Good News!

Matthew 10:7-8

“As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.”

More than once, Jesus sent his disciples out to do his work.  Here are his instructions to the 12 apostles as he sent them out.  These two sentences describe their mission, what they are to do.  There are other instructions about how they are to behave, how to deal with money, hospitality, and conflict, but these two sentences describe their purpose. 

First, they are to tell their listeners that kingdom of heaven has come near, then they are to show their audience what that kingdom looks like. This is tell and show, rather than show and tell.  It doesn’t really matter in which order these two thing happen, but it does matter that they both happen, and together.  In the kingdom of heaven – that is, in the presence of God - there is healing, new life, cleansing, and liberation. The actions of the disciples in curing, raising, cleansing and liberating are the evidence that the words of proclamation are true and trustworthy. 

I imagine that it was difficult for the people of Galilee and Judea to believe in God’s loving care, just as it is hard for Canadians and others to believe in it today.  But we, the church, the body of Christ in our community, in our time, are given the same commission, to tell the good news of God’s intimate presence and to point to the evidence of healing, new life, cleansing, and liberation that confirms our words.  These things are happening in our world every day because the Holy Spirit is at work. 

“We are not alone, we live in God’s world.”

Thanks be to God.  AMEN.

Blessings,

David