In the Kingdom of God, there is a difference between knowing danger and letting it rewrite your heart.
Our readings from the missionary discourse of Jesus give us an opportunity to have a sermon series on the Lord of the Harvest. Last week, we saw how the Lord of the Harvest opens our eyes to see. This week, we will meditate on how the Lord of the Harvest opens our hearts to trust.
A few years ago, I was at King’s Island. We were there to ride the rollercoasters; the Racer, Orion, and the Banshee. As we were standing in line for the rollercoaster, I got to see a father interacting with his daughter. She was nervous about whether or not she would be tall enough to go on the ride. As we were waiting, she would ask again and again whether she was too small.
When we finally reached the sign showing the height requirement, she met it. She was tall enough for the ride. She broke into a smile.
Now, however, the conversation changed. Instead of being excited to go on the ride, she began to get scared. She asked her dad if it would go really high. And he said, “Yes.” She asked her dad if it would go really fast. And he said, “Yes.” She asked her dad if it would go upside down or in a corkscrew curve. And he said, “Yes.” Every fear she named, her dad was honest about in his answer. But then he would say, “But I’ll be with you. It’ll be okay.” Then, for a moment, I would see her weary face brighten as her heart opened to live in trust rather than fear.
In our gospel reading, Jesus opens our hearts to trust in Him.
Listening to the words of Jesus, the disciples have no illusions about the traumatic nature of the work to which Jesus is calling them. “Brother will deliver brother over to death... children will rise against parents and have them put to death” (10:21). It is horrifying to hear how the Kingdom unfolds.
Because the missionary message that we bring is such good news, we can sometimes think sharing it will be easy. “God, the Father of all, forgives you your sin in Jesus and makes you an heir of His eternal Kingdom.” How could that message be a problem? Yet, Satan fights against the reign of God. To share the message of salvation is to find yourself under attack.
To share the message of salvation is to find yourself under attack.
In our context, people might not literally betray their family members to death, but we do find families which are broken along the lines of faith. God’s call to turn from sin and to participate in the good life He has created can go against our cultural norms. It can ask people to deny themselves in a world of self-fulfillment, to love their enemies in a world of retaliation, to do good to those who hurt them in a world of self-care. Such experiences are traumatic, painful, and difficult.
Jesus does not hide His disciples from this. He knows that He is sending His disciples out as sheep among wolves. They will be dragged into rooms they did not ask to enter. Their witness will be weighed by people who do not care about knowing their names. Families might fracture. Friends might step back. But they will have no illusions. Jesus has told them ahead of time. He has made them aware.
Why does Jesus do this? So, they live in faith and not fear.
In the Kingdom of God, there is a difference between knowing danger and letting it rewrite your heart. Jesus warns them about the cost, so that it is present, not as a threat but as a truth they carry with them. It is the sword that pierces their heart. And when the Lord of the Harvest opens your heart, He does it so you learn to live in trust and not fear.
Jesus says to His disciples, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciples to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master” (10:24-25). In the Kingdom of God, discipleship is not about being comfortable but about being conformed to Christ.
Our world invites us to be comfortable. Every advertisement we encounter holds out a vision of a life free from care. Over time, we can begin to think that the goal of life is personal comfort, ease, satisfaction. Yet, the Lord of the Harvest has a different design.
Jesus knows how difficult gathering the harvest will be. For that reason, He tells you ahead of time: Betrayal, fights, broken relationships.
This way, you will not think you are doing something wrong. You will not wonder whether or not you have been abandoned. God knows you. He has numbered every hair of your head (10:30). He counts every beat of your heart. You are precious to Him.
For that reason, He sent His Son to bear the punishment of your sin and to break the strategies of Satan. There is nothing Satan can do to you or your family that will not be overcome in the final revelation of the Kingdom. Yes, fearful things will happen, but our heavenly Father says, “I’ll be with you. It will be okay.”
The Lord of the Harvest is the Lord of all suffering. It can hurt you, but it cannot take you away from Him. As we reach out to others, Jesus reaches out to us and brings us closer and closer to Him. The Lord of the Harvest opens our hearts so that we live by faith not by fear. Faith in the one who saves us. Faith in the one who sends us. Faith in the one who works through us. And, yes, even in the midst of suffering, faith in the one who forms us to be like Him.
--------
Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on Matthew 10:5a, 21-33.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Matthew 10:5a, 21-33.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
