Choosing

Some choices are more significant than others. You made a choice to join us for worship, and I trust your spiritual health will benefit from that choice. I chose not to wear white socks with my black pants.

Two of our members are auctioneers. Every auction they hold is a series of choices—do I want this item and how much am I willing to pay for it?

Some choices seem simple; like never put ketchup on a steak and never cook it beyond medium. Other choices are more consequential; like if/when/where do I go to college and what should I study?

Today’s text focuses on different choices to the most consequential dilemma of eternity; will you accept or reject the offer of Christ’s kingdom? Last week I concluded by saying that the call to go was a call to a divisive mission—some will accept and others will reject.

Transition: Our text begins with warnings for those who reject, then moves toward joy for those who accept and spread the Gospel.

Choosing Rejection brings Sorrow (vv.13-16)

Informed Rejection (vv.13 & 15)

Chorazin, Bethsaida & Capernaum are all cities in Northern Galilee where Jesus concentrated his early ministry. They had seen Jesus’ miracles and heard Him teaching.

The healing of a blind man in Mark 8, the feeding of the 5000, and an exorcism in Luke 4:31-41 are examples of recorded miracles in this region.

It was in Capernaum in Luke 7:1-10 were the Centurion’s son is healed which is connected to faith in a Gentile even if the Jewish community would not accept Jesus as Messiah.

I’ve heard people appeal to the unevangelized peoples of the world as a basis for their lack of faith. The logic goes “God certainly won’t punish people who never heard, and if God is gracious to them, I hope he’ll be gracious to me.”

But Jesus said in John 15:22 that because He had spoken to them

John 15:22 ESV:2016

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

Uninformed Blindness (v.14)

Tyre and Sidon were “godless” foreigners. These were coastal cities further North in Syria. Tyre is first mentioned in 2 Sam 5:11-12 where the foreign king sends lumber to King David to try to strike a treaty. We discover Sidon as early as Genesis 10 in the table of nations decending from Noah.

These two cities are mentioned by both Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 28 as deserving of punishment. They would be similar to Ninevah that had a reputation prompting Jonah to run the other direction.

It will be “more bearable” but they do not avoid the judgment.

Romans 1:20 ESV:2016

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Application

1. Every single one of you listening to my voice is being told that Jesus Christ is your only hope for eternal salvation. Jesus died so that mankind could be forgiven of our rebellion and adopted into God’s eternal family.

2. If you choose not to accept the gift of salvation by repentance and faith, are not rejecting my ideas, v.16 says you are rejecting Jesus and the Father. You can NOT claim uninformed blindness! You will be held accountable for informed rejection.

Transition: Beginning in v.17 we pick up the story of those in v.1 who chose to obey Christ and go into the neighborhoods as His representatives.

Choosing Obedience Creates Joyful Victories (vv.17-20)

Joyful Provision (v.17)

Going in Jesus’ name provided authority to defeat demons.

The last 3 words of v.17 bring up an interesting relationship.

Have you ever wondered why police are called patrolmen or detectives, that KHP officers are called troopers, but sheriff’s department are called deputies?

There is a pecking order in law enforcement. While departments have restricted jurisdiction, the highest ranking Law Enforcement officer in any county is the elected Sheriff. Since the Sheriff can’t possibly be in all places where law is needed, He (or she) appoints deputies who represent him in any situation.

When a Sheriff’s deputy pulls you over or knocks on your door, it is not just as a representative of the department, it is with the full authority of the person.

3. The 12 had gone out with power and authority, but we are told in v.40 that they were not able to cast our this demon. When the 72 return they are amazed that when they act in Jesus’ name (in accordance with His will and authority) even the demons must obey.

Joyful Proclamation (v.18)

1. Jesus saw Satan’s empire take a defeat in the cosmic battle between Good and Evil.

2. Every time demonic forces are subjugated by believers Satan’s realm take a blow. The Initial fall is recorded in Isaiah 14:12, but Satan keeps trying to assert himself. In the temptation of Jesus, Satan presented himself as having more clout than he actually possesses. Satan’s dominion would suffer another defeat at the cross. Revelation 12:7-13 describes a future fall that Satan will endure. And later in Revelation 20 we read of him being cast into a pit, then released, then cast into the lake of Fire for eternity.

3. Jesus is marking a stark contrast. He proclaims that as Capernaum thought they were exalted in v.15 but will be brought down to death, As Satan exalts himself but falls in defeat, Jesus is showing that pride is a deceiver.

4. When we seek to exalt ourselves, we fall, when we seek first Jesus and His kingdom, we are lifted up.

Joyful Protection (v.19)

Tread on serpents can refer to literally encountering snakes. Scorpions had a reputation for pain, while snakes were known for danger.

The bigger story of the Bible reveals a plot that Jesus is victorious over the serpent.

As we’ve been learning in S.S. in the Fellowship Hall class, victory over the serpent was guaranteed in the Garden in Genesis 3.

It was pictured in the Israelites as they left Egypt as God told Moses to pick up the snake and it became harmless.

It was pictured in the wilderness that if people would look in faith to the bronze figure on the pole, then the venom of the snake bites would be rendered safe.

3. Rather than prove our faith by grabbing snakes or swallowing poison, how about if we stomp Satan’s head by resisting his temptations.

4. Let us step out in bold faith, because the promise is made nothing shall hurt you.

Joyful Potential (v.20)

1. Rather than strutting around the playground as king of the hill. Jesus reminds that our greatness is not dependent upon our victories, it is rooted in our heavenly identity.

2. Our birthright as heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17) means more than a bright prospect for the future, it means we have great possibilities now!

3. Having one’s name written in Heaven gives great confidence and security of one’s salvation.

Exodus 32:32-33 speaks of a book of names that God has written.

Exodus 32:32–33 ESV:2016

32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.

Ps 69:28 - the book of the living.

Psalm 69:28 ESV:2016

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

Isaiah 4:3 - everyone who has been recorded for life.

Isaiah 4:3 ESV:2016

3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem,

Daniel 7:10 - the books were opened.

Daniel 7:10 ESV:2016

10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

Mal 3:16 - a book of remembrance was written.

Malachi 3:16 ESV:2016

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.

Revelation chapters 3, 20 and 21.

Application

1. This reality of a “master list” flies in the face of the idea that St. Peter is standing at the gate with a scale that weighs an individual’s good and evil deeds.

2. If you hold a valid U.S. Passport, it is proof that our State department has verified your citizenship and that wherever you may travel in the world, you are entitled to the rights of an American citizen.

3. Jesus says, more than any rights you may gain by being an American, as a person with verified citizenship in Heaven we have reason to rejoice.

Transition: In the final 4 verses, we discover a choice greater than either the cities of Palestine or the obedience of the 72. We see the choices made by God Himself.

Choosing Intimate Relationships (vv.21-24)

Revealed to Little Children (v.21)

In this verse I see the arrogance of academics and leaders who make speeches, but offscreen is God squatting on one knee and telling a story to little children.

God’s gracious choice was to make the gospel so simple that even children can understand and choose to trust.

Handed over to the Son (v.22)

The word knows in v.22 is an experiential knowledge.

The relational knowledge between Father and Son is unlike any comprehension that any human may have. Only the Father, Son and Spirit have experientially known each other for eternity.

The Son introduced people to the Father as the full image of the invisible God (Col 1:15) or as 2 Cor 4:4 states, who is the image of God.

The Son then promised another (of the same kind) comforter that John 14:16-17 identifies at the Spirit of truth that indwells us.

Luke 10:22 (= Matt. 11:27) is perhaps the highest point in the Synoptic Gospels’ presentation of the status of Jesus, the Son of God. Often described as a “Johannine moment,” this verse has the same effect as, for instance, John 10:15, “The Father knows me and I know the Father”; John 10:30, “I and the Father are one”; and John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Such passages raise acutely the issue of the exclusiveness of Christian salvation and stand firmly against a universalism according to which Jesus is only one among many ways to find God.[i]

Eyewitnesses (vv.23-24)

1. When the disciples were permitted to see Jesus as the physical revelation of God, they were blessed to observe a reality that many had only dreamed.

2. Remember Simeon and Anna in the Temple in the early chapters of this Gospel? When Jesus arrived, it was the fulfillment of decades of dreaming and waiting.

3. When we are permitted to understand who Jesus was and what He did through the revelation of the other comforter, we are allowed into this realm of relational blessing.

Conclusion:

Through the recorded testimony of those who saw Jesus in the flesh, and the supernatural witness of the Holy Spirit that verifies these statements, we are left with 3 choices.

· Will we reject like Tyre, Sidon, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum?

· We will experience the joy of spiritual victories as we submit to Christ and His kingdom?

· Will we enter into the intimate relationship of little children to their gracious Father?