Text:
Luke 10:8-16
Topic:
The sorrows of Korazin and Bethsaida
By
Gbenga
Aluko
The topic will be looked at with the following
sub-headings:
Background
Textual
records about Korazin and Bethsaida
The
towns they were compared with
The
sorrows of Korazin and Bethsaida
Conclusion
Background
Jesus embarked on His final earthly trip to Jerusalem Luke 9:51 and along that path he chose seventy-two (72) disciples in pairs with a mandate to heal the sick and tell them about the kingdom of God that is at hand Luke 10:9. This is the crux of all gospel outreach till today, are we on track?
Textual records about Korazin and Bethsaida
They were recipients of the message of
salvation vs.9
They were recipients of divine miracles
Vs.13
They rejected the message Vs.10-12
They
rejected God Vs.16
God gave a verdict of Sorrow on them
The towns they were compared with
(a) Sodom:
Gen 18:26 ff Abraham pleaded with God to avert a revealed destruction billed
for the town, this he did in six categories as recorded but because God
couldn’t finally find ten (10) righteous persons the town was destroyed as God
began to rain Sulphur fire on everything in the city animate and inanimate Gen.19:24ff.
The cause stated as Homosexuality, being flagrant sinners amongst other issues.
(b) Tyre
and Sidon: although the town had a good record on supplying some materials used
in building the Temple both during Solomon’s and Ezra’s eras. However, their
nature of extortion, idolatry and immorality was strongly itemized by God’s
prophet/vessels. And their destruction which was also prophesied in the Old
testament came to reality prophesied in Is.23:1-4, Jer. 25,27,47 and Ez.28:11
till the end although some scholars sees Ezekiel’s records as having dual
fulfillment via the Devil and the other via the king of Tyre who was believed
to be latter possessed by the devil and totally behaved like him. The
prophesied destruction of the town was carried out by Artaxerxes. Don’t we have
traits of the devil today?
(c) Capernaum: This town was a notable recipient of many gospels’ miracles as recorded, they rejected Christ, they were also given much but couldn’t even give return little of what they were expected to do. Received God grace but dispensed nothing link-worthy to God’s grace what a pathetic situation leading to an inglorious end, avert it.
The sorrows of Korazin and Bethsaida
Some biblical scholars
said the anti- Christ is going to be raised from that part of the world and as
such they (the immediate residents of that area) will be the first recipients
of His ungodliness and wickedness as cascaded. The scripture in verse 12 tells
of their impending and unfavourable judgement since they neglected Christ, were
sinners, extorters, idolaters and Immorals. Damnation to hell is enough
woe/sorrow for anyone, may our case not be like theirs in Jesus mighty name.
Amen.
Conclusion
Vs.20
of our text warns that the chosen people should not rejoice because evil spirit
obeyed them but rejoice because their names are registered in heaven. Mark
16:17 says clearly that one of the signs that follow us is that we shall cast
out evil spirit and speak with a new language, as sweet as this is, it is not
anything compared with reigning with Jesus, witnessing/experiencing peace and
joy incomparable with our Lord and Saviour may we be counted worthy in Jesus
mighty name. Amen.
