Thursday of Pentecost 18

October 8, 2009

"Men will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues and you will be dragged before governors and kings for My sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles." This is the glorious future that Jesus foresees for His disciples. It would be enough to make anyone take pause and reconsider, especially in light of the fact that this comes after Jesus graciously bestows upon them the power to cast out demons and heal every disease.

Jesus gathers His twelve and gives them His authority and sends them out to the "lost sheep of Israel." They are to proclaim "the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" and perform the same miracles that we have been witnessing Jesus Himself performing. Healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers, casting out demons. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? That is glorious stuff! That is what this disciple thing is all about, right? Surely everyone would welcome them with open arms.

Hold on there Tonto. Was Jesus welcomed with opened arms when He did these things? Not all the time, remember when He went to His own hometown? Further Jesus indicates that His disciples will not be welcomed everywhere. He even says, "If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town." Moreover Jesus tells them that their own families might betray them. "Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death and you will be hated by all for My name's sake."

Who wants to sign up now? While the disciples have all authority given to them to forgive sins and heal diseases and drive out demons they will also face enormous opposition and hatred because they proclaim Jesus' message, the Kingdom of heaven is at hand in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Is it any different for those of us who bear the name of Christ today? Not really. There are still many who are hostile to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even some within the walls of the Christian Church. Christians are persecuted and hated because they proclaim that Jesus is the only Savior of the world, that hope for eternal life is found only in Jesus crucified and resurrected. Being a Christian does not mean a life of ease and happiness. It means a life lived under the cross bearing the sinful natures of others and being hated for what we stand for but in the end "the one who endures will be saved."