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Do not Rejoice…But Rejoice
Text: II Kings 5:1-14 & Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
In the text of our lectionary readings it is hard to resist the pull of the healings in that are in the text. Whether it is the healing of Naaman the Syrian general or the healing of those who were demon possessed. Healings, it seems would take center stage except that Jesus said, “Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Greater than the power to heal is the joy of having our names already written in heaven.
Why should we direct our joy towards the fact that our names are written in heaven? Names are about being identified. Identity is where we look for our significance. Our significance is not in healing powers or spiritual exploits, but in where your names are written. There is freedom to “do" when you know that your significance is secure. And the grace of Christ secures our significance before we "do" anything. Our names are written in heaven, therefore I can work without being named on earth.
The seventy two are nameless in this story, but theirs is the message of the kingdom drawing near. The servant girl who was kidnapped and made the servant of Naaman’s wife is nameless, but her’s is the message of salvation that changed the life of the unclean Syrian general. Jesus knows their names. He was given a name by which he would save his people from their sins. And though his name was unknown to those who hung him on the cross, he was given a name by which every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In him, our names are written in heaven.
This means that it is not what you do that is most important, but it's what’s been done for you in Jesus’ name that is most important. It is not so much what you know that is essential, but it is by whom you are known. Does Jesus know your name? If so, then rejoice for your names are written in heaven.
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By Grace Church (그레이스 교회)Text: II Kings 5:1-14 & Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
In the text of our lectionary readings it is hard to resist the pull of the healings in that are in the text. Whether it is the healing of Naaman the Syrian general or the healing of those who were demon possessed. Healings, it seems would take center stage except that Jesus said, “Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Greater than the power to heal is the joy of having our names already written in heaven.
Why should we direct our joy towards the fact that our names are written in heaven? Names are about being identified. Identity is where we look for our significance. Our significance is not in healing powers or spiritual exploits, but in where your names are written. There is freedom to “do" when you know that your significance is secure. And the grace of Christ secures our significance before we "do" anything. Our names are written in heaven, therefore I can work without being named on earth.
The seventy two are nameless in this story, but theirs is the message of the kingdom drawing near. The servant girl who was kidnapped and made the servant of Naaman’s wife is nameless, but her’s is the message of salvation that changed the life of the unclean Syrian general. Jesus knows their names. He was given a name by which he would save his people from their sins. And though his name was unknown to those who hung him on the cross, he was given a name by which every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In him, our names are written in heaven.
This means that it is not what you do that is most important, but it's what’s been done for you in Jesus’ name that is most important. It is not so much what you know that is essential, but it is by whom you are known. Does Jesus know your name? If so, then rejoice for your names are written in heaven.