Fun and Interesting Facts
Walking to the Cross – Week Three
Bible Verse: Luke 9:51-62
Location: Samaria
Key Words in Text: conflict, opposition, discomfort
Why is this scripture significant in Jesus life?
Here we see Jesus establish his intent to go to Jerusalem. Immediately Jesus faces opposition and
rejection. However, Jesus rebukes James and John for wanting to bring fire down, demonstrating how
Jesus breaks the cycle of violence. The second half of this text demonstrates how difficult the road to
Jerusalem would be. In the face of rejection, opposition, and ultimately death would an enthusiastic
follower have the capacity to follow Jesus to the end?
This week’s story location: Samaria
Originally, Samaria referred to a city. (1 Kings 16:24) Later, Samaria
was referred to as a region. (2 Kings 17:24) It is the central region of
ancient Palestine and extends for about 40 miles from north to
south and 35 miles from east to west. It is bounded by Galilee on
the north and by Judaea on the south; on the west was the
Mediterranean Sea and on the east the Jordan River. The mountain
ranges of southern Samaria continue into Judaea with no clearly
marked division. Samaria was
known for its rich agriculture;
wheat, barley, olives and grapes.
The people of Samaria, the Samaritans were not recognized as pure
Jews because of their mixed ancestry. The Samaritans worshipped
the same God among others as the Jews and shared some of the
same rituals. The two cultures were traditional enemies. The Jews
rejected the Samaritans due to their lack of commitment to Jewish
law. In some sources, it states that Samaritans did not care if the
Jews accept them. Being Jewish, Jesus and his disciples were in
constant danger as they traveled this region. “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following
instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans” Mathew 10:5
Samaria is mentioned 109 times in the two books of Kings and in many of the books of the Prophets. In
the New Testament, Samaria and Samaritans are mentioned 20 times.
Stories of Samaria
 Story of the Good Samaritan Luke 10: 25-37
 Story of Jesus at the well with a Samaritan woman John 4: 4-9
Jesus was breaking protocol when he asked the Samaritan woman for water from Jacob’s well.
The living water is just not for Jews but for all. Jesus ministers to the Jews, then the Palestine’s and the
world at large.
Today, the ruins of the city of Samaria are located in the Samaria Mountains and are under the
jurisdiction of the Israel National Parks Authority. It is a part of the Palestinian “West Bank”; centered
around the city of Nablus. “The archaeological remains are impressive. The walls of the city were not
very heavy and made of ashlar blocks of the highest quality. The houses were built in Phoenician style
and beautifully decorated. Archaeologists have found locally carved ivories that illustrate the prophets’
reproach that the rich people of Samaria were living in houses of ivory. (www.livius.org) Today, the region
of Samaria is a divided territory and there continues to be conflict over the land.
Luke 9:51 – 62
A Samaritan Village Refuses to Receive Jesus
51
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent
messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for
him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples
James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven
and consume them?”[k] 55 But he turned and rebuked them.56 Then[l] they went on to another village.57 As
they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus
said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay
his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my
father.”60 But Jesus[m] said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the
kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my
home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom
of God.”
Sources:
www.catholic-resources.org
NSVR Bible
www.bible-history.com
www.livius.org
www.wikipedia.org