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Jesus coming into this world followed over fifteen hundred years of preparation. In a sin-filled and dark world God was laying the foundation for this one event that would change everything. He had created a nation, Israel, that was designed to point to this one event. Their history was a living example of God’s salvation. Their worship rituals were full of practices that were designed to point to their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. The priesthood in Israel pointed to Jesus as the ultimate high priest. The sacrifices pointed to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice. The temple, that place where God connected with his people, pointed to Jesus – the ultimate temple where God is at home with us. And the list goes on…

God also brought prophets into Israel who, in their truth-speaking, would talk in detail of events that would be perfectly fulfilled hundreds of years later.

The language God prepared for this event (Greek) was full of nuance and precision so that two thousand years later we can still understand the intricacies of God’s plan. This language also helped assure that two thousand years of translation remained accurate.

Even the Roman Empire allowed for easy transport of the message – Rome ruled the world.

Today we’re going to look at a passage about the birth of Jesus from the book of Matthew. Matthew was written as a message to Jewish people. He overtly shows the fulfillment of at least 12 O.T. prophecies and quotes the O.T. more than 60 times.

Joseph, as Jesus’ earthly father, was an important character to Matthew because Joseph was in the lineage of King David and the Messiah needed to be connected to King David. So Matthew opens his gospel with a genealogy to show this and verse 1 summarizes it – A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham

There are some very interesting characters in the genealogy of Matthew one, prostitutes, gentiles, and adulterers – Tamar was a Canaanite prostitute (vs3), Rahab was a gentile prostitute (vs5), Ruth was a Moabite (vs5), Solomon’s mother was an adulterer (vs6). It seems that Matthew was overtly setting up the scandal of verses 18-25 by pointing to the historic working of God through lives and situations that didn’t fit the religious expectation – which brings me to my first point. God is not limited by our religious expectation. Instead, God works in the face of religious expectation. Often we do not draw the right conclusions

Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)
¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus (savior), because he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (Is 7:14) – which means, “God with us.” ²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

It is very important that we understand this story in light of the Jewish community two thousand years ago. A Jewish marriage typically took place over a long period of time and had two stages. The first stage involved the pledge (vs 18). Vows were exchanged before witnesses, and the man and women were considered husband and wife – it would take a divorce to dissolve the relationship at this point. This first stage also involved a long waiting period – as long as 12 months. So, after the vows to each other there was a waiting period with very limited contact between the boy and the girl. Many understand this waiting period as a time of “proving”. Proving that the bride had been chased and is not pregnant – if she was it would become obvious.

This waiting period shows how very, very important sexual purity was to the Jewish culture – it really can’t be overemphasized. To fail here would DEVISTATE and SHAME the families involved and, in the best case, create outcasts of the participants.

After this waiting period there would be a lengthy wedding ceremony – perhaps 7 days. Later in Jesus’ life he was at a wedding where they ran out of wine, if you remember.

It was during the waiting period that Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant. Can you imagine how this news must have landed on him? Being removed, as we are, from this very different culture; I would guess we can barely imagine how this would have devastated the families involved. At this point Joseph was most likely under the greatest stress of his life. Everything he had thought about for Mary and him was not crashing down around him.

God let Joseph experience and struggle with this horrific news before he explained it through a dream. From Joseph’s perspective Mary was unfaithful and had turned her back on God and him, and he could not simply ignore this or excuse it as a mistake. He had two choices. He could initiate a public divorce or he could initiate a private divorce – he chose the private one. He would try to spare Mary as much public humiliation as possible – Joseph was a righteous man. Joseph acted righteously by caring for Mary even though he thought she had dishonored him.

Why didn’t God clear this up with Joseph before he went through the pain? While I certainly can’t read God’s mind here and can’t specifically answer that question in Joseph’s situation,…

So, after Joseph had thought about the action he would take toward Mary, and decided righteously, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and explained the whole thing and give Joseph instructions – so Joseph would know the truth. Knowing the truth, no doubt, was a wonderful thing – Mary was not unfaithful! What a blessing – thank you God! Knowing the truth, however, was the foundation for a deeper call to faith. Joseph would NOT put Mary away, as the cultural demanded – HE WOULD, IN FAITH, CARE FOR HER. He would do what God asked in the face of what would have been public humiliation.

The call of God on your life will ALWAYS lead to faith. It will lead to thinking and actions that moves against the norms of this world. This is the pattern – God works in lives and the outcome is faith. The power of God’s friendship, the forgiveness of our sins, produces freedom – freedom from the slavery of sin and culture. We no longer need be enslaved by culture or upbringing, or the tragedies of the past – we can leave that and move forward.

If you simply look through the Bible you will see this over and over again. Abraham, Moses, the prophets, the disciples, all those who would follow Jesus are called to a new vision of life and a new mission for life.

We don’t know a great deal about Joseph and most people think he died sometime between Jesus’ age 12 and Jesus crucifixion. At age 12 Jesus went to Jerusalem with his parents (Luke 2) and Mary was probably a widow at Jesus’ death because Jesus asked John to take care of her (John 19).

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We can learn much by studying Joseph – but the heart of this passage is all about Jesus, the one who came to make us right with God, the one who would save us from our sins.

The first part of Matthew 1 is there to show Jesus as aligned with King David – very important. Verses 18-25 shows us that this child was divine – “God with us”. Many are willing to accept Jesus as a great teacher who changed the world. It is another thing to believe and embrace Jesus as God – the One who would save from sin.

Two Sundays ago we talked about how Jesus saves us from our sins and how he takes away the power of Satan. Jesus came, in humility, as a man two thousand years ago so he could face life as we do – without sin. And then in death stand in our place before God and absorb the judgment I deserve. How is the power of Satan destroyed? Our sins are forgiven.

By claiming Jesus as my Champion, by trusting Jesus as my hope, I am forgiven.

Last Sunday we saw that Jesus did not come to be served – he came to serve. (Mark 10:45) He did not come to gather a bunch of slaves – he came to create friends (John 15:14-16) who trust him. He came to die and then turn undeserving people, like me, into friends.

Acts 4:12 (NIV)
¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Many people are more than willing to see Jesus as simply a good teacher – even someone who fits into a religious construct. Jesus did not come two thousand years ago to fit into anything. He came to make us right with God. He came to give new life. He came to claim a people that are desperate for help. God is now with us.

Last week we talked about Christmas as found in Hebrews 2:14-18 and Philippians 2 – Jesus did not find equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he humbled himself and became like us (Christmas) so he could face the wrath of God in our place.  In his death for us our sin is forgiven and Satan is stripped of his power.  Through the forgiveness of our sin we are friends of God and can now move into the life we were created for.

I want to talk about Christmas again today (and set the stage for communion) through another magnificent passage, this time in Mark.  In Mark 10:35-45, Jesus speaks specifically about a very difficult concept that is vital to understanding why he came and how we should live.  The more I look at myself and this world around me, in the light of Scripture, the more I see the distance between God’s ways and my ways, between God’s ways and the construct of the world we live in.  Seeing and understanding these differences is very important if the Holy Spirit is to move us toward the image of Jesus – both individually and as a fellowship.

Today we’re going to look at one of these difficult, fundamental differences that confused the disciples and can easily confuse us.  Two thousand years ago, the concept that the Messiah, the One we should follow, the One who would defeat wrong would not present himself as a military or political leader was beyond reason.  Even though he could heal the sick and crippled, and feed thousands from almost nothing, and raise the dead to life, he did not and would not destroy the gentile “dogs” that ruled over them – he couldn’t be the One.  Jesus, however, would not fit into the earthly power-based thinking of the time – he came as a servant.

Mark 10:35-45 (NIV)
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”  ”What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.  They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”  “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.

⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them (leverage), and their high officials exercise authority over them (press their position of leverage to the utmost – slavery). ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

James and John were convinced that Jesus was who he said he was – that’s good.  So, being the opportunistic boys they were, they decided to take a bold step and ask for the places of highest honor – sitting to the right and to the left of Jesus.  We could talk about this at length, but for today I want us to note Jesus’ immediate reply.  He asked, “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  In other words, “Can you follow my example?”  James and John, at that point, had no idea what this really meant.  Jesus would explain what he meant, and then he would live it out in front of them.

Matthew 16:25 (NIV)
²⁵ …whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Luke 14:27, 33 (NIV)
²⁷ …anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

³³ …any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

First – verse 42 – The earthly model of “ruler” is deeply corrupt.  It is sin-riddled and designed to satisfy self.  It revolves around power and influence and money. It strokes the ego.  Here Jesus is holding out this earthly example of Roman society so he can draw the proper contrast.  We know how the earthly model looks – it’s not the right model for those who would follow Jesus.

This is difficult, we’re pressed on every side to understand the construct of the God-rejecting world to be life-giving.  But it actually leads to death and not life.  And people are greedy and dysfunctional – they understand a “servant” perspective as weakness and they look to take all they can – it doesn’t really work – it’s not pragmatic.  In the end power is the only thing that works.

Second – verses 43-44 – The one who is truly great in God’s kingdom is the one who serves others.

Third – verse 45 – Our example of service is found in Jesus and his service.  Here, however, I want to be clear and I want to be careful.  So I want to be clear – all those who find salvation in Jesus must change their reality from power to service:

Mark 9:35 (NIV)
³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Luke 9:48b (NIV)
^48b …For he who is least among you all-he is the greatest.”

Matthew 23:8-12 (NIV) – Jesus speaking to his disciples
⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. – Titles tend to play into the earthly construct of power.

John 13:14-15 (NIV)
¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

In this passage however, and here’s where we must be careful, if we read it carefully, we find two things.  First, Jesus was NOT asking his disciples to serve him – he was asking them to serve each other – that’s messy.  Second, and this may be the primary message; Jesus here is making a very important “bottom line” kind of statement – he was disclosing a profound truth – JESUS CAME TO SERVE and not be served.  In this passage Jesus is not looking for servants – he is looking for friends who think like he thinks.

Jesus, in humility, came to serve

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Philippians 2:7 (NIV) – last week
⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

John 10:15b (NIV)
^15b …I lay down my life for the sheep.

If you are trusting Jesus as your savior this morning I want to talk with you.  It is good, and proper, and appropriate to be a willing servant of King Jesus.  We must be careful in this however.  Because we are flawed and influenced by the culture around us, we may be defining “servant” badly – we may link servant and slave.  We may see ourselves as slaves that are being coerced into service.  Or we may see ourselves as servants in a legalistic way – the more I sacrifice for the cause the more God will like me. These are wrong ways of looking at service.

In the relationship that only Jesus can offer, he is looking for lives that see life the way he sees it.  Not service through obligation but service through like-mindedness.  The Holy Spirit produces born-again people who share Jesus’ vision and serve him from that perspective ONLY, because Jesus serves us.

John 15:14-16 (NIV)
¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you (as a friend) to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

I take this to mean that our service to Christ should be a result of an intimate friendship with Jesus, an alignment with his vision and mission (knowing the master’s business) – not a slave-based arrangement or employer/employee relationship.

Christmas is the time of year where we celebrate Jesus, the King of Glory, coming in humility to serve – that he might Glorify God and that we might have might forgiveness and life.

It is not easy to serve each other.

Jesus served those who deserve nothing – that’s real service.

Today we are going to celebrate Jesus’ service (his death for us) together.  We’re going to claim, in symbolic form, Jesus’ death for us as our hope for life.  We have done to NOTHING to deserve Jesus’ sacrifice, we can do NOTHING to earn it, we can do NOTHING to pay him back – that’s horrible thinking.  We cling to Jesus because we have nothing to offer and we need help.  He is always the giver, I am always the receiver.

Christmas is fast approaching so I’d like to move in that direction over the next three weeks. I’d like to connect this Christmas message to the series we’re in – moving from “Consumption to Compassion” – I think it’s a natural fit. Christmas is all about moving from comfort to mission, from consumption to compassion. This is a central call for those who have given themselves to Jesus. Remember what the apostle Paul said in another core Christmas passage:

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)
⁵ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

To Jesus the Glory of God was the most beautiful reality and purpose that existed. Through Jesus’ humble life of faithful obedience, which included his death, God would display his Glory – we should be like that. In order for any hope to exist there needed to be someone who could represent us before God and bring his children safely home. So instead of simply leaving us in our sin with no hope, Jesus gives himself to the need – we need to be more like that.

Two thousand years ago Jesus came as a humble servant AND as the focal point of history. This was difficult for the world to accept then and it’s difficult for the world to accept now. It’s easy to think that if Jesus is truly the King of Glory he would rule the way a good earthly king would rule, except with more power and force. Earthly power and force – that’s something I can believe in. God wouldn’t really come as a baby and expose himself to the evils of humanity would he?

This is what the book of Hebrews talks about – the perfect ways of God, in Jesus, verses the imperfect thinking of man. There is a wonderful Christmas passage in the book of Hebrews that I’d like to look at.

Hebrews 2:14-18 (NIV)
¹⁴ Since the children (those Jesus would rescue) have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement (propitiation) for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Verses 14 – 15 give an overview of why Jesus needed to become like us.

Vs 14-15

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy (disarm – render powerless) him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil –

This is a profound reality. Jesus could not die in our place unless he could die. Jesus could not face God’s judgment for us unless he could actually take our place and face God’s judgment. He needed to face everything we face, without sin, and die like we do – and face God’s judgment for all those who would trust him as their Champion. How can God die? He becomes like us. This is the message of Christmas – God comes to earth as a child so we can kill him. Through his victory over death he disarms Satan. We don’t celebrate Christmas because a baby was born 2,000 years ago – babies are born all the time. We celebrate Christmas because God came into our sin-filled reality in order to render powerless the one who holds the power of death. Paul mentions this disarming in his letter to the Colossians:

Colossians 2:15 (NIV)
¹⁵ And having disarmed the powers and authorities, [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Jesus was on Satan’s home court 2,000 years ago – and he was human, like us. With life and death in the balance, angels and demons looking on while Satan hurled everything he had at the One who is our only hope. AND the cross itself is the tool God used to disarm Satan – a public defeat that cannot be reversed. Jesus made a public spectacle of his enemies at the cross.

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¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

And now that death cannot win, we are free to live the fear free lives we were meant to live. Now physical death is NOT defeat and there is no victory for the enemy. Now we do not need to live as if this is all there is. We can live for the King like Jesus did. The priorities of this world no longer need to be our priorities. I’ve asked this before but I must ask this again, “How does one live if he/she cannot die? How does one live if this world holds no sway over us?”

Verses 17-18 help us understand, in more detail, of how Jesus becoming like us actually accomplished the saving work on the cross.

Vs 16

¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.

Two thousand years ago angels were predominant in Jewish thinking so the author of Hebrews is letting them know that Jesus is the not some only-spiritual being – like an angle. The logic goes something like this – Since Jesus needed to become like the one’s he rescued, he was actually human – because he came to rescue humans – he didn’t come to rescue angles. In the coming of Jesus, God is fulfilling promises he long ago.

Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Vs 17-18

¹⁷ For this reason (because he came for humans – not angles) he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement (propitiation) for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

When Jesus became like us he also fulfilled the Old Testament role of high priest – the one who would stand between God and man, the one who would represent the people before God, the one who would offer sacrifices for the people.

Hebrews 7:23-25 (NIV)
²³ Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; ²⁴ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. ²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

This priest does not need to offer sacrifices for himself and he lives forever – Jesus is the perfect priest who can stand before God, for us, perfectly.

Second – Not only is Jesus the perfect priest who can represent us forever, he is also the perfect sacrifice. So, I’d like to talk about this very important word in verse 17 – atonement.

This is a vital concept here. Jesus does what must be done to connect us with God (at-one-ment). And by reading the verse here we see that what needs to be done is, sin must be dealt with. The life-ending cancer of sin must be dealt with if there is to be oneness between God and man. Sin must be killed if there is to be life, and not death, for us.

So how does that work? How is sin dealt with. The word “atonement” here is being used to show us the outcome of Jesus action for us – connecting God with all those who trust Jesus as their savior. This is good and right and wonderful. But the Greek word here does more than describe the end result of Jesus work – it describes the work itself. This word atonement here, is actually another theological word – propitiation. Propitiation is the role of the sacrifice – to absorb the wrath of God. Jesus accomplished atonement for us, Jesus brought God and man together by absorbing the wrath of God for us. If I am to take the consequences of my treason (loyalty to self and not God) – I have not hope.

I want to close by making sure we understand how God, based on this passage, actually disarms Satan. I want to summarize how Jesus has made Satan impotent. I want to make sure we know why we celebrate Christmas – Jesus coming to earth as a baby. We don’t see in this passage that Jesus defeats Satan by banishing him to hell – that will come. We don’t see in this passage that Jesus defeats Satan by using a magic incantation or fights him with a sword. How does Jesus destroy Satan’s power? By going to the cross so are sin is dealt with – so we are forgiven. If my sin does not stand between God and me; if God is now my friend and not my enemy, sin has no power and Satan is neutered. My sin is Satan’s power. If my sin is forgiven Satan is defeated. Does this mean Satan won’t attack? No. But his attacks, his darts and arrows have no power of their own. It is my weakness that is the problem. Instead of confronting Satan, I need to have a bigger and better understanding of the gospel. Instead of confronting Satan, I must draw closer to Jesus.

CRAIG HENSEL

A couple weeks ago I spent the week in Chicago for a class titled becoming a missional church. It was a great week. I got to sit in classroom for a week. I’ve been 8 years removed from that setting. In many ways, I felt like a elementary school kid going into junior high. Here are some things that I was refreshed in and reminded of.

1. We serve a sending God.
   1. God sent Abraham to bless and be a blessing. Genesis 12:1-4
   2. Isaiah 6:8 – Isaiah was sent by God and for God
   3. John 1:6 – There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
   4. God sent Jesus into the world to seek and save. Luke 19:10
   5. Jesus The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery to the blind. Luke 4:18-19.
   6. And finally, Jesus said, go and make disciples of all nations. This one reminds us that we are part of the plan.
   7. My friend Kelly put it like this. We are into extraction theology. People come to Christ and go to the shelter and never come out.

In ancient mid-eastern culture, it was common practice to welcome in the traveler, to provide for them to make sure they were cared for. In most cases the guest would have rule of the house. To show love to a stranger was to basically give him the keys to the house. In fact I was talking with talking with a friend in Japan who tells me this is still common practice in the east. He has experienced it.

In regards to my own life, this is how it happened. I am a first generation Christian. My parents didn’t raise me in the church. All the examples in my life starting when I was 6 were Christians inviting me into their lives, for dinner, babysitting, fishing, sleep overs etc. They invited me in, the stranger.

There are places in scripture where hospitality is dealt with in this way.

Job 31:32 says this, “But no stranger had to spend the night in the street for my door has always been open to the traveler.”

Mark 6:8-12 Jesus quite possibly infers it saying, “These were his instructions, take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic, whenever you enter a house stay there until you leave that town. And if any place not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave as a testimony against them.”

Paul on his missionary journeys constantly praises people for showing hospitality, here is an instance.

Romans 16:23 , “Gaius whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.”

What gets in the way of this?

Individualism -

Body –

I recently asked some of my friends who grew up in church if their parents had people over who didn’t know Jesus. The overwhelming response was no. This was shocking to me. I have to the conclusion that Hospitality is one of the keys to the mission of Jesus which for us it to make disciples.

Hospitality in Greek is this: love of strangers.

Romans 12:13, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need, practice hospitality.”

Hebrews 13:1,2 “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

In many ways, we are longing to be like the NT church. We crave the type of fellowship that we see in ACTS.

Hospitality is so important it is a prerequisite for being an elder.

1^st Timothy, “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self- controlled, respectable, hospitable,

able to teach,”

Points:

1. Start looking at people as travelers. We live in a day where we are more mobile than ever. Welcome people into your lives so Christ name isn’t tarnished. Welcome people into your home.
2. Invite a co-worker to your house.
3. Start a conversation with a neighbor you haven’t spoken with.
4. Invite someone over in this church.
5. Our faith should be distinctively modeled counter culture to what everybody else is doing.
6. You can make the argument that Hospitality was practiced just amongst Christians when they roamed from town to town, or just the apostles, but let’s not forget that we don’t know who God is is drawing in, and as Paul said, we might be serving angels. The point in all of this is to get over our fear, serve people, ask God to develop in our hearts love for strangers.

In December we are meeting on two Saturday evenings, here in this building. We are inviting people in this community to have a meal with us and to have family pictures taken. We are creating a venue through which we as a group can meet people, befriend people, expose them to who we are and hopefully, then or at some point, to Jesus.

Why are we doing this? - I would like to answer this, in part, by talking about who we should be as those who are trusting Jesus.

God is looking to make all things new, to reclaim all things for his glory. He does this by turning on lights where there is darkness. In his kindness he shows himself to those in need and rescues them. He gives new life, new hearts, new hope, new priorities, new vision, new purpose – Jesus creates new people. These new people who have new lives and new hearts, and new purpose are then to live who they have become and so point others to the One who gave them life. God is looking to introduce himself through our new lives and claim others for Jesus as we share the gospel with them.

When Christians own a business, that business should have a unique Christ-exalting ethos that shows itself and points to Jesus. Where there is a Christian family there should be a light in the neighborhood. Jesus should be seen in the relationships, Jesus should be seen in the hospitality, Jesus should be seen in the conversation, Jesus should be seen in the joy, and Jesus should be seen in the tears – all things point to Jesus. Where there is a Christian employee, there should be a light in the workplace that is hard working and pointing to Jesus. Where there is a fellowship like Community Bible Church there should be a light in the city pointing to Jesus, an alternative example of community, an alternative example of what it means to live in unity, an alternative example of how people can care for each other – all pointing to Jesus. We should be a testimony for Jesus in our actions, our speech, and in our message – the gospel.

The person saved by Jesus should be someone who is moving toward being the person Jesus was. Jesus seemed to have harmonious unity in the “compartments” of life – he didn’t seem to struggle with motives and the “compartments” of life the way we do. Everything he did, every thought he had, every event in his life served the same purpose – the glory of God. Everything about him was moving in the same direction. Under stress he thought as God’s person would think. When he saw the horrendous impact of sin, he felt and acted as God’s person would feel and act. When he cared for people he did so because he cared for people, AND he was looking to confront the power of sin (the fight for justice), AND he was looking to show himself as the Messiah – it all came together. He lived and breathed and walked and talked as the perfect human would. He oozed loving compassion AND resolute hatred of sin AND the desire to please God by dying for those who are undeserving.

Jesus did not simply declare a message of hope – he lived a message that showed God. People followed him and believed in him not only because of his words but because his life established the truth of his words.

So, why are we doing this? I would say there are many reason:

• We want to live as we should in as many ways as possible
• We want to use our varied gifts in a unified way that not only serves this fellowship but also in a way that reaches out
• We want to learn from each other as we connect with those outside the fellowship
• We want to share the gospel
• We want to expose people to a warm group of friends so we can connect with them again

One segment of Winona we would like to see here is those that are in financial need, those who can’t afford family pictures, those who are unemployed, those who need help. People like this were important to the apostles and important to Jesus. There’s an interesting story in Galatians 2:1-10 where Paul goes to Jerusalem to discuss his gentile-ministry with the apostles – this was a new thing. After he does this the apostles approve him and ask only one other thing – remember the poor. And Paul says this is the very thing he was eager to do. The apostles were united in this request, it was important enough to mention as part of Paul’s mission, and Paul was eager to do it.

But where did this passion and this priority come from? For Paul I think we should say it flowed out of the heart that the gospel created. A forgiven heart is a compassionate heart. But for the original twelve apostles, they have not only the new heart of compassion, but also memories of the way Jesus himself lived.

• The vision of the judgment in  Matthew 25 (35-36) where Jesus says, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
• Zachaeus gives half of his possessions to the poor, and Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9). The evidence of salvation is practical, financial compassion for the poor.
• Jesus’ words to the man who invited him to a feast, “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:13-14).
• And inauguration of Jesus’ ministry in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”

The point is: the apostles were agreed on the importance of ministry to the poor because it flows from the center of the gospel-the cross-and because Jesus lived it out. The apostles were eager to bless the poor. It was part of their foundational ministry. I assume therefore it should be a crucial commitment in the church today-in missions and in the ongoing ministry of the church.

And it isn’t just the Christian poor. Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Yes, take care of your own. But the heart of Christ does not neglect unbelievers. Paul said in Romans 12:20, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” Christians who have the heart of Christ and who follow in the paths of the apostles remember the poor to do as much good for them as we can.¹

Psalm 67:1-2 (NIV)
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

Psalm 98:1-3 (NIV)
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Some would say that the ONLY reason Jesus cared for people was so that they, in turn, would see him as the Messiah – he didn’t actually care about their hunger or their pain (injustice). These are dangerous people. To them, if Jesus was walking down an ally alone (no one with him), and he saw a drunk passed out on the pavement struggling to breath because he was laying in his vomit, Jesus wouldn’t help him because he can’t share the message of God’s love. You may think this is an absurd way to think but I’ve experienced this logic. On the other hand, if you feed the poor and give no thought to their greatest need – you are dangerous too.

How should we do this:

• IN FAITH – giving, serving
• IN PRAYER
• JOYFULLY
• WITH EXPECTATION

Ooze Jesus in everything you do

1 Piper, John: Sermons from John Piper (2000-2007). Minneapolis : Desiring God, 2007

Much of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) is committed to two great things – watching and learning from Jesus’ actions, and listening to his teaching. Luke chapter twelve is an example of how and what Jesus taught in order to move his disciples into the call we all face – the call into the mission, the call to actually live for Jesus. Jesus’ primary goal here is seen in the second half of the chapter (starting in verse 35). He wants his servants to be AWAKE and ready, AWAKE and committed to the mission, AWAKE and working, AWAKE and living in the reality that he will be coming back to finalize this phase of history.

In order to get there Jesus is being VERY practical with his disciples in the first part of Luke 12. He is talking with them about concerns and fears they must overcome as they are ready to pursue the mission.

In verse 4 of chapter 12 Jesus talks about the fear of death and it’s remedy – a bold life for Jesus. If we are not ashamed of Jesus and we acknowledge him publicly, Jesus will personally claim us as his own when we die. This will help us move through fear of death because physical death here brings us glory. Remember what Paul said to the church at Philippi:

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Second – in verse 11 Jesus mentions the fear of not responding well, of not knowing what to say when we face ridicule for Jesus. Not to worry – the Holy Spirit will be there for us. We don’t need to have a PhD in apologetics or a doctorate in Theology – we need to live for Jesus and the Holy Spirit will equip us.

Matthew 10:19-20 (NIV)
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Then, before Jesus goes to the third fear or worry, which we’re going to talk about, he tells a quick parable to introduce it. This is the parable about the rich man who is so focused on accumulating for himself that he is going to launch a major building project. He is going to tear down his existing barns and build new ones. God has a response to this:

Luke 12:20-21 (NIV)
²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ ²¹ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

And now we move to the third issue Jesus mentions – elevating minor, self-centered concerns while ignoring what we should be doing.

Luke 12:22-34 (NIV)
²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. (daily needs). ²³ Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷ “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus is clearly NOT saying we shouldn’t work to provide for our needs. He’s not saying we should live irresponsible lives – although God’s idea of how we should live a responsible life is clearly different than the world’s idea. He is addressing the issue of worry or preoccupation with the daily needs of live when there are much more important things to occupy us. He is talking about our tendency to focus on or worry about the small stuff which then causes us to neglect what’s most important. This is very easy to do and can easily imbed itself in our thinking so we think this is acceptable and normal – not for a disciple of Jesus. I get this from verse 23 – Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

John 6:27; 33 (NIV)
^“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”; ³³ For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Verses 24-28 attempt to show how silly it is to worry this way.

Verses 29-30 approach this from a different angle. To set your heart on what you’re going to eat or drink is to copy the behavior of the world. Rather move toward the kingdom – seek the kingdom first – adjust your life so kingdom is first, food is later.

In verse 32 Jesus seems to take a different tone with the disciples here – a tender, intimate, caring tone. Don’t worry about the cost of following me, God is happy to give you the kingdom, God wants fullness of joy for you, God wants you to be involved in this great reality of Jesus’ victory. God wants the best for you, so loosen your grip on the things that take you away from living by faith.

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

How do we live as people who have put their lives in the hands of Jesus? This is what we are doing when we trust Jesus as savior – we are giving our lives to him. We are saying, “Jesus, I am a sinful, self-centered person with sinful programming and sinful desires. This leaves me with judgment and not forgiveness, death and not life, separation from God and not friendship. I’m sorry – I will take you, Jesus, as my hope, I am trusting you to act on my behalf before God. I am trusting you to be the righteousness that I need.”

When God calls the sinner to himself, God is creating something new (2 Cor. 5:17) and we should strive to put on this new self (Eph 4:24). So, what does this look like? It means the things of Christ will be paramount in your life. We will be living lives that lift Jesus high.

- We need not fear death, especially if we live boldly for Christ.

- We don’t need to worry about what we must say when the world attacks – the Spirit of God will speak through you.

- We don’t need to live by the world’s rules and spend our lives chasing security here – that doesn’t exist anyway.

- And we don’t need to worry about God’s intention. He wants to give us the kingdom.

Second Timothy is a wonderful book that was probably written near the end of Paul’s life. As a result, it has deep and beautiful thoughts about what it means to live for Christ. In verse 1 Paul encourages Timothy to be firmly dependent on the kindness of Jesus, be full and resolute in your dependence on Jesus (be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus). This is the opposite of how the world would program us, right? Independence, self-sufficiency, dedication to the pursuit of pleasure, comfort and financial security first. Not so as we align with Jesus. Timothy’s call was to be dependent on God as he pursued disciple-making.

Then Paul goes on to illustrate what it means to be strong or resolute or focused on being dependent:

• Just as a soldier thinks only about soldiering and should have no distractions, God is pleased when Timothy is living a life dependent on Jesus and focused on the mission – no distractions.
• Just as athletes are only successful if they follow the rules, Timothy must move in a God-dependent way or there is no victory for him. The most amazing athlete you know is just another idiot if they can’t follow the rules. We’ve seen those, right?. In the end the greatest thinkers in the world, the best humanitarians do not get the crown if they are not God-dependent and working for the glory of Christ.
• Just as the farmer must work very hard and have patience in order to receive the results of his effort, Timothy must, in dependence, continue to work patiently for the cause of Christ – his reward will come.

Then Paul moves to how God is working this out in his life:

2 Timothy 2:8-10 (NIV)
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, ⁹ for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Verse 8 - Paul primarily points out two things. First, Jesus was the one who defeated sin and death. Death did not and will not win – Jesus wins. Second, Jesus is absolutely the One to receive the Old Testament promises God made to his children through king David – God said David’s throne will last forever (1 Sam 7:13-16) – Jesus was a descendent of king David. This is John’s gospel. The promised One has come and defeated death so we could live.

Verse 9 - Persecution DOES NOT stop the gospel. In fact it’s the opposite, right? As the world looks to press the saints into submission, and the saints refuse to succumb, the gospel can actually be seen more clearly. The gospel can be seen as giving purpose and life – it’s worth dying for. There’s an example of this in Philippians 1:12-14.

Philippians 1:12-14 (NIV)
¹² Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me (imprisonment) has really served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

Jesus is our ultimate example here. It is in the midst of sacrifice that the gospel shines. At the cross the glory of God exploded – death dies, we live, Jesus is magnified.

2 Corinthians 12:9b-10 (NIV)
…I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We are strongest when we must depend on God’s kindness and power.

Verse 10 - Because God’s word is not stifled by imprisonment, I will endure everything for the sake of the mission.

It’s VERY important that we know this. The saving gospel of Jesus is not compatible with the priorities and thinking of this world. We are called to put Jesus and his mission ahead of what this world has to offer – really. In this God works because we are living by faith. We are living the way God would have us live – for his glory – even though the masses go a different way.

Young people – you will be tempted to put the world’s construct of romance, love, sex, politics, money, career, and retirement in front of God’s vision for romance, love, sex, politics, money, career, and retirement.

Older person – you will be tempted to put the world’s construct of romance, love, sex, politics, money, career, and retirement in front of God’s vision for your life.

I’d like to look at an interesting connection Paul is making here between the beginning of verse 8 and verse 10. Paul – I am suffering because of the gospel and I endure it for the sake of the mission.

- – -

We are not connected as we should be with the persecuted church. I think in many ways I would like to not think of them – that would allow me to more easily think of how God should be getting me a nicer house or a better car or a bigger steak. The author of the book of Hebrews, however, says this:

Hebrews 13:3 (NASB95)
Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

There is more persecution against Christians today than there has ever been – and it actually seems to be spreading. There are three things that are fairly clear to me:

• First – as humanity “advances” and we unite globally in communications, economics, and purpose, the gospel will increasingly NOT FIT the global objective. Persecution is not and will not be going away until Jesus returns.
• Second – at some point this country will be a very hostile environment for any who would follow Jesus. The freedom that we take for granted will have passed and we, as a country, will be in league with “the beast” depicted in the book of Revelations.
• Third – if we are to stand, if our children are to stand, we must, like Paul said to Timothy in 2 Tim 2:1, live lives that dependent on God’s provision and NOT the resources of this world. We must actually live in faith.

Mark 8:34-38 (NIV)
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

In other words, “If anyone would come after me, he must be the new person Christ has created, shoulder the difficulties of this, and follow me.”

³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? ³⁷ Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

The 20^th Century saw millions of Christians killed or persecuted and I don’t think the 21^st Century will be any different – we should be more connected with them.

The gospel message is a message of compassion. John 3:17 says that God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. He humbled himself and became one of us and lived a perfect life so that when we tortured and killed him he could represent all those who would receive him – he would take their place. My sin would become his sin and his righteousness would become my righteousness. Jesus had compassion like no other.  As Luther said, “Lord, you are my righteousness and I am your sin.”

If this is beautiful to you; if this is breathtaking to you, you are a recipient of God’s compassion. God’s compassion toward us MUST change us – in ways that are noticeable to everyone.

Many Christians are disillusioned with the Christianity in our land today. It seems to offer little more than any secular organization might. There are regular gatherings that create a social subculture. There is often a political direction that can feed endless conversation. There is usually a religious trajectory that emerges on Sunday and then subsides during the rest of the week – after all, my faith is a private thing. In the end there seems to be little difference between the Christian and everyone else. Little difference in hopes and dreams, little difference in language, little difference in marital success, little difference in entertainment, little difference in financial priorities…, there’s just not much difference.

This is certainly not how Jesus lived – he was different. He impacted those around him, and he died because he belonged to God and would not bend to religiosity. This is not how the apostles lived – they were different. They impacted those around them, and died because they belonged to God and stood for Christ. This is not how countless followers of Jesus have lived. They struggled and died in this life because they belonged to God and stood for Christ.

Jesus said some radical things about how his followers live:

Matthew 10:37 (NIV)
“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me…”

Matthew 16:24 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

If we here, as a fellowship, are going to be a light for the lost; if we as a group are going to be salt and light; if we are going to have an impact for the Kingdom, the gospel and all it means must permeate our lives.

Today we’re going to visit a topic and concept I hope we will repeat, in one form or another around the Thanksgiving and Christmas season every year – moving from consumption to compassion. Before we talk about this, however, I want you to know that I think this is a very difficult subject. Not because Scripture isn’t very, very clear on the subject, but rather because this goes to the heart of a critical battle for King and Kingdom. This subject, in many ways, is at the heart of God’s purpose for us – living by faith. Will we live by faith here depending on God for fulfillment or will we follow the culture? Will we put our life’s vision toward the Kingdom or toward self?

1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Hebrews 13:2-3 (NIV)
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. ³ Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Colossians 3:5-12 (NIV)
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

When our spiritual eyes are opened and we see Jesus for who he is, who we were goes off and the new self is created. And this new life, this new self, through the Holy Spirit’s work in our minds is being moved toward the image of Jesus. This new person does not need to be controlled by sin. So, in verses 5-10 Paul tells these Corinthians how they SHOULD NOT be, but what does he tell them to do instead?

¹¹ Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. ¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

In other words, those God has selected for his purposes, God’s chosen people, should understand that first – God’s vision is not limited or confined by ethnicity or economic status, and second, we should be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient – starting with compassion.

Let’s quickly look at a few examples of when Jesus felt compassion. These are verses that actually use the Greek word for compassion.

In Matthew 14:14 we read that Jesus had compassion on a large crowd – and he healed the sick. In Matthew 20:24 we read that Jesus had compassion on two blind men – and he healed them. In Mark 1:41 we read that Jesus was filled with compassion for a leper – and he healed him. In Luke 7:13 we read that Jesus had compassion for a widow who just lost her son – so he raised him from the dead.

Mark 6:34 we read that Jesus saw that the crowds were like sheep without a shepherd – and he taught them (undoubtedly about the Kingdom).

It seems that Jesus really cared about people’s day to day needs AND, obviously, their greatest need – recognizing the Messiah.

Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

On the one hand I want to be the person God wants me to be – I want this fellowship to be what God wants it to be. On the other hand I want to be that person while not fully committed – that’s a tough one. I want God to fully make himself known through me while limiting his reign in my life.

This was the point of a story Jesus told as he was talking to the religious leaders of the day. They were attempting to rationalize why their love for others was limited and measured:

Luke 10:30-38 (NIV)
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ ³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” ³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.