and demonstrates the character and conduct Jesus calls us to display when he concludes, "Go and do likewise" (10:37).

The difference between the travellers on the Jericho road is that the priest and the Levite were concerned primarily for themselves. The Samaritan, however, had compassion on the man left naked, beaten and half dead (I do think "compassion" is a far better word than "pity"). He was deeply moved with concern for the man (just as we read that Jesus was moved with compassion for the crowds). It was a compassion that moved him to act and to rescue the man at his own trouble and expense.

Jesus calls us to follow him. He calls us to have a heart of compassion for those in need; a heart that reflects the compassion that brought him from glory to seek and to save the lost. He calls us to be more concerned about others than we are for ourselves. It's all too easy to suffer compassion fatigue and to return to self-preoccupation or even self-pity. We need our compassion to be continually renewed through knowing and living closely with the one who gave himself for us.

Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Lord Jesus, teach me what it means to follow you; and help me to follow truly, closely, constantly and joyfully.

Jan 22 2019 - Genesis 27:1-40 – Jacob the trickster

Despite their great love for each other, Isaac and Rebekah have a dysfunctional family. Isaac favours Esau, the elder of his twin sons and one who likes to spend his time outdoors hunting for game. Rebekah favours Jacob who seems to prefer to spend time at home, looking after the more domesticated animals and helping his mother with the cooking. This clear favouring of the different sons sows seeds for discord and even for hatred.

Furthermore, Isaac appears to have been something of a weak character and a bit of a hypochondriac. When we meet him at the beginning of Genesis 27 he has taken to his bed and believes that he is about to die. In fact, he will outlive Rebekah and will still be alive 20 years later when Jacob returns from Haran.

Before the twins were born, the Lord had promised that the elder would serve the younger. Nevertheless, Isaac is determined that Esau his firstborn will be his heir and will inherit the promises God made to Abraham. So he asks Esau to go and hunt game and prepare his favourite meal which he will eat before blessing Esau and dying a happy man. Rebekah overhears the conversation and devises a scheme to deceive her husband. She sends Jacob to get two young goats from the herd which she will prepare as a meal for Isaac – there seems to be nothing wrong with Isaac's appetite! Rebekah then sends Jacob, suitably disguised, to blind Isaac's bedside to tell him that he is Esau and deceive his father into giving him the blessing.

And obtain the blessing he does; he gains it by trickery and downright lies. He lives up to his name, 'Jacob' which means, 'cheat'.

Isaac's blessing, pronounced upon his son, reflects the promise which God had made to Abraham and Isaac. He is promised the good things of the land and victory over his enemies. The blessing concludes with words first spoken by God to Abraham, "Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!" (Genesis 27:29, cf. 12:3).

It's an awful story from beginning to end. Isaac seeks to subvert God's declared purpose to fulfil the promises made to Abraham through Jacob rather than Esau. Rebekah seeks to deceive her husband and ensure that Jacob inherits the promises, not, it would seem, out of a concern to honour God and his word but simply because Jacob is her favourite. Not one of the members of this family behaves in a commendable fashion.

Here we see that God works out his purposes and fulfils his promises through people who are very far from perfect. God displays his grace by working through Jacob, a cheat and a liar. I am reminded in some ways of the history of the apostle Paul. He had been Saul the Pharisee. He had hated the Christian message and had been a persecutor of the Christian church. Yet God chose to give him a key part in fulfilling his plan to extend the blessings of salvation to all the nations of the world. God still uses the most surprising and apparently unsuitable people to accomplish his purposes – that's why there is hope for us. Even when we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

Faithful God, thank you that your promises extend to sinners and that you are able to bring glory to your name through broken personalities like Isaac and Jacob – and like us. Thank you most of all that your Son was broken for us that we might be made whole. Teach us more of the blessings that are ours in him and help us to hold out your promise of grace and forgiveness to others around us knowing that if you can save us you can save them.

Peter Misselbrook