In 1839 two men set foot on the islands of the New Hebrides as missionaries and within minutes were beaten, killed, and then eaten by cannibals. Nineteen years later John Paton determined to go himself as a missionary to those islands, and, as you can imagine, there was much resistance from his close friends. One Christian gentlemen Paton referred to as “Mr. Dicksonson” kept declaring to Paton, “The Cannibals! you will be eaten by Cannibals!”1 And considering the fate of the last missionaries almost two decades earlier this seemed to be a reasonable objection for such a man to go to that land as a missionary.
Paton’s response to Mr. Dickson, however, is amazing. He answered him, “Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.”2
What a commitment to the Lord! What a challenge to us today! However, with that said, we might ask, “Was such commitment worth it? Was such commitment necessary? Is this what Jesus expected of those who would follow him, for them to put their lives at such risk? And do those who outright reject him in light of such examples of Paton reap any consequences greater than those consequences we receive for committing our lives to him?” These are questions that I want us to ask this morning because I think our text answers them.
The first two sections of the text seem to provide a hint of discouragement at following Christ. The first section addresses those who reject Christ. As the last section ends with the disciples’ failures so this section begins in like manner. They misunderstand how Christ is working. Specifically, they misunderstand that Jesus does not bring immediate judgment upon those who reject him.
This might sound somewhat surprising to us, and it was definitely surprising to the disciples. In 9:51-56 Luke first states that Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. He has a mission to accomplish. He will die and be raised. He is on his way to Jerusalem. However, before he arrives there he determines that he will go to the Samaritans, but before going he sends messengers on ahead to prepare the way for him.
Now you can imagine why Jesus would send his messengers to make preparations for him. After all, there would be at least thirteen people coming into a village (Jesus and his disciples) when Jesus came, but there would also be others who would follow as many would be drawn to any location where Jesus was. Therefore, it was quite a tax on a city for Jesus to decide to visit.
However, Jesus messengers are not greeted by a committee readying themselves to roll out the red carpet. Rather, Luke tells us, “the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem” (v. 53). Now the original readers of Luke’s gospel probably would have understood that verse a bit more easily than we do. There was a debate between the Jews and the Samaritans as to where one should worship God. The Samaritans believed worship should take place on Mount Gerizim while the Jews said that one should worship in Jerusalem. Therefore, news that Jesus was headed toward Jerusalem communicated to the Samaritans that Jesus was making a statement concerning this debate. Thus, it is obvious why they would not have wanted to welcome him. You don’t want someone who seems to be fighting against your cause.
When Jesus’ disciples got the news, they were upset. After all, the Samaritans were rejected the Messiah, the one sent to save sinners. They were rejecting God’s King, and the Old Testament indicates again and again that those who reject him would be punished. For this reason, James and John asked Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” (v. 54). And though it might seem extreme to us is not an odd request when we consider the ample teaching that those who reject the Lord’s anointed would be judged by God. However, Jesus rebukes them, and Luke tells us that they simply went on to another village.
What then were James and John missing? What is it that they did not understand? And what is it that we need to understand? Well, the lesson is that though Jesus is indeed God’s exalted King rejection of him will not bring immediate judgment. When Jesus came into the world, he did not come to bring judgment. As he says in John 3:17, “For the Son of Man did not come into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him.” Jesus’ mission was not to bring final judgment.
Therefore, nor is it our mission to bring about final judgment for rejection of Jesus. We should not make it our goal to make sure that those who reject Jesus get what’s coming to them. Judgment will come, and it will be carried out by Christ himself. However, that judgment is not now and it is not to come from our hands. Rather, we are to focus on laboring for men to be reconciled to Christ.
This is part of the mystery of the coming of Christ. The mystery of the kingdom of God is that though the King has come, he has not come to bring judgment. Rather, he has come to do what is necessary for those who will believe to be saved. And he delays his return and judgment so that those who reject him might repent and be saved.
It seems that the message we might receive from God as we look at the world around us is that it is not important to follow Christ. Some who hate Jesus seem to be doing quite well. They seem to be getting out of life its most precious rewards. It seems that God is blind to their evil. It seems there is no justice. It seems that there is no obvious reason why one should give up his life and follow Christ, especially in the fashion we began the sermon with as we looked at John Paton. However, this text tells us, “Don’t be deceived. God is not blind. This is his plan.” Judgment does not come immediately to those who reject Jesus Christ. Rather, God is patient, delaying their judgment so that they might come to repentance in the meanwhile. James and John did not understand this and were, therefore, rebuked.
So, if we think it’s a challenge to follow Christ in light of the fact that those who deny him receive no immediate judgment, the next section shows us that it’s even a greater challenge than we think. Jesus teaches us in this section that he will not accept half-hearted commitment from his followers.
This section is comprised of three conversations between Jesus and three would-be followers. As they are going down the road, someone approaches Jesus and says to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go” (v. 57). Jesus replies, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (v. 58). Jesus wants this would-be follower to know that though he may be eager to follow Christ, he needs to realize that there is cost with following him. Following Christ means rejection. Jesus is not warmly welcomed and received. Even foxes and birds have places to stay, but the Son of Man does not.
Next, Jesus speaks to another, saying, “Follow me.” But the man responds, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father” (v. 59). Now, this seems like a reasonable request, especially if the man’s father had just died. But there’s a possibility that the man’s father had not just died. Probably this man is saying, “Jesus, I would like to address family obligations, and then I’ll follow.” Jesus, however, answers that he should let the dead bury their own. He should let those who do not true life (spiritually dead) bury others, and he should proclaim the kingdom. One cannot follow Christ while valuing other obligations above him.
Finally, another comes to Jesus and says, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home” (v. 61). And Jesus answers, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (v. 62). It appears Jesus saw this man’s qualification for following him as a desire to hold up his family as a rival for following Jesus, but Jesus will accept no rivals.
Therefore, you have three episodes where people seem willing and even eager to follow Jesus, but they are greeted by Jesus telling them the great cost and making sure they understand that obligations to him supersede all other obligations. Jesus will not accept half-hearted commitment. To be a disciple of Jesus means that you are committing to follow him, honor him, and love him above all else. It means that you are committed to serving him in everything you do. It means that you will treasure nothing above him nor anything beside him that could be a rival for allegiance.
So here you have it. On the one hand, those who reject Christ will not receive immediate punishment for such rejection. And on the other hand, Christ’s demands are nothing but your everything. You cannot follow him half-heartedly. Why then would we follow him? Why would we give our lives to him? We find the answer in our final section, 10:1-24. In these verses Jesus elaborates on what we’ve seen in the first two sections of our text this morning. First, he notes that whole-hearted commitment to him brings about great responsibility and great privilege.
After speaking to the would-be followers, Jesus turns to those who have already demonstrated a commitment to him and sends out seventy-two disciples into towns ahead him. He encourages them to pray that God would send out even more laborers into the harvest, for it is plentiful. There are many who need to hear the gospel of the kingdom. Then, he gives them instructions, saying that they are being sent out as lambs in the midst of wolves, yet should take nothing to provide for themselves and to be quick in fulfilling their mission. If they are taken into one’s home they shall bless the house will peace, and they shall stay there, eating and drinking whatever they provide. They should not go from house to house. And when they are received in a town, they should heal the sick and say, “The kingdom of God has come near to you” (10:9). They are to demonstrate Christ’s reign over the enemy by healing the sick and then to state to the people what has happened.
But then he states that those towns do not receive them should receive a rebuke. The disciples should go into the streets of that town and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near” (10:11). That is, tell them that they receive no blessing, though God’s power has been in their midst.
Finally, he notes to them in verse 16, “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 10:1-16 shows us that those of us who are followers of Christ have had placed upon us great responsibility and great privilege. Just as God sent his Son into the world, so Jesus sends his followers into the world. Just as God sent his Son to the world to die and be raised from the dead, so Jesus sends us into the world to proclaim that good news. You cannot read verse 16 and miss that we are nothing less than ambassadors for Christ. We are those who are equipped to proclaim the good news that the King has come. Like these seventy-two, we are sent out with the authority of Christ to go and proclaim blessing to those who will receive him and solemn warning to those who reject him.
There does appear to be a specific element with the seventy-two that they are not to take provisions, something that Jesus does not warn against taking when he gives the great commission. It appears something specific for this trip. However, the lesson then and now is that for those who focus on seeking the God’s reign in this world as their primary focus, God will care for them.
Therefore, let us all realize that we have been sent forth with the privilege and responsibility of telling others of the good news of Jesus Christ. And let us realize that when our message is accepted, it is not us they primarily accept but Jesus. And when it is rejected, it is not us who are rejected, but Jesus. Over 1800 years later as John Paton went to the New Hebrides, he went because he knew the privilege and responsibility that falls to those who follow Christ.
But there is another element here. The idea is not that we should follow Christ whole-heartedly and not reject him merely because of the privilege and responsibility it brings but also because rejection of him will be terrible judgment in the end.
After telling the disciples to speak against those towns that reject them he says, “I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades” (vv. 12-15).
Jesus makes two references here that we need to pay attention to, namely, “on that day” and “in the judgment.” What is Jesus referring to when he says this? He is referring to the final day when all men are judged before Christ. He is referring to the time when his justice is finally demonstrated. In other words, Luke provides for us a qualification for our first text. Luke has shown us that judgment is not immediate for those who reject Christ. Those who reject Christ in this life may never see a hint that they are under the judgment of God. In fact, their lives might seem smoother than others’ around them. However, it doesn’t mean that they escape judgment. In fact, they won’t.
Judgment for those who reject Jesus Christ will be terrible. Sodom was judged in the Old Testament, but Sodom was made up of a people who lived long before Jesus Christ came into the world. Now that he has come those who reject him will face terrible judgment. And they reject Christ when they reject the gospel that you and I speak. That’s what Jesus is saying in verse 16. You can’t reject the gospel declared by Christ’s followers and somehow think you are not rejecting Jesus.
Simply put, those who do not in this lifetime repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ will suffer great judgment on that final day. Judgment is not immediate in this life, but judgment is sure.
On the other side, however, whole-hearted commitment to Jesus bring about eternal blessing.
As the seventy-two return, they are filled with joy. They tell Jesus that even the demons are subject to them in Jesus’ name. That is, they see that Jesus has granted them authority in his name as they have gone out. And Jesus declares, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (vv. 18-19).
What does Jesus mean by this? It’s not clear whether Jesus just saw a vision or is speaking merely figuratively, but what is clear is that he is saying to them, “I’ll give you a picture as to why the demons are subject to you; it’s because Satan has been cast down. The King of this world has come and Satan is subject to him. That is, Satan is subject to me.” And Jesus has granted his followers protection from the evil one. He nor any evil forces shall be allowed to cause ultimate harm to Jesus’ followers. They are protected by Christ. No one shall remove them from his hand.
However, their blessing is richer than the authority they’re displaying over the evil one. Jesus continues, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (v. 20). Jesus tells them that the true blessing they have is that they know God and are the recipients of eternal life.
In fact, Jesus concludes, rejoicing over this fact. Luke concludes the section writing, “In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’ Then turning to the disciples he said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it’” (10:21-24).
Jesus concludes this episode with this disciples by rejoicing in the Holy Spirit. Though we should assume that Jesus rejoiced much, this is the one place in Scripture we read that Jesus rejoiced. So what is it that caused him joy?
He rejoiced in the fact that God has revealed not to the wise and understanding in this world who Jesus is and that he should be treasured, but he has revealed it to little children. He is thankful that God blessed with eternal life not those who think themselves great and with no need for God but those who acknowledge their need and their weakness and turn to Jesus. He is thankful that God has chosen to display his mercy on those who are humble in Spirit and do not seek to spread their own greatness. To those God has opened their eyes that they might know Christ, and those who know Christ know God. And as Jesus adds, no one know God accept one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Many people longed to see the glory of God in the face of Christ, but these disciples have been blessed to see and hear him.
But why would Jesus rejoice? He rejoices because God’s work here exalts no man but God alone. Granting salvation to those who know their weakness and inability does not say, “Look how great man is,’ but ‘Look how great and gracious God is.’”
Jesus rejoices because those who turn to the world and say, “I know there is nothing I need in this world, be it riches, fame, or pleasure compares to my great need for God” have eternal life. Paton’s dedication to Christ led him indeed to go to New Hebrides. His wife died only four months after they arrived and his infant son died shortly thereafter. His time there was spent among persecution, but many came to know Christ as Lord.
So, let us ask the questions again. Was such commitment worth it? Was such commitment necessary? Is this what Jesus expected of those who would follow him, for them to put their lives at such risk? And do those who outright reject him in light of such examples of Paton reap any consequences greater than those consequences we receive for committing our lives to him?”
I think the answers to these questions become clear in this text. Full commitment to Christ is indeed worth it because Jesus demands nothing less than that. Anyone who would value his life about following Christ cannot follow him. Is it worth the consequences that come, such as persecution? Indeed it is; for the price of not following him is eternal judgment and the blessing of following him is responsibility, privilege, and eternal life.
So, what then will be our answer in light of this? Will we show ourselves today to be those who are blessed? Will we show ourselves to be those “little children” who confess our need for Christ and say, “Here am I; send me. My life is yours, Jesus. I know there is nothing to be valued in this world more than Christ”? Or will we hold tightly to this world, reject Christ, and face judgment in the end.
Was commitment such as that displayed by Paton necessary? I believe it was. I think our text shows us that Jesus demands no less than whole-hearted commitment. Was it worth it? Most definitely. For though “this world with troubles filled may threaten to undo us” Paton could rejoice that he knew Christ, that his name was written in heaven, and that he was the object of God’s saving grace. Paton would definitely have said it was worth it for though his body is now being eaten by worms his resurrection body will rise one day in the presence of Christ, his Redeemer. Let us then declare our obedience to Christ in faith as we look forward to that great day in coming to the table. Amen.