Concerning rejection of the message

Jesus was frequently misunderstood. In fact, when He taught His disciples how to deal with those who rejected His message, the strength of His directive was enormously misinterpreted by a couple of His disciples.

And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. Luke 9:1-2

Jesus commissioned His disciples to hit the road and proclaim the gospel sometime in the midst of His three year ministry. Matthew’s gospel cited Jesus’ charge this way, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 10:7).

“…As you go, preach…” Whether formally sent out by a commissioning ministry or merely on the go in everyday life, the directive from the Lord was clear: “As you go, preach.” In other words, be on the lookout for assignments from God.

… and [He] gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Luke 9:1b

These anointings were specifically imparted to the twelve, not to everyone following Jesus at the time. However, just before Jesus ascended to the Father, He intentionally included every believer in His charge when He stated, “These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18).

You and I are commissioned as ambassadors for Christ. Jesus relegated that authority to you and me. As you go, preach…and these signs will accompany those who have believed. This is not meant to pressurize anyone; it is meant to inspire and direct every single believer.

And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city.” (Luke 9:3-4)

During His ministry, Jesus charged His disciples to travel light—no money, food, or extra clothes. He was training them to trust God for their every need.

However, right before He was crucified, He adjusted this directive: “And He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?’ They said, ‘No, nothing.’ And He said to them, ‘But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one’” (Luke 22:35-36).

The only explanation He gave for this modification was this: “For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me, ‘And He was numbered with transgressors’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment” (Luke 22:37). Evidently, Jesus knew that some people’s perception about His death would make daily life tougher for His followers. And with this redirection, He continued to make provision for them.

But what about those who didn’t want to hear the message? Check this out:

And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. Luke 9:5

Not everything would be kittens and sunshine for followers of Christ. Some people would reject both the message of Jesus and those who proclaimed it. In response, did the loving Jesus admonish, “Be tolerant of the folks who don’t like My message. Try to see things their way and compromise”?

Not on your life. Instead, He told them to leave the unwelcoming city and shake the dust of that place from their feet.

Aware of Jesus’ firm stance on this issue, a couple of the disciples stepped it up even more when, on the way to Jerusalem, a certain Samaritan village refused to receive Him (see Luke 9:51-53).

When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” Luke 9:5

“Hey,” they said to Jesus, “Let’s show them—let’s call down fire and watch ‘em fry!” After all, He did give them authority, didn’t He?

But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them…”  Luke 9:55-56a

Wonder if—during the days of the guillotine and the stake and the handling of “heretics”—any of them ever studied this Scripture? Jesus said, “Protest, indeed; but make it short-lived—and non-violent.”

When believers are upfront but peaceful with those who don’t receive them, they leave room for God to do His thing—however He sees fit.

…And they went on to another village. Luke 9:56b

What do you do when you’re rejected as a believer? You go on your way. Don’t fixate on the rejection; leave it with the dust you shook off back in that city…and then go about your Father’s business.

Dorothy

 

© 2017, Dorothy Frick