Shining Light Tells the Good Story 10

THE GREAT HARVEST

1After this, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) chose seventy men from the ones who walked the road with him. He sent them out, two by two, to prepare the way for him in the villages he was about to visit on his way to the Sacred Village of Peace (Jerusalem).

2He said to them, “There is a great harvest before us, but there are not enough helpers. Pray to the Harvest Chief, so he will send more helpers. Go and represent me. 3You will be like lambs walking among wolves. 4Take no money pouch or traveling bundle with you—not even a second pair of moccasins. Waste no time greeting others on the way.

5“When you lodge with someone, say to them first, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6If people of peace live there, you will be welcomed. If not, your blessing of peace will return to you as you leave. 7Stay with the ones who welcome you. There is no need to move around from house to house. Share their food and drink with them, for the ones who work hard are worth feeding.

8“In any village that welcomes you, eat whatever they set before you. 9Offer healing prayers for any who are sick and say to them, ‘Creator’s good road has come close to you.’

10“If you enter a village and no one welcomes you, go into the village pathways and say, 11‘We must wipe the dust of your village from our clothes as a sign against you, for Creator’s good road has come close to you, but you would not welcome it.’ 12I speak from my heart, that village will face a worse end than Village of Bad Spirits (Sodom).”

Creator Sets Free (Jesus) began to warn about what would happen to the villages that saw his greatest signs and wonders but did not believe his message.

13“Sorrow and trouble will come to you, Village of Secrets (Chorazin), and the same for you, House of Fishing (Bethsaida). If the ancient villages of Rock Land (Tyre) and Hunting Grounds (Sidon) had seen the powerful signs you have seen, they would have thrown dirt and ashes on their heads and turned their hearts back to Creator’s ways. 14It will be worse for you in the day when you face your end.

15“As for you, Village of Comfort (Capernaum), do you think you will be lifted up to the spirit-world above? No! You will be brought down low, to the Dark Underworld of Death (Hades).”

Then he turned to his followers and said, 16“The ones who welcome you welcome me. The ones who send you away are sending me away. The ones who send me away send away the one who sent me.”

So, after he said these things, the seventy went out, two by two, to all the villages.

THE HARVESTERS REPORT BACK

17The seventy who were sent out by Creator Sets Free (Jesus) returned. Their hearts were overflowing with joy as they reported back to him. “Wisdomkeeper!” they said. “Even the evil spirits did what we said when we spoke to them in your name, representing you.”

Creator Sets Free (Jesus) looked up to the sky and back down at them.

18Then he said to them, “With my own eyes I have seen Accuser (Satan) fall down like lightning from the spirit-world above. 19Look and see! I have given you authority over snakes and spiders and over all the power of this enemy. Nothing will be able to harm you.”

But then he gave them some words of wisdom.

20“Yes, the spirits must listen to you, but do not be too happy about this. Instead, let your hearts be glad that your names are carved into the rock cliffs of the spirit-world above.”

21The Holy Spirit filled the heart of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) with joy. “O Great Father, maker of the earth and sky,” he prayed, “you have hidden these things from the ones who are wise in their own eyes but have shown them to the humble of heart. Yes, my Father, it has made your heart glad to see this day come.”

22He then turned to the seventy who walked the road with him and said, “My Father has put everything into my hands. Only the Father knows the Son, and only the Son knows the Father. No one can truly know the Father in his fullness unless the Son makes him known.”

23Then he turned to his twelve message bearers and whispered to them, “You have been given a great honor to see these things. 24There were many prophets and chiefs who wanted to see and hear the things you have but did not.”

A SLY SCROLL KEEPER SETS A TRAP

25A scroll keeper, one who was skilled in his knowledge of tribal law, came to Creator Sets Free (Jesus) to test him and trap him in his words.

“Wisdomkeeper,” he said. “What path must I walk to have the life of the world to come that never fades away, full of beauty and harmony?”

26He answered him, “What is written in our tribal law about this? Tell me, how do you see it?”

27The scroll keeper spoke from the words of the law, “You must love the Great Spirit from deep within, with the strength of your arms, the thoughts of your mind, and the courage of your heart,#10:27 Deuteronomy 6:5 and you must love your fellow human beings in the same way you love yourselves.”#10:27 Leviticus 19:18

28“You have answered well,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said back to him. “If you walk this path you will live.”

29But the scroll keeper, wanting to look good to others, asked him, “Who are my fellow human beings?”

HE TURNS THE TRAP WITH A STORY

30Creator Sets Free (Jesus) answered him with a story.

“There was a man walking the road from Village of Peace (Jerusalem) to Moon Village (Jericho). On the way he was attacked by thieves, who beat him, stripped him of his clothes, and left him bleeding to death.

31“Now it happened that a holy man was on the same road, not far behind. When he saw the man, he went around him on the other side of the road. 32Not far behind him was another man, also from the tribe holy men are chosen from. When he saw the wounded man, he did the same thing as the holy man.

33“Then a man from High Place (Samaria),#10:33 The people of Samaria were mixed bloods who had changed the traditional ceremonial ways and were despised by the Jewish people of that day. who was also walking the road, saw the wounded man. Even though he was not a Tribal Member but a mixed blood despised by the tribal people, he felt pity for the man. 34He helped him by pouring good medicine on his wounds and wrapping them in a cloth. He put the man on his own animal and took him to a lodging house to care for him.

35“The next day, when the man of High Place (Samaria) was leaving, he gave from his own money pouch to the keeper of the lodging house. ‘Use this to care for him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will give you anything more that is needed.’”

36Creator Sets Free (Jesus) then looked at the scroll keeper and said, “Which one of these three acted as a fellow human being to the man who was attacked by the thieves?”

37The scroll keeper answered, “The one who had pity on him.”

“Go,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) said, “and walk in the same way.”

CHOOSING THE BEST PART

38As they journeyed on, they went to a village where a woman named Head Woman (Martha) gave them lodging at her house. 39Her sister Healing Tears (Mary), who lived with her, sat next to Creator Sets Free (Jesus) on the floor, listening to his teaching.

As their Wisdomkeeper, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) would teach the men who gathered around him, but this would not have been proper for a woman of that culture.

40Head Woman (Martha) was distracted, trying to get the meal ready for the honored guests. When she saw Healing Tears (Mary) sitting down, she walked up to Creator Sets Free (Jesus) and said, “Wisdomkeeper, do you not care that my sister has left me to work alone? Tell her to help me.”

41“Head Woman (Martha), O Head Woman (Martha),” he said, “I know many things worry and trouble you. 42But you must set your heart on the one thing that matters. That is what Healing Tears (Mary) has done, and I will not take it from her.”

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