+ 4th Sunday after Pentecost – June 22nd, 2026 +
Series A: Jeremiah 20:7-13; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:5, 21-33
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
When I was in high school our family took a little road trip down from Portland to ride our bikes around Crater Lake. Now, these were the days before google and carrying supercomputers around in your pocket. All my sister and I had to go on was my dad’s description of the ride, which was sold to us like this: it’s just a few hills, and a lot of scenic views.
Not quite false advertising…but pretty close. The reality was 35 miles that featured more than 6,000 feet of elevation change, and one nasty set of switchbacks that went for a few miles uphill. Had my father told us exactly the kind of suffering and sweat we were going to go through that day, we probably never would’ve left the parking lot.
The chambers of commerce do this kind of thing too. Come visit pure Michigan, they say, all while giving you gorgeous blue water views of the great lakes…in the 2 months of the year you can enjoy them without freezing your tuckus off.
So you’d expect that when Jesus sends out his 12 disciples in Matthew 10 that he would soften the blow for them a little. Numb the pain to come. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.
But Jesus doesn’t do that at all. Jesus doesn’t spare his disciples the suffering. He doesn’t spin the reality of what they’ll endure. No. He does just the opposite. He leans into the suffering. He tells them every nitty, gritty, painful bit of suffering they’re about to endure. He’s not interested in giving his disciples a tourist brochure, but the truth.
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.
Brother will deliver over brother to death…children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. If they call the master of the house Beelzebul (the devil) how much more will they malign those of his household.
One of the greatest miracles – and it is a miracle, a work that only happens by the Holy Spirit calling and sending – is that after hearing this, the 12 disciples actually go as Jesus sent them.
So what do we do with Jesus’ words when they grow dark and difficult?
The temptation is to soften them in hopes of making Jesus seem more friendly. Like your buddy, pal or homey. You know, water down Jesus’s words a little and maybe, just maybe, the world will hate you a little less or find the faith a little less offensive. But once you remove the suffering – especially the suffering of Jesus on the cross – you’ve gone like a horde of termites and hollowed out the faith.
Or there’s the temptation to ignore his words: out of sight out of mind. That doesn’t work for long because suffering – in one form or another, big or small – always comes along. Or there’s the temptation to avoid Jesus’ words. Don’t talk about suffering, sin, death and all that – instead talk about good things, happy things, living your best life now. But the problem is that platitudes only numb the pain for so long, and they certainly won’t save you when suffering for the sake of Jesus’ name comes along.
The instinct to avoid suffering is understandable. After all, no one these days puts suffering or persecution or even martyrdom for the faith of Jesus on our summer to-do list. Because when we suffer Satan and our sinful flesh fire a whole volley of temptations our way: before long we begin to think that God has abandoned us. That our Lord is absent, or even worse…that he’s apathetic to our suffering for his name. And then the devil and our sinful flesh whispers lies into the silence. We look for comfort and peace elsewhere, we look to someone or something other than Christ to ease our suffering, to numb the pain. And after that, the devil and your old adam turn right back around and wag their scaly, accusatory fingers at you in shame: if only you had a stronger faith, if only you had prayed harder, if only you were a better believer.
Ever notice how all the devil’s lies begin with “if”. That’s what he does in our suffering: he sows uncertainty; he creates chaos, division, and lies.
This is why Jesus speaks to his disciples, and to us this way in Matthew 10. This is why Jesus doesn’t hand his disciples a chamber of commerce brochure as he sends them out, but rather the brutal honest truth: the Christian life is a battle ground. Every moment. Every hour. Every day. From the day you’re baptized there’s a target on our backs and we’re hunted by the dragon and his minions.
But that’s not all there is. There’s also a shield over you and surrounding you. It’s forged in the font with water, Jesus’ word, and the Holy Spirit. God places his holy name upon you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Yes, in the Christian life, suffering for the name of Christ is certain. But there’s also something in the Christian life that is even more certain: your salvation in Jesus who suffered for you. And who promises, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus doesn’t avoid, or ignore, or soften the suffering that he knows is coming. Just the opposite. He embraces it. All of it. For you. His disciples’ suffering, persecution, martyrdom – he bears it all. Our brokenness, suffering and betrayals – he bears those too. All the hurt and pain and hatred the, we, along with, the world can throw at him – Jesus takes it all. He leans into the suffering. He lets the nails and spear and thorns pierce him – for you. He embraces the cross loaded with all our sin and suffering – and he does this for you. He is battered, bruised, beaten and bloodied – to save you.
The Christian life is no travel brochure. Betrayal. Mockery. Hatred for Christ’s holy name will come.
In your life in Christ, Suffering is certain. But fear not, for your salvation in Christ – even when you suffer – is even more certain.
When the wolves are prowling at the door… know that they’re no match for the Lamb of God our Shepherd and Savior. He will endure you to the end.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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