The Year of our Lord, Jesus Christ
John 13:20
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Number eighteen was the lesson of servitude. It was the springboard to a deeper and darker lesson. A lesson on which Verily, verily teaching numbers nineteen and twenty are focused. This lesson is rejection.
Judas rejected Christ. Jesus is leading up to exposing this traitor even before he betrays the Lord. So, He taught the lesson of servitude. A servant, a good servant, the best of servants do not betray the ones they serve. Judas was not a servant. He was a thief and a liar. Between the foot washing illustration of true servitude, and the direct statement that one of Jesus’ followers would betray Him, Jesus taught a very important lesson. It is Verily, verily lesson number nineteen.
Let’s break it down. The He is anyone who receives those whom Jesus sends. Jesus sends parents to raise the children born unto them. The child of a parent that receives that parent as their authority receives the Lord’s authority. Civil leaders have been sent by the Lord God to govern the populous. Individuals that receive their appointed civil leaders receive Christ’s appointed leaders. 1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
Pastors, soulwinners, Sunday school teachers, and the like are sent by the Lord to tell others about the Gospel and teach them how to live within the bounds of God’s Holy Word. Receiving their message results in receiving Him. Rejecting their message is rejecting Him. That is what Jesus said. The whomsoever I send are those parents, civil leaders, pastors and the like. In a day and age wherein more and more these leaders are rejected, be warned. A word to the wise should be sufficient, as Mom used to say.
Lastly, he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. This statement speaks volumes. When Judas rejected Christ he was rejecting the one who sent Christ; he was rejecting God the Father. This strikes at the heart of the matter today. The rejection of Christ is the rejection of the One that God the Father sent. Meaning the rejection of one is the rejection of the other.
Rejection is a serious matter. There is a time, place and situation for rejection, no doubt. Just make sure that the object of rejection is not Christ, or those whom He sends.
Until next time,
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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