Tuesday, July 09, 2013

The Long Journey

In Luke Chapter 9 we see Jesus setting off on the long journey to Jerusalem when all matters would come to a head.   He sent messengers ahead to arrange hospitality in a Samaritan village.   They came back to tell him that the village had rejected him.   James and John were indignant and wanted to ask for heavenly fire to consume the unfriendly village.   Jesus wasted no time in such activity and simply went further on to another village.   We need to see that if people reject Jesus it is (hopefully) no fault of ours if we are preaching his good news.   There is always the risk of failure in our mission to the world.   Having spent some time in tele-marketing in the past I know that as well as success there is failure through rejection.   However, if we cover the required ground, we shall find those who will accept Jesus.
As Jesus walked along three would be followers came to him.   To the first he said he must expect to have nowhere to stay as he followed him.   To the second came the advice that there was no time to deal with domestic matters.   If he was to come it had to be there and then.   The third one was told that on this journey there would be no looking back.   So, we learn that it will be no luxurious experience, it is something that is urgent, and it involves no looking back.   So, it is a Spartan existence journeying with Jesus.   There is no room for any passengers, because each follower is an intrinsic part of the mission.   We all must play an important role as we preach the gospel.   Remember that expression, "the priesthood of all believers."   It means that we all share the ministry of the Christian faith.   We all have to work our passage.
In the next chapter of Luke we read that Jesus sent out 72 men in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.   His comment was that "the crop is heavy, but the labourers are few."   How well this mirrors the task facing Christians today!   Another telling comment was "I am sending you like lambs among wolves."   We certainly know that feeling!   The messengers were authorised to act in the same way as Jesus.   They were empowered to heal the sick as well as tell the story.   The men returned with their tails up!   They reported how they had even been able to drive out demons!   They were amazed at what this empowerment had achieved.   Jesus gave a warning to them that casting out demons was not what it was about.   That was simply a means to an end.   It was all about finding enrolment in heaven.   So - no bragging at what we might achieve - just keep on working in the faith.
It was a long journey to Jerusalem and our journey, today, is also long.   There is so much to do as we preach Jesus, crucified and risen.   It is true to say that our task is labour intensive!   Do not let the weight of the job overcome you.   Remember the story of the boy putting beached starfish back in the sea.   He knew he could not get them all back in the water, but he made sure that those he could save were saved.   That is the nature of our Christian mission. 

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home