In the church calendar, Lent is the days prior to Jesus’ last journey to Jerusalem. For us, it can bedays of examination as we revisit the trial, crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross. A time to refocus our spiritual lives. From His humble birth in a stable, Jesus was rejected by his own family and even threatened in his hometown when he preached there. During His ministry, he was often rejected. I want to use Luke’s record of one more occasion of rejection.

“And when it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And he sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them even as Elijah did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Yeknow not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village” (KJV).

Jesus often would send one or two disciples ahead into a local village to prepare for food or spending the night. He sent this “advance team” into a Samaritan village but this time they turned him down. I liked what the preacher W. E. Sangster wrote: they turned him down not because he was a Jew, but probably because as Luke wrote, “Because his face was as though he were going to Jerusalem” (9:53).

A short history of why this animosity and prejudice between the Samaritans and Jews might be helpful. In 722 BC Samaria was conquered by the Assyrians, who later intermarried with the remnant of Israelites left there. This meant they were no longer pure bred Jews–half Jews; andbecause of this, they could not worship at the Temple in Jerusalem like other Jews. So, they took the O.T. books as their Scripture too; and build their own Temple on Mt. Gerizim. And when they looked at Jesus, “his face was as though he were going to Jerusalem”.

Perhaps, had they thought he would worship with them at Mt. Gerizim, they would have invited in.But, no hospitality there; so good ole Jewish brothers, James and John, want to call down firefrom Heaven and burn them up! Wow! What generous love and kindness towards others who are different! And Jesus rebuked them for that attitude and said, “For the Son of man came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them. And they went to another village” (9:56). In the next chapter, Jesus changed the perception of Samaritans by telling a Parable about a man. Does anyone know what that parable is called? Parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30ff).

Jesus’ face was set for Jerusalem. Two times Luke describes the look on Jesus’ face (9:51 & 53): he knew what was waiting for Him there. Isaac Watts wrote a great Hymn entitled, Marching to Zion and has these words:

“Come, we that love the Lord, and let our joys be known;

Join in a song with sweet accord, and thus surround the throne. We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion,

We’e marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God.”

So, the challenge tonight as we prepare for Lent, is making the journey with Jesus, having been turned away by the Samaritans. Let us reflect on our days, when we too will be rejected because we follow Jesus. As we march toward Zion, are we willing to bear His Name and live out His high calling of holy lives?

Consider some steps of self-denial we might take during Lent.

1. Give Bible reading and regular prayer a higher
2. Fasting a meal a day or every other day, using that time for
3. Asking the Holy Spirit to reveal prejudicial attitudes in my
4. Being more worshipful and faithful in my church
5. Am I generous with the blessings God has given me?
6. Do people I work find it easy and uplifting to be around me?
7. Am I static or growing in my relationship with Jesus?

Eight chapters of Luke later, we find Jesus still on His way to Jerusalem, passing throughSamaria and Galilee. And in Chapter 17, Jesus healed 10 lepers and only

one returned to thank Him; Luke adds this, “…and he was a Samaritan” (v.16). No longer afraidto be seen with Jesus; and now, told by Jesus it was his faith that saved him.

As we carry the sign of the cross, with the imposition of ashes, may we not be afraid or ashamedto be witnesses for Jesus in these days. He comes to where we are and invites us to join Him on His way to Jerusalem. Not to say, we just like Jesus and what He stands for; but to take our stand with Him and love our “Samaritans”.

Used the days of Lent to think about why Jesus came in the first place. As we do, we will come to Good Friday challenged, humbled, and I trust redeemed and remade! Issac Watts went to write in his hymn:

Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God;

But children of the Heavenly King may speak their joys abroad. Then let our songs abound, and every tear be dry;

We’re marching through Emmauel’s ground, to fairer worlds on high.