Matthew 10v16-42 – Jesus: worth following?

Here are the notes from LightHouse last night.  The first question prompted lots of discussion and debate which was I hope useful.

Read through the passage what questions do you have, what surprises you and what do you just think that is amazing?

Jesus seems to have more in view in these instructions from (16) onwards than just the twelve’s immediate mission to take the good news to the surrounding towns and villages. Look at (17-20) they are not features of this proclaiming of the kingdom to the surrounding towns and villages. The twelve aren’t hauled up before governors and kings, and (5) Jesus has explicitly said they are not to go to the Gentiles but to the lost sheep of Israel, and they have not yet received the Holy Spirit? So what is going on?

(9-15)Describe patterns of welcome and rejection which they disciples should expect as they proclaim the kingdom and perform miracles to verify their preaching, and in these verses (16-42) Jesus is extending this pattern to teach about what they should expect longer term. In fact it seem to fit best with the events of the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus is extending the pattern of acceptance and rejection and showing how that will work out in the future, a pattern which continues today. It is not just a pattern for the Apostles, or the early church, or for missionaries or evangelists or the keen disciple, it is the enduring pattern of cross shaped discipleship. There are two key parts to the pattern I want us to see:

1. The world hates Jesus and therefore his followers, and 2. God the Father loves Jesus and his followers

1. The World hates Jesus and therefore his followers
How does the world feel about Jesus? I’m not talking about the anaemic ‘be nice’ good teacher or miracle worker, I mean the real confrontational, powerful, self sacrificing, sin defeating, crucified and risen saving Jesus Christ, God the Son, the King of kings?

How does the world feel about Jesus disciples? I guess our gut reaction would be to appeal to the idea of tolerance – the god of our age.  As an aside its fascinating that we society so values tolerance when it is such a unflattering idea. You try meeting someone protestations of love for you with the reply 'that's nice and I tolerate you.' Or how woudl you feel if the meal you have lovingly laboured to prepare was met with 'That was tolerable.'? To tolerate someone or something is not value them or love them it is to put up with something.  People are tolerant of other faiths, even Christianity, but are they really? I think the idea of tolerance as a universal good lulls us into thinking the world around us doesn’t mind followers of Jesus; it lets us think we fit in unopposed. But that doesn’t fit in with what Jesus says here.

Jesus warns his disciples that because the world hates him it will hate them (22). **How does he describe his disciples as he sends them out into the world? “like sheep among wolves...” That is not how you want to be described! They are being sent out into a world of danger and threat and menace, (17-25)outline some of those threats and dangers; arrest, floggings, trials, betrayal by family, death, hatred, persecution, false accusations, and slander.

It is not a positive picture is it? “sheep among wolves...” Jesus says go out and preach and proclaim and expect to be hated, persecuted, victimised and slandered for it. Expect the gospel proclaimed to cause division, opposition and resentment even in families (21, 34-36). Do you notice why it will cause division in families? Because Jesus becomes the new priority, he becomes the most important thing, and it challenges the previous priorities of the family. Becoming a disciple, following Jesus changes us so that we are no longer the father, or son, or mother or daughter, or husband or wife that we once were. It changes the way we view money, time, love, goals, values and it will be resented. Becoming a disciple, living as a disciple will cause conflict and opposition not just out there, in the world at large, but in families.

Jesus lovingly doesn’t hide the cost of discipleship. Following him changes everything, it costs, it involves carrying our cross(38) – not a nice little easily carried gold version on a nice necklace but one that speaks of pain, separation, commitment, conflict, one which it can take great effort and strength to carry.

Do you see both the sheer scale but also the intimate nature of the conflict and division Jesus says being a disciple will bring? Is that what we expect when we take the gospel to our families, when we live as a disciple in front of them? Is that what we expect as we take the gospel to work, or neighbourhood? It is part of the enduring pattern of the kingdom, this clash between Jesus and world as Jesus confronts the world in its sin through us.

I guess it’s easy to see the world’s hatred of Jesus in places like North Korea where it is illegal and punishable by death to possess a bible or other Christian materials, 50-70,000 Christians are estimated to be in squalid prisons right now for their faith. Or in Iran where Pastor Nadarkhani endured his 1000th day in prison, this week, for refusing to recant his faith and return to Islam and lives under a death sentence with little hope of release.

But how do we reconcile Jesus words from Matthew 10 with Doncaster 2012. Does the world hate us? The world has no problem with a placid, plastic Jesus, or with placid, plastic Jesus followers who tolerate and accept anything and stand for nothing. But our world hates those who live like Jesus. It is seen in the anger that flares up when we proclaim what the disciples proclaim here, that the kingdom is come in Jesus and in Jesus alone. It rises up when we live lives that mirror Jesus’ confronting the world, false religion and sin. It is seen in the teasing of children for being bible bashers or believing in God, it is seen in the reaction of utter contempt for believing in anything other than the big bang, it is seen in cries of bigot for teaching the bibles view on marriage. It is seen in the intolerance of our stand against sin in our lives.

The world, our world, still hates and wants to kill the real Jesus and will try to do so if he is seen in us, maybe not physically but by silencing us, pressuring us, badgering and bullying us, ostracising us. By pressurising us into compromising or staying quiet, or into only exercising our faith in private, or by simply getting us to buy into the notion of tolerance as the ultimate good but one which compromises our stand for Jesus.

The world doesn’t love disciples of Jesus. It is amazing isn’t it that Peter doesn’t butt in and as the spokesman for the group say well if that’s what it will be like I’m off and lead the twelve back home. But Jesus isn’t just saying life will be tough, you will be different, he is also telling them how and why it is worth it.

God the Father loves Jesus and his followers
I think when we read this material there are three dangers: 1. Is that we are terrified and stop following Jesus, 2. We think Jesus is exaggerating and don’t take it seriously, and 3. We focus on our failure to really stand out to be different and berate ourselves and guilt ourselves into trying harder.

Notice what Jesus teaches alongside his teaching on the hostility, hatred and opposition of the world. The provision and love of the Father for his people and their future, he explains why it is worth enduring and God’s provision to enable us to endure.

Jesus teaching here should be ringing bells in our heads, **where have we heard something similar before? 5v10-12, where the persecuted are called blessed – those who are persecuted for their faith and following Jesus are those who are favoured by God and whose future is secure both in this life and for eternity.

And Jesus picks up that pattern here as he teaches them who they are and where their security is found, how it is possible and why it is worth enduring despite such opposition. You are:

Sheep with a shepherd
(16)Jesus description of the disciples being sent out as sheep among wolves has a context to it, we saw last week that Jesus comes to be **what? The Shepherd of his people, the good shepherd you can trust to guide, provide and bring his people to God. That is the context of Jesus sending them out, that is who they are as they go, they are Jesus sheep under his care and secure in his provision. As part of that care he is forewarning them of what to expect and how to live (17) wisely aware of what they will face and the opposition of the world but also with a purity of purpose.

Not Alone
(19-20)**What does Jesus promise them? The Holy Spirit to help them stand and answer. That liberates them from worry about what to say, they are not alone, God will provide a helper, a comforter who will speak through them.

God’s people (26-31)
**Why does Jesus tell the disciples not to be afraid of those who persecute them? Because of the nature of God. Sometimes people focus on fear of God, as if God is the bigger threat to the believer than man is. Rather Jesus is calling them to get a right perspective on where the power lies, on who has real eternal authority, power and significance; God not man. But Jesus doesn’t just speak about the need to fear God, but also about the loving tender care of God (29-31) in which disciples can trust. God sees the tiny details of our lives and is concerned for his people and he loves his people and cares for them.

Secure for eternity (32, 39)
There is something worse than death and there is something greater than just living. Disciples need to retain that perspective as they face opposition and hatred; this life is not all there is. Real life is found in trusting Jesus and living for him.

Disciples making disciples (40-42)
The passage ends with a positive image of those who respond to the gospel, those who come to trust Jesus and therefore welcome the disciples and their message and in turn themselves follow Jesus. This is not a pointless or fruitless mission. The purpose of being a disciple is to make and spur on other disciples!

It’s important we ground this call to radical discipleship in the context of Matthew, if we just try to live as radical disciples we will burn out. This call to such radical discipleship flows from a deep understanding of who Jesus is, notice Jesus only sends them out after they have seen his working, after they have seen him still the storm and heal and overcome demons and so on. They need to know and trust Jesus before they go out for Jesus. The mission that speaks about in these verses will take place after Jesus death, resurrection and ascension, and it flows from their understanding and appreciation of his love and grace shown to them. It is a response to what Jesus has done; it is mission out of the overflow of grace.

This is not a call for radical discipleship first and foremost. It is a call to understand who we are as disciples of Jesus and then, and only then, can we be liberated to count the cost, and give our life to the one who we know only ever has our good and his glory at heart even as we face opposition for him.

1. How does the world’s hatred of Jesus show itself in its treatment of Jesus followers?

2. Where do you feel the hatred of the world towards Jesus?

3. A friend tells you they have stopped living as a disciple in the home and at work because it is just too hard and causes too much conflict. How would you use this passage with them?