BYOB – Matthew 10:40-42
June 30, 2002
St. John United Methodist Church
David Beckett, D.Min.

In Matthew 10, Jesus is talking with his disciples, preparing them for their mission. He does not sugarcoat what lies ahead for them. Instead he tells it like it is. There will be hardships and persecution. This section is the conclusion of Jesus’ speech to his disciples. It’s short and appears obvious in its meaning. But looks can be deceiving. Remember. It’s important to look at the context of this scripture.

{40} "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

Jesus is sending his disciples as his representatives. He also adds that he is a representative of God. In the United Methodist Church we often speak of ordained ministers as a "representative ministers." These disciples are being asked to RE-PRESENT Christ to the world. When you are asked to be his disciple, you are to re-present Christ to your family, friends, and neighbors.

Let’s take a look at the word, "welcome." Remember that the NT was written in Greek. The Greek word translated as "welcome" also means to receive or to accept. This goes beyond the mere hello or handshake we might give a stranger. This word means "to find acceptable."

{41} Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous;

In traditional Jewish law, the concept of the shaliach -- the authorized messenger -- was strictly observed. Any messenger sent out with his master's authority was to be accepted and treated as though he were the master himself. Jesus is passing on the mantle of missionary authority to those disciples who will follow the first 12 disciples. Notice that the word is not "you," the disciples now. It is "whoever."

In Matthew’s church there were wandering missionaries and settled Christians. All of chapter 10 is not just for traveling missionaries. Jesus deals with discipleship for all disciples, those who are settled and those who are itinerant. "In the name of" is an expression meaning "because one is". "Whoever welcomes a prophet because one is a prophet" would be another way to read verse 41.

In the first century, "prophets" appear to be traveling, itinerant preachers. Welcoming a prophet and offering him hospitality was a short-term commitment. A "prophet" would enter the town or village, preach his message and in a few days' time, move on down the road. The prophet's primary role was proclamation. He did not organize or build up faith communities as did "apostles." He simply broke the ground for future planting.

{42} and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

There is some ambiguity about what is meant by "prophets, righteous, and little ones." Matthew’s church included Christian prophets as a distinct class. "Little ones" does not refer literally to children, but is Matthew’s term for "ordinary" Christians or disciples. The "righteous" seems to represent a distinct group.

Jesus had some tough words for his disciples in this chapter. But he ends with some hopeful ones, "Yes, there will be people who will give you a hard time. But there will also be those who will welcome you. And if they welcome you, they welcome me, and the one who sent me."

It’s not easy to be welcoming, is it? Let’s face it. We all have times when we have the energy and desire to receive and accept people. But there are times when we do not. Sometimes I think it’s not fair that God made people to be extroverted or introverted. Extroverted people are those who gain energy by being with people. Introverted people are those who lose energy by being with people. I enjoy being with people. But as an introvert I go home after leading 2 or 3 services on Sunday morning with a strong need to be by myself in nap mode! I don’t know. Do you think Jesus ever needed to take a nap after all that preaching?

Welcoming others is still a choice we make. Every day we make welcoming choices. We decide to receive the driver who drives the shoulder all the way up to the barricade and then wants to be let in the main lane…or not! We decide to accept the relatives and friends who want to stay with us during their vacation in Alaska…or not! We decide to welcome the new family who has moved into our neighborhood…or not.

Every day we face these kinds of decisions. Jesus tells us that if we welcome others, we welcome him! Think about the implications of this teaching! It means that Jesus has all kinds of looks. His skin is black and white. His face is Asian and native American. His religion is Jewish and Muslim. His gender is female and male. His orientation is homosexual and heterosexual. When we welcome someone in the name of Jesus, we welcome Jesus. And when we welcome Jesus into our hearts, we welcome God.

Upon arriving at his new church appointment, St. Mark's United Methodist Church in downtown Atlanta, Dr. Michael Cordle discovered he had inherited a struggling inner-city congregation with an attendance rate that hovered somewhere under 100. A few Sundays after arriving, the Cordle family stepped outside the church after services and was stunned to see a steady stream of exuberant marchers parading down the their street. This was Atlanta's "Pride Parade," which draws its ever-growing number of participants primarily from the gay and lesbian community. As they watched the people streaming by, it struck Cordle that these were some of the people of St. Mark's neighborhood -- this was part of the parish.
A year later, when the Pride Parade participants reached the front of St. Mark's Church, they were met with an unexpected surprise. On that hot and steamy June afternoon, the church had set up a small oasis -- offering cups of cold water to all the marchers who felt hot and thirsty and tired. In no time, the water was gratefully guzzled down, and St. Mark's UMC had transformed its image in the face of that neighborhood.
What a difference from the other nearby church that bordered the parade route! That church sent out its message loud and clear -- as it erected barricades, strung up temporary fencing, hired mounted policemen to ride their perimeters, and posted "no trespassing" signs across church property.
The "cups of cold water" St. Mark's offers on parade day have brought all sorts of thirsty neighbors inside the doors of the church once more. Membership has climbed to over 400 in the last two years, and the neighborhood feels like it has a spiritual presence in its midst again.

I wonder. Is there someone who could use a cup of cold water from you? Someone who does not expect such an act of kindness, who might expect barriers instead? Someone who is different from you?

In the words of Mother Teresa, "The gospel is written on your fingers." Holding up her fingers, one at a time, she accented each word: "You-Did-It-To-Me." Mother Teresa then added: "At the end of your life, your five fingers will either excuse you or accuse you of doing it unto the least of these. You-Did-It-To-Me."
I think what this all means is that seeing Jesus today is not all that easy. Yes, we can see our Creator in the majesty of these Alaskan mountains. Yes, we can see Jesus in the tears of an elderly saint witnessing to the love of Christ. Yes, we can see God when two enemies embrace and forgive one another. But the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that we don’t have to make it so hard! The face of Jesus is in the person sitting next to you right now! His presence is in the smile-less face of the homeless man begging for change at our city intersections. His face is the same as that co-worker of yours who drives you crazy.

It’s about radical hospitality, a hospitality that is more than entertainment. Author, Karen Mains distinguishes between Hospitality and Entertaining: Entertaining

says, "I want to impress you with my home, my clever decorating, my cooking." Hospitality, seeking to minister, says, "This home is a gift from my Master. I use it as he desires." Hospitality aims to serve. Entertaining puts things before people. "As soon as I get the house finished, the living room decorated, my house cleaning done--then I will

start inviting people." Hospitality puts people first. "No furniture--we'll eat on the floor! The decorating may never get done--you come anyway. The house is a mess--but you are friends--come home with us." Entertaining subtly declares, "This home is mine, an expression of my

personality. Look, please, and admire." Hospitality whispers, "What is mine is yours."

Hospitality has as a root word, "hospital." Back in the 5^th century religious leaders started international guest houses called "hospices." Hospice comes from the Latin word "hospes" when means "guests." Pilgrims, crusaders, and other travelers found hospices run by religious orders as the only reputable guest houses. Soon after the Crusades most of the hospices began to specialize in the care of the poor, sick, and crippled. During the 15^th century secular businesses took over most of the entertaining of travelers, so the hospital restricted its function to care and treatment of the sick. But originally, it meant a "haven for guests."

Here at St. John we try to take seriously this ministry of hospitality. Our mission statement is built around this theme. We seek to be a welcoming family, joyfully sharing God’s light. Isn’t it fun to be with a group of fellow Christians who welcome others? Maybe what we do here as a community of faith can inspire us to do the same as individual Christians in our homes and our places of work. We so need to remember that when we welcome and accept others, we welcome and accept Jesus Christ into our lives. And when that happens…be prepared for some heavy duty spiritual power and love! God’s kingdom will show up right before your eyes!

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