Matthew 10:40-42

5^th Sunday a. Pentecost | 07/02/23 | Matthew 10:40-42 | Brad Everett |

You’re not on your own.

That’s the essence of the three verses Jesus concludes his instructions to the disciples with before sending them out.

You’re not on your own.

A cliched phrase perhaps, but it can mean the world to someone venturing into uncharted territory who feels very much on their own.

You’re not on your own.

Because Jesus promises others will be there to care, support and encourage them in ways large and small—for His sake.

The 12 are sent as Jesus’ representatives. He spent the previous verses outlining the various challenges, struggles and strains—physical and spiritual—they can expect to encounter, and concludes with this promise.

You’re not on your own.

The presence, words and deeds of the individuals who welcome Jesus’ disciples for His sake, in ways minute and magnanimous will be a reminder of their Lord’s continuing love and care. It wasn’t necessarily huge crowds, maybe just one or two people who offered care for the disciples and what they offered could have ranged from the lavish to a simple cup of water. No matter, these people received the disciples for Jesus’ sake, offering them what they could as they could.

This promise continues to hold true for all who follow Christ. Each of us in our own ways have been “sent out” into the world to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and deed, to bear witness to the grace of God each one has experienced for ourselves. We too can be expected to have a variety of experiences just as the 12 did, confusion, chaos, struggles, strains, as well as joy and triumph, but through it all is the promise of others who will receive us for Jesus’ sake, who will offer us care and encouragement in many and various ways, all of it reminding us that we are our Lord’s and we are not on our own. If we are looking for these graces, with the help of the Spirit, they are likely more evident and abundant than we may have first imagined.

An extension of this is that we also have the opportunity to serve as the fulfillment of this promise to others for Jesus’ sake. There are brothers and sisters in Christ, doing the best they can to accomplish those tasks God has called them to, feeling very much on their own, looking for some sort of care, encouragement and support  to remind them they are still Jesus’ beloved disciple and received for His sake. The opportunities we have to receive others for Jesus’ sake are likely more than we had imagined, it’s just a matter of looking for them and then acting. The ways we do this varies from person to person, depending on situations and context. It could be grand gesture, or a few kind words, an outpouring of provision or a cup of coffee—but all of it given and received for the sake of Him who called us and sent us.

This mutual care and encouragement, receiving one another, in and for the sake of our Lord Jesus, is one of the ways He reminds us we are His, even in the midst of the good, bad and everything in between life throws at us as we strive to follow Him in this life. Yes, it is a blessing to know Christ is with us, that the Holy Spirit is everywhere present and filling all things—it’s also a blessing to have Jesus’ presence embodied in another who welcomes us for His sake.

We are not on our own.

Brad Everett

Ascension Lutheran Church

Calgary, AB Canada