The Way of the Disciple

A Resolute Spirit and a Fiery Rejection

The journey begins with immediate conflict. Jesus sends messengers through Samaria, but the people there refuse to welcome Him. This rejection is not personal but theological; their holy site was Mount Gerizim, and they refused to welcome a prophet whose face was set toward the rival centre of worship in Jerusalem. In response, James and John ask, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to consume them?" They want to imitate the prophet Elijah, but they misunderstand Jesus' mission entirely.

Jesus rebukes them sharply. His mission is one of salvation, not destruction. His response to rejection is not violence, but patient perseverance. This event masterfully prefigures the Passion in miniature. The journey to Jerusalem is met with rejection, prompting a misguided, violent response from His followers, just as Peter would later draw his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane. In both cases, Jesus rejects violence, teaching that the power of Christ is always merciful, patient, and life-giving.

The Radical Cost of Following Jesus

Right after this lesson, Jesus encounters three potential followers. His conversations with them reveal the absolute commitment required to join Him on the journey. These encounters systematically challenge the three pillars of a person's identity in the ancient world, calling for a new identity founded entirely in Christ.

• 1. Detachment from Place (Worldly Security)

  To a man who volunteers to follow Him anywhere, Jesus replies, "Foxes have dens... but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." This is a call to evangelical poverty, a radical letting go of material comfort and the security of a physical home. A disciple cannot be attached to worldly possessions or stability; their only true home and security must be found in the person of Christ Himself, trusting completely in divine providence.

• 2. Detachment from the Past (Obligations)

  Jesus tells another man, "Follow me." The man asks to first bury his father, a sacred and non-negotiable duty in his culture. Jesus' shocking reply, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God," is not a dismissal of family piety. It is a powerful declaration that the mission to proclaim the Gospel is of the utmost urgency. The new life in Christ takes absolute precedence, reordering all earthly duties and demanding an immediate response to God's call.

  In this stark saying, Jesus draws a contrast: let those who are spiritually dead—that is, those not yet alive in Christ—concern themselves with the affairs of the physically dead. The disciple, however, is called to the urgent, life-giving task of proclaiming the Kingdom.

• 3. Detachment from People (Attachments)

  A third man wishes to say farewell to his family, a simple courtesy. Jesus says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." This agricultural image is a call for total, single-minded focus. A disciple must have an undivided heart. Looking back represents a longing for the emotional comfort and security of old relationships and social ties. Following Christ requires a definitive break with any attachment that could pull us away from our forward gaze toward His mission.

  This demand is even more radical than that of the Old Testament prophets. When the prophet Elijah called his successor Elisha, he permitted him to first say goodbye to his family (1 Kings 19:19-21). Jesus' call, however, is of even greater urgency, requiring an even more absolute and immediate commitment.

Commissioning the Seventy-Two

Jesus appoints seventy-two other disciples and sends them out in pairs. This number is symbolic. Some ancient texts read "seventy," echoing the seventy elders Moses appointed to lead Israel. The number seventy-two corresponds to the traditional number of all the nations of the world, signalling that the Gospel is for everyone. He gives them clear instructions that define the Church's mission for all time.

• Pray First: "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few," He says. The first step in mission work is to pray for God to send workers.
• Be Vulnerable: "I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves." Their power is not in worldly strength but in gentleness and non-violence.
• Depend on God: "Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals." They must trust completely in God's providence, showing that the mission's success comes from God, not from human resources.
• Offer Peace and Healing: Their mission has two parts: performing acts of mercy ("cure the sick") and proclaiming the truth ("The kingdom of God has come near to you").

The True Source of Joy

The disciples return full of joy because "even the demons submit to us" in His name. Jesus affirms their victory but immediately reframes it in a larger, cosmic context. He says, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning," revealing their success as a sign of evil's ultimate defeat. He gives them authority to "tread on snakes and scorpions," linking their mission to the first promise in Genesis 3:15 that the serpent's head would be crushed.

Then He tells them, "Do not rejoice at this... but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." This is a crucial spiritual lesson. The true and unshakable foundation for Christian joy is not our success, our abilities, or the power we might have. The real source of joy is the simple, beautiful truth that we are known, loved, and chosen by God for eternal life. This joy is a gift of God's grace, not a result of our accomplishments, and it can never be taken away.

Jesus' own prayer of thanks offers a rare glimpse into the inner life of the Trinity, celebrating that these mysteries are revealed not to the proud but to the humble and childlike.

The Good Samaritan: The Law of Love

An expert in the law, seeking to "justify himself," tests Jesus by asking, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" After the lawyer correctly identifies the two great commandments (love God and love your neighbour), he tries to limit his obligation by asking, "And who is my neighbour?" He wants a clear definition of who he is required to love.

Jesus responds with the famous parable. A man is beaten, robbed, and left for dead. A priest and a Levite, both religious figures, pass by without helping. But a Samaritan, a despised outsider, saw the man and "was moved with compassion." The Greek word used here, esplanchnisthe, describes a deep, gut-level compassion that in the Gospels is used almost exclusively for Jesus Himself. The Samaritan's mercy is extravagant: he cleans the man's wounds, takes him to an inn, pays for his care, and promises to cover any extra costs.

Jesus then flips the question: "Which of these three... was a neighbour to the man?" The lawyer must admit it was "The one who showed him mercy," unable even to say the word "Samaritan." Jesus' final command, "Go and do likewise," transforms the question from "Who must I love?" to "How can I be a loving person to everyone I meet?"

Allegorical Meaning: The Gospel in a Parable

The Church Fathers, like St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, saw this parable as a beautiful allegory for the story of salvation. This Christological reading reveals the deeper answer to the lawyer's question.

Martha and Mary: The One Thing Necessary

The final scene takes place in the home of Martha and Mary. Martha is busy with all the tasks of hospitality, growing "distracted" (in Greek, periespato, meaning to be pulled in many directions at once). Mary, however, sits at Jesus' feet, listening to His teaching. For a woman in that culture to take the posture of a disciple was highly unconventional, yet Jesus praises her for it, affirming her dignity and role in His community.

When Martha complains, Jesus gently corrects her: "Mary has chosen the better part, which shall not be taken from her." This story illustrates the two essential aspects of Christian life: the active life of service (Martha) and the contemplative life of prayer (Mary). While both are vital, Jesus establishes a clear priority. Contemplative prayer, which is communion with God, is the "one thing necessary" because it is the source and goal of all our actions. All our service must flow from a heart that first listens to the Lord.