The Way of Jesus and The Joy of Belonging
January 18 | Rick Thiemke
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Luke 9:46-10:24
Who Is the Greatest?
46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
Anyone Not Against Us Is For Us
49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”
A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village.
The Cost of Following Jesus
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
The Return of the Seventy-Two
17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Jesus Rejoices in the Father's Will
21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Luke now turns a major corner in the story of Jesus. In Luke 9:51, Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem. Everything from this point forward is shaped by the cross that lies ahead. Jesus is walking toward suffering, rejection and death in order to bring salvation to the world. And along the way, He is forming His followers into the kind of people who can live in His Kingdom.
Jesus Forms His Followers Through Humility, Mercy and Trust
Our text begins with the disciples walking with Jesus toward Jerusalem and, instead of wondering what it will cost Him, they are arguing about which of them is the greatest (Luke 9:46-48). Jesus responds by placing a child at His side. In His Kingdom, greatness is not measured by status or achievement, but by humble dependence and a willingness to receive.
That theme continues as John complains about someone who does not belong to their group casting out demons in Jesus’ name (9:49). Jesus gently corrects him. The Kingdom is not a private club. The grace of God is bigger than our tribe.
Then James and John want to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village that refuses to receive Jesus (9:54). They imagine that loyalty to Jesus should be enforced with power. But Jesus rebukes them. His Kingdom advances through mercy, not coercion.
Three potential followers in verses 57-62 express their desire to follow Jesus. Jesus makes clear that following Him is not casual or convenient. The Kingdom calls for wholehearted trust.
Then in chapter 10, Jesus sends out seventy-two others. They go not as strong, self sufficient people, but as lambs among wolves. They carry no extra resources. They depend entirely on God. They bring peace, not domination. They heal, not harm. They announce that the Kingdom of God has come near.
Jesus is teaching us that life with Him is shaped by humility, mercy and trust. Not self promotion. Not control. Not force. The way of Jesus is the way of dependence on the Father and love for others.
Jesus Anchors Our Joy in Being Known and Chosen By God
When the seventy-two return, they are filled with joy (10:17). Even the demons submit to them in Jesus’ name. They have seen the power of God at work through them. Jesus affirms that something real has happened. The Kingdom of God has truly been advancing.
Then Jesus lovingly redirects their joy (10:20). This is one of the most important formation moments in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus does not scold them for being excited. He simply deepens the foundation of their joy. Spiritual fruit is a gift. Ministry effectiveness is real, but it is not stable enough to carry the weight of your soul. The deepest joy is not found in what God does through you, but in the fact that you belong to Him.
Then Luke gives us a rare glimpse into the inner life of Jesus. He rejoices in the Holy Spirit and thanks the Father for revealing salvation to the humble, rather than the impressive (10:21). Jesus is filled with joy over the grace of God at work in ordinary, weak, childlike people. The Son delights in you.
That is why He says that many prophets and kings longed to see what the disciples are seeing (10:23-24). They are living inside the grace that generations longed for. They belong to the Kingdom that has dawned and so do we.
Jesus forms us with patience. Jesus sends us in weakness. Jesus anchors us in grace. And He rejoices that we belong to the Father. That is the way of Jesus. And that is the joy of belonging.
Discussion Questions
Where do you notice Jesus gently challenging your desire for status, control or being seen as important?
What are you tempted to base your joy on, besides the fact that you belong to God?
How might your week look different if you lived more from being known and loved by God than from trying to prove yourself?