Jesus' encounter with the centurion at Capernaum (Matthew 8: 5-13) is
a short but revealing exchange. I am struck in particular by Jesus'
frank commendation of the centurion's faith. "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith ... Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would"
(Matthew 8:10, 13). What encouraging words! Jesus could be equally
blunt when it came to the consequences of ignoring the Gospel message,
though. When he sends out the twelve, he instructs them, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly
I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day
of judgment than for that town" (Matthew 10: 14-15).
Jesus
does not immediately elaborate as to what exactly that might entail,
but he refers elsewhere to the "darkness" and "the blazing furnace,"
both of which will involve much "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew
8:12, 13:42). Chances are
good you don't want to spend eternity in darkness or in a blazing furnace; I know I
don't. If you believe what Jesus teaches, though, then the alternative
is a life--indeed, an eternity--of following him.
How can you have that? As Jesus tells the parable of the sower and
then explains it to his disciples (Matthew 13: 3-9 and 18-23,
respectively), it becomes clear that it all begins with hearing the
Gospel. And once we have heard, we have the delight and the duty to proclaim
(Matthew 5:14-16, 13: 44-46, 28: 18-20). How else will others come to
believe if no one tells them of the Good News (Romans 10: 15-19)? It is
such joy to follow Jesus; how can we keep that to ourselves?
May we boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ that all may hear, understand, and believe.
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