Two Sinners, Two Responses

 Luke 10:25-37

A question is posed to Jesus by an expert in the Law: Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? It doesn’t take much searching to notice that this is not the only time where this question was asked of Jesus. It is interesting to note that Jesus always seems to direct the questioner to the Law: What is written in the Law? How does it read to you? A combination of Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 is the response, which in effect says to wholly love God and to love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus says, Correct; do this and you will live.

I don’t know about you, but for me, there are two ways of looking at this requirement for life. One way requires me to be really shallow and nearsighted, allowing me to emphatically state: “Yes, yes I love God with all my heart! Oh and yep, I love everybody else quite a lot as well.” On the other hand, I might look at this statement and say, “Wow! I might have a couple things in my life in line, but the very idea of actually loving my neighbour as myself is so far beyond my reality that it’s a bit nonsensical- completely contrary to my nature. As for loving God with my whole being, I certainly never could.” It is no surprise that I often find myself quite content to live under the first option.

In verse 29, clearly the lawyer is convicted (join the party). But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Living under the Law, this expert has a prime opportunity to visualize what justice and righteousness really are. He has a clear example of who God is and what it takes to be what God is (righteous). He can see that being on the happy side of justice involves perfection. And finally, he sees that he doesn’t measure up. So what does he do? He seeks to justify himself through a debate of terms. Perhaps if he can uncover the true meaning of neighbour, his acts of piety towards a select group will justify him. Jesus of course solidly removes the lawyer’s argument through the story of the Samaritan. Rather than debating the definition of neighbour (Who do I have to love?), Jesus asks the lawyer which individual acted as a neighbour. It’s no longer a matter of “who is my neighbour?” No, the question is “to whom can I be a neighbour?”

Notice this dialogue does not end with the joy-bringing words this man went home justified before God. Luke 18:14

Isaiah 6:1-7

This passage tells of Isaiah’s vision. It is characterized by a presentation of the magnificence of God.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory.”

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

It is believed that the Father, Son, and Spirit were all presented before Isaiah. He could see the glory that is the Trinity. It is particularly interesting for consideration that he saw Jesus. John 12:38-41

Given the splendid opportunity that something like this is, one would imagine that Isaiah’s reaction would be pure amazement and awe. In fact it makes me think of Jesus’ words to His disciples back in Luke 10: Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” 23-24 Jesus is saying that they are blessed because they are able to see all that was prophesied about: David’s seed, knowledge of the Father through the Son, and miracles worked through God’s power. Who wouldn’t want to see God and know His glory? Isn’t that one of our deepest desires as Christians, to one day see the Lord?

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Indeed it must have been a marvelous thing to see! However Isaiah could not help but notice something. He could not help but notice the painful contrast between himself (a miserable, wretched sinner) and the Lord (lofty and exalted, holy, glorious- the Lord of hosts). Isaiah saw that when considering righteousness in the presence of God, he was but an unworthy spec of dust. This is strikingly similar to Abraham’s consideration of his situation in Genesis 18:27.

Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

What a contrast we have, both between God and man, and between the response of sinners!

“Before you can celebrate and rest in Christ's righteousness, you have to be willing to accept the extent of your own unrighteousness.” –Paul Tripp