Payment up Front

Matthew 10:5-23New International Version (NIV)

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Several weeks ago we were all at the dinner table eating a wonderful supper Cheyanne had made.  It was your typical meal time experience with the Wallace’s.  Griffin was shoveling food in while trying to tell me a story.  Cora was focusing on everything other than eating her food.  And Guthrie was crying because the fork or cup or plate he picked out isn’t the right one and it is somehow my fault.  Most of our conversation is Cheyanne and I trying to get Griffin to slow down and not talk with his mouth full while getting Cora to eat anything and convincing Guthrie that he did in fact choose what utensils to use.... Because he did!  So, it was your very typical supper time experience with the Wallace’s.  During the chaos, Griffin did something that he knew he shouldn’t have.  I don’t remember for sure what it was... probably annoy his sister or eg on his brother.  Either way, I caught him and he didn’t think I did.  I asked him why he did it and he said he didn’t.  Of course this continued for awhile.  Finally, I said “Griffin, it is always easier to tell the truth than to lie.”  It was one of those things that as the words were coming out of my mouth, I couldn’t stop them and I instantly felt my foot going into my mouth.  It was definitely one of those moments where I thought I was having a teachable moment and as is often the case, I am the one learning.  

Let’s think about the statement I made: It’s always easier to tell the truth than lie.  No, no it’s not.  Telling the truth is very rarely easier than telling a lie.  Think about it... How many little white lies cross our paths every day.  Most of the time they do not affect us either way but I am sure it’s more than you think.  I should have told Griffin “It’s always better to tell the truth than a lie.”  From my perspective as a parent, yes it is better for me if Griffin always tells me the truth and is honest with me.  But look at it from his perspective, if I think the truth will land me in my room and without some of my favorite things for awhile, it may be worth it to try to get away with it.  I have tried instilling in him that telling the truth will lead to less trouble for him and I think he gets that for the most part.  He has been honest with me in situations that he didn’t have to be because I wasn’t around... like getting a tally at school.  But that’s what is difficult to understand.  He will tell me when he gets a tally.  Something that I have no way of knowing about unless he tells me and yet when I watch him poke his sister with a fork, he will deny it.... It’s not always easier to tell the truth than to lie.  In fact, it’s usually more difficult to tell the truth than to lie.

As I read through our scripture this week, I thought: “Jesus made sure the disciples knew what they were getting into when they signed up.”  He did not sugar coat the difficulties they would face.  He was upfront and honest with them about the dangers they would face preaching the good news.  (vs16)“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”  Jesus is telling the disciples these things before his death.  They haven’t even seen the resurrected Jesus yet and he is warning them of the dangers they will be facing.  He is prepping them for the future.  As I think about the exchange that Griffin and I had that night, Peter comes to mind.  Peter was upset when Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny him three times.  In those moments, it was not easier for Peter to tell the truth.  The truth would have likely had him killed.  It wasn’t until the Holy Spirit descended upon Peter and the disciples that they were really emboldened by the actions and words of Christ.  Jesus’ life, death and resurrection gave them teachable lessons but the Holy Spirit gave them the courage to speak of them.  (vs19&20) “At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”  

Our scripture for this morning is one of the many examples of how the dynamic of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is at work within you.  It’s not always easier to tell the truth.  But the Son showed us how to speak and live the Good News.  The Holy Spirit gives us the power and courage to do so.  And the Father showers us in love and grace before, during and after the process.  Jesus shows us the path, the Spirit encourages us to take it and the Father walks beside us as we go.  This is the power that resides in us.  This is the ability we have.  This is the strength given to you.  The price has been paid.  God took the payment up front.  We are covered because the debt has been paid.  When we make the decision to buy into faith, there are no limits to what God is capable of through you.  

In all honesty, verse 23 is a difficult one.  However, it is something that must be discussed for a couple of reasons.  First, it says, “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.”  It seems that Jesus is giving permission to escape any difficult measure.  Not true.  Jesus is speaking of persecution as death.  We may face banter that is difficult but that is not what Jesus is speaking of here.  We are not called to be reckless in faith to the point of death until it is absolutely necessary.  A kind of necessity that you and I will likely never face.  The biblical commentator William Barclay says, “If a person is weak in the faith, they will do well to avoid disputations about doubtful things, and not to plunge into them.  If a person knows that there are people who anger and irritate them, and who bring the worst out of them, they will be wise to avoid their society, and not to seek it.”  If there are struggles and temptations that face you, you are better off avoiding the people, places and things that bring you back into their trap.  This is something that is always easier to say than to do.  

The second part of verse 23 is even more difficult to understand, “Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”  This, of course, did not happen.  Jesus and his disciples faced serious persecution.  They stared down death nearly every day.  Many of them did in fact die for their faith.  But, let us not blame Jesus for the discrepancy.  There are three other versions of this same promise throughout the gospels.  Mark was the earliest gospel to be written down and this is what that gospel said, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”  Matthew was written down some thirty years later.  The persecution had amplified ten fold during that time.  The message of Christ had spread all across the middle east and even into Rome, the capital of the world at that time.  Therefore, many had seen the glory of God’s Kingdom come with power.  Many hearts had been given to Christ.  Matthew’s version, on the other hand, may have been grasping with desperation and who could blame them among such fierce persecution.  If we take Matthew’s words and place them within the context of Mark’s gospel, verse 23 makes much more sense.  “Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the power of God’s Kingdom shall come.”  And again, this rings true.  The power, glory, grace and love of God’s Kingdom was blatantly clear before they finished their tour of the towns of Israel.  

If the Kingdom of God can thrive during such times of persecution, how can it not flourish in 21st Century America?  It should.  And it can but it needs your help.  It may not always be easier to speak the truth of the gospels but we must try.  The debt has been paid, may the truth set you free. Amen.