Scripture Notes on Luke 10
“But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets 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.’ … ‘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 10:10-11, 16
It’s not about you.
Jesus sends His disciples out and gives them explicit instructions about what to do if and when their message is not received by a town they visit. He doesn’t say to ignore it or pretend the rejection didn’t happen. He doesn’t say to keep coming back and looking for ways to change their minds.
He says to let it go.
Not only that, but He reminds them of something so critical, so crucial to the Gospel mission that it can make or break a person who is trying to share Jesus’ love with others.
It’s not about you; it’s about Him.
Disciples of Jesus will always face rejection. Ours is a message of salvation not through “self-actualization” or “achieving your potential” but of repentance and being born again. Many people don’t want to acknowledge that their sin is so bad that they need a Savior, or that their religious works are insufficient for salvation.
So they reject us.
But, when this happens, Jesus’ message to His disciples then is the same that He speaks to us now. “The one who rejects you rejects me…” The one who rejects us isn’t rejecting us at all, but Jesus. His call to us then is to wipe the dust off our feet, push aside the feelings of personal failure and move on. This doesn’t mean we don’t keep trying to witness as we’re able, but that we don’t take it personally when our offer is refused.
Because it’s not about us; it’s about Him.
As you share Jesus with others, may you be free from the tyranny of false rejection. May His Spirit remind you that your calling isn’t to make changes in people, but make introductions for people and let Jesus do the work. He’s got your back, so let Jesus free you from rejection.
-Pastor Phillip
