Luke 9:51-62
A. INTRODUCTION
No one likes to be rejected. And, as a consequence, it is something that many people fear. But then, it’s natural to want to be liked, to want people to approve. Therefore, in a sense, it’s quite understandable when people try to avoid situations where there is any risk of being rejected at all.
When people do things they like to be appreciated. They like others to tell them what a great job they are doing. And it’s always good to have someone to come up, pat you on the back, and tell you what a wonderful job you are doing.
Now, maybe it’s a sign of insecurity, or maybe there’s another reason, but it seems to me that this need for approval—and fear of rejection—often colours the way that people think, the way that people behave. As a consequence, it often forms the motive for the things that people do.
For example, a shy boy is hesitant to ask a girl out in case she says ‘No!’ The conscientious employee is careful not to rock the boat on dubious business practices, in case he or she risks the promotion that is being sought—or simply doesn’t want to be shown the door. And, even in the church, it’s often easier to leave things the same, than to face the wrath of those who’ve always done things in a particular way.
B. THE REJECTION OF JESUS
Having said that, being rejected—and facing up to the risk of being rejected—is exactly what this passage from Luke’s Gospel is all about. Let me explain:
1. The Samaritans (51-56)
In the first part of the story, Jesus and the disciples were returning to Jerusalem, and they passed through a Samaritan village. Of course, knowing the hostility of the Samaritans to the Jews, Jesus sent some people on ahead to prepare the way. And yet, despite that, the response of the Samaritans was predictable.
Now, they must have known something about Jesus’s reputation. But despite that, all the friendly gestures of Jesus and the disciples were ignored. They just couldn’t get past their hostility. As a consequence, they missed out on any blessings they could have received, as Jesus and the disciples passed through. Because Jesus and the disciples were forced to move quickly on.
2. The Three Men (57-62)
And in the second part of the story, things didn’t improve much either. Because, as Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, three men came up to Jesus and pledged their allegiance to him.
The first man said: ‘I will follow you wherever you go’ (57b). But Jesus knew the depth of his commitment—that it was superficial to say the least. The man was only saying the words he thought Jesus wanted to hear. And so Jesus told him to go away, and first count the cost of such a commitment.
The second man, when challenged by Jesus to follow him, stated that he wanted to bury his father, first. A solemn duty of the utmost importance for Jews. However again, Jesus saw through the shallowness of his commitment. Because if the man’s father was that close to death, or had already died, the man would have been in the process of burying his father there and then—he would not have been in the presence of Jesus. What this man wanted to do, then, was to wait for his father to die (sometime in the future), and then, and only then, come back and follow Jesus.
And the third man, when approached by Jesus to follow him, wanted to excuse himself to go home and say goodbye to his family first. However, Jesus saw his intent, which was more than just a quick goodbye. The man was really not ready to let go of his past at all.
The reality was that just as the Samaritans had openly rejected Jesus, these three men effectively rejected Jesus too. Oh, yes, they said the said the right words, but in reality none of the three men could cope with the demands of Jesus—any more than the Samaritans could. And like the Samaritans before them, those three men just as effectively rejected Jesus too.
3. The Response of Jesus
Of course the rejection of Jesus is well noted in the Bible. The Old Testament prophesied about it. And there are many examples throughout the Gospels leading up to the ultimate rejection—the crucifixion itself.
And yet the attitude of Jesus in this story is one worth noting. Because when confronted by the disciples about his treatment by the Samaritans, Jesus simply accepted his rejection. He refused to seek vengeance upon those who had rejected him. And he was quick to move on to (what he may have hoped would be) more fertile territory.
And when faced with the shallow commitment of the three men, Jesus simply challenged the depth of their commitment and let the men go. He then continued on his journey once again.
Each time, Jesus knew that there was no point in hanging around continuing to make his point to any of the people. He’d challenged them with the gospel, and if they weren’t interested . . . Well maybe there was someone down the road who would be.
The response of Jesus was a lesson for his disciples. Jesus’s attitude was not to look for acceptance at any price. He didn’t go out of his way to get approval; he didn’t go out of his way to get a pat on the back for a job well done; he didn’t change his message to make it more palatable. Rather, he stuck to his task and challenged all that he met on the way. And when rejected, he simply moved on and tried again, probably knowing only too well, that history would repeat itself again and again and again.
C. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CHURCH
And Jesus’s attitude towards mission was not only an object lesson for his disciples, but is an object lesson for us today too. And what I’d like to do is to pull three things from the story that we would do well to take note, particularly as we consider the responsibilities we have to undertake mission, to take the gospel to the world.
1. His Message Is For Everyone
And the first thing is that the Gospel message is for everyone, everyone without exception.
Now the reality is that in three short years it was not possible for Jesus to travel around the globe telling everyone about the faith. As a consequence, he had to concentrate on building up a church that could do just that. Having said that, even as he travelled in his own small area, he ministered to everyone he met, Jews and non-Jews alike.
In this gospel story, Jesus went through a Samaritan village. And knowing what the Samaritans were like to Jews, he might have been more worldly-wise to have gone around it. But not only was Jesus determined to go through it—and share the gospel on the way—but he sent people ahead to prepare the Samaritans for what he was about to do.
Now in most churches today, there is usually a list of people who have had some contact with the church over the years. And for the main part, in many churches, that has been the group of people to which ministry has often been focused. However, the reality is that in Jesus bringing the Gospel to a Samaritan village, the implication is that we should be taking the Gospel message to everyone, not just a select few. We should be taking it to people we don’t usually mixed with, as well as those we do. And we should be taking it to people we don’t get on with, as well as those we do.
Because as Jesus commanded his disciples, that is what all Christians are charged to do.
2. An Uncompromising Approach on Commitment
The second thing is that we need to adopt Jesus’s uncompromising approach on commitment.
Jesus always believed in the direct approach. He went directly though that Samaritan village and not around it. And he also challenged each of those three men to whether they were really sincere about what they were saying. Jesus took the direct path—he didn’t beat around the bush. He wanted to challenge each person regarding whether they had truly made a commitment or not.
Of course, that commitment would have been very important to Jesus on two levels. Firstly, he would have wanted to make sure that people were really committed. Because if they weren’t, their eternal well-being would have been at stake, and he wouldn’t have wanted anyone to live their lives in blissful ignorance without having made any real commitment at all. And, secondly, the implications of people with only a half-hearted faith for the early church would have been disastrous. If the leaders of the early church had been responsible for watering down the message of the gospel, then think of the consequent damage that would have been done to people’s lives.
Of course, the question of commitment is the same issue today as it was back then. And just as for Jesus, there is far too much at stake to accept a shallow commitment. That is why he took such a direct, uncompromising, no-nonsense approach. And that is why we should take a no-nonsense approach too.
3. Facing Rejection
And the third thing is that we have to learn to live with the fact that sharing the Gospel is not going to get us in the popularity stakes.
Jesus didn’t change his message to become popular. As a consequence, he faced constant rejection. Indeed, he faced the ultimate rejection—his crucifixion—when even his followers deserted him.
Jesus, in this Gospel story, was rejected by a whole Samaritan village, as well as the three specific men. However, regardless, he didn’t change his message; he didn’t change his direct approach; and he didn’t even attempt to have a more ‘popular’ approach. Indeed, he knew that if he continued on his path he would be totally rejected. He knew that at his crucifixion, not one person would be left standing with him. But he knew that the gospel was far too important to make any compromises because of people’s sensitivities. And he also knew that it would be no different for his followers either.
And that’s why, even before his crucifixion, he warned his disciples that when they went out they would face rejection too. His warning to the twelve disciples: ‘If any place does not receive you or listen to you, you are to shake the dust off your feet as you leave as a witness against them’ (Mark 6:11).
Just as Jesus knew that the Gospel and his no-compromise position would mean his own rejection, so he warned the disciples that if they were faithful to him—and uncompromising in the sharing of the faith—then they would be likely to face rejection too.
As a consequence, he told his disciples to not take their rejection lightly. But they were to ‘shake the dust off their feet.’ A prophetic act, telling people that they were leaving, that they had fulfilled their responsibility to them, and that all who had rejected them and their mission would be answerable directly to God.
However, having said that, Jesus also told the seventy-two people he sent out on mission, that such rejection shouldn’t be taken personally. Jesus’s words to his disciples: ‘Anyone who listens to you listens to me, anyone who rejects you rejects me, and anyone who rejects me rejects the one who sent me’ (Luke 10:16).
Jesus’s disciples were to stand firm in sharing the message of the gospel. But in doing so, they were to remember that anyone who rejected them wouldn’t just be rejecting them but they would, more particularly, be rejecting Jesus. And that would have very serious consequences for them indeed.
D. COMMENT
Sharing the Gospel to everyone, which is our duty, and using an uncompromising approach will naturally lead to our rejection. That is the implication of this Gospel story. But that doesn’t mean that we should neglect our responsibilities and give up trying.
On the contrary, if people don’t listen, then that is tragic for them. But what is important for us, is that like Jesus we should just keep trying anyway, but always remembering not to take rejection personally. Because it’s not just us they are rejecting but Jesus as well.
And because of that rejection, that’s where the role of the church is so vitally important. Because in the context of rejection, the church exists to encourage and build up the faithful. The church exists to comfort those who are the subject of ridicule because they stand up and share their faith. And the church exists to enthuse its members to continue God’s mission anyway.
The tragedy, though, in many churches today, is that that support isn’t always there. Indeed, the faithful who are rejected don’t always get the necessary support from their local congregation.
E. CONCLUSION
This Gospel message, then, isn’t an easy one to accept. But then, it’s nice to be wanted, it’s nice to be popular, and it’s nice to have your efforts acknowledged. However, in the story of Jesus—with the people in that Samaritan village and the three men he met on the road—the one thing that Jesus didn’t get was acceptance. He was rejected by the Samaritans, and he was rejected by the three men who claimed to be faithful followers.
As a consequence, he has warned his disciples—which includes us—that if we faithfully carry on his message then we are likely to be rejected too.
Regardless of that, Jesus knew that his task was important. And so, regardless of the consequences, he just continued on. He went out of his way to mix with all kinds of people, no matter what risks that entailed. The good news was so important that it was something he just had to share. And the same should be true for us today too.
The responsibility to share the good news has never been easy. It wasn’t for Jesus, and now the baton of responsibility has been passed to his disciples—to us his church.
But are we prepared to pay the price? Are we prepared to be ridiculed and rejected for the cause? Well, I hope we are, otherwise we will be just like those three men in the story—saying the right words but not really being followers of Jesus at all.
Posted: 4th July 2024
© 2024, Brian A Curtis
www.brianacurtis.com.au
