April 24, 2024

Today's Reading: Luke 10:1-22

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 16:1-24, Luke 10:1-22

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today, Jesus ordains seventy-two apostles and sends them into the countryside to herald His coming and preach His Word. He gives them very specific instructions about what to do, and He also gives them His authority.

Not just any authority, but the authority of Almighty God. By hearing the sent one, they hear God himself speaking. By rejecting the sent one, they reject God himself.

That probably gave the seventy-two a pretty strong case of the shakes. Like a newly-ordained baby pastor straight from the seminary, they were going out to speak life and death to these unsuspecting towns. Sure, they had Jesus’s promise and Word and authority, but would anyone take them seriously? Would their Certificate of Ordination actually mean something?

Jesus is up front about it, too; He sends them out “as lambs in the midst of wolves.” They know right away that this is an uphill task. But it isn’t a hopeless one. He doesn’t send them out demanding success or else! 

Just go and preach the Word. Let the Holy Spirit handle the rest. If they are receptive, stay around for a while. If they reject you, move on to the next town. It isn’t about you, Jesus says, it is me they don’t like.

You’ll face this issue yourself if you haven’t already. Simply being Christian is enough to cause friction among your peers, even before you get to talking about the kingdom of God. So take heart in knowing that it isn’t you they don’t like; it’s Jesus.

And He’s already won this fight for you. He’s already washed you in his blood and brought you into His kingdom. While you pray that everyone you know joins you, you know their salvation isn’t up to you. The Holy Spirit moves in ways you can never understand to bring to faith those around you. 

So go, Christian! Go into the countryside and hallways and sports fields and tell people the kingdom of God has come near. Live as a faithful child of God and trust that the Holy Spirit will take care of the heavy lifting for you. That’s His work, after all. He’s already called you into that kingdom! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Word)

- Pastor Duane Bamsch is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, CA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

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