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Mission Trip Guidelines from Jesus: Reflections on Matthew 10:40-42

June 19, 2011 by Alyce McKenzie

Continued from Page 1

And he offers some assurances to the Twelve and to us that help us see the journey in a more positive light.

To be sent on this journey is an honor and a privilege, for on this journey the Twelve represent Jesus. In Jesus' day, influenced by ancient Jewish law, a person's emissary or agent was "as the man himself." (See Gal. 4:14; Jn. 13:20.) (Hare, 118) The theme of the disciple as representative of Jesus and his welcome as equivalent to welcoming Jesus occurs throughout the New Testament (Mt. 18:5; Mk. 9:37; Lk. 10:16; Jn. 13:20). Since the disciples are sent by Jesus and act for his sake, those who receive them also receive Jesus (10:40a) and by receiving Jesus they also receive the One who sent him, his Father. (Patte, 156)
On this journey the Twelve have no need to fear anyone or anything they meet along the way. God protects their life. No human power, though it can kill the body, can kill the soul (10:28). Each traveler is precious in God's sight. The hairs on our heads are all counted (10:30).
Following Jesus demands our highest allegiance and may cause conflict in existing relationships (10:34-38). But we have the assurance that sacrificing a definition of life as comfort and control for a definition of life as serving Christ leads to life abundance and eternal (10:39).

The honor of representing Christ, the assurance that nothing can kill our souls, and the promise of the reward of abundant life, defined as the joy of serving Christ: these are great incentives for embarking on this journey.

Every mission trip includes both those who physically go on the trip, those who await them in the location, and those who support them with funds and prayers while they're away. The same was true in Jesus' day. There were people in churches who sent prophets and righteous people out; there were prophets and righteous people. These were probably descriptions of various qualities and roles, not different categories of missionaries. (Long, 123)

Matthew 10:40-42:
Comfort and Challenge
Matthew 10:40-42 is Jesus' comfort to the missionaries, and challenge to those at home and on location. To the missionaries: You will not come home sunburned, with blisters, and dehydrated if people minister to your basic needs while you are away.

To those who would receive them, comes this challenge. Missionaries, prophets, and righteous people receive a reward for their faithfulness, the joy of serving Christ, of finding their lives by sacrificing lesser priorities and possessions. You will share in that reward if you receive them because of (in the name of) the urgency of their mission and the identity of their team leader (Jesus). (Senior, 122) The verb "receive" can indicate either receiving the gospel or offering hospitality. (Hare, 118-119) These emissaries of Jesus are the "little ones," those who have renounced dependence on anything and anyone but God (Mt. 18:3-6, 10; Mk. 9:37, 10:14-15). In this mission discourse, the term "little ones" describes missionaries who are likely to suffer rejection, hatred, and even threat of death because they come in Jesus' name. For Jesus, those who became like children, the epitome of dependence and powerlessness in antiquity, were his representatives (Mt. 10:42, 11:26, 18:5-6). Those who welcome them will experience the same reward as those who seek to be welcomed. They are so precious to God, so important to God's plan, that a cup of cold water, so small a gift, will earn the giver a great reward. (Hare, 119) This saying foreshadows the judgment parable of Matthew 25:31-46.

Mission Trip Participant Pledge
There is one more sheet in my mission trip handout packet. It's called the "Mission Trip Participant Pledge."

To go on the trip I need to agree to do the following:

I promise to . . .

Lift up Jesus Christ with my thoughts, words, and actions.
Maintain a servant attitude toward the people our team serve and toward team members.
Refrain from negativism and complaining. Travel and ministry in Honduras may present unexpected and even undesired circumstances. Your cooperation and flexibility will make the challenges less stressful.
Remember that I am a servant of Jesus Christ called to be in ministry. I will serve as best I can so that both the spiritual purpose and the task of the mission will be accomplished.

At the bottom of the "Mission Trip Participant Pledge" is a place for me to sign and date the document.

Wouldn't those four promises be good to make every day of discipleship wherever in the world we are? Because even armed with a battery-operated fan, a bag of Planters salted peanuts, and some antiseptic hand wipes, we will experience "unexpected and even undesired circumstances" in our journey with Jesus. When we do, can we count on others to welcome and receive us? Can they count on us to welcome and receive them?

Article Continued On Next Page

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6/19/2011 4:00:00 AM

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About Alyce McKenzie

Alyce M. McKenzie is the George W. and Nell Ayers Le Van Professor of Preaching and Worship at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

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