Discipleship & Radical WelcomeSýnishorn

In Acts 10, we read about the actions and experiences of the first followers of Jesus.

Before that, in Matthew, Jesus gave them a command and promise just before He returned to heaven.

I have been given all power in heaven and on earth. Now go out and make all nations disciples of Me. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to do all things that I have also taught you. And I AM with you all the days, until the time of the world is finished. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus emphasizes ALL nations and gives His disciples the specific task of teaching them everything they have seen, heard, and learned from Him. One of the things the disciples saw as they traveled with Jesus was His radical welcome to all.

Let's zoom in on a few examples:

The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) is not shunned by Jesus, as was common for most Jews at that time. Jesus welcomes her, and through her, the whole town then recognize Him as Savior of the world.

Another wonderful example is Zacchaeus, the tax collector (Luke 19). Despite the Pharisees' and elite's protests, Jesus went to eat with Zacchaeus. Many Jews saw him as a traitor because he unfairly collected taxes for the Roman occupiers, but that did not deter Jesus. He seeks out those who are cast aside by the vast majority.

In both examples, Jesus' radical welcome brings a radical transformation. The Samaritan woman immediately testifies to others of Jesus' radical welcome, and through this, an entire city is touched with the good news of Jesus. Zacchaeus starts living differently from the moment he meets Jesus. He leaves his old, selfish life behind and takes action for the poor and those he has exploited.

Jesus' disciples have been instructed to do the same as Jesus: radically welcome people into the Kingdom of God! In Acts, we see the effect of Jesus' commission on the lives of His disciples and those around them. Acts 10 is a great example of this. Peter discovers how God's heart goes out to all nations, not just Israel, and shares this with those around him:

For the second time, the voice spoke to Peter, saying, "If God has said of something that it is clean, you must not say that it is unclean!" (vs.15)

He said to them, "You know that Jews are not allowed to associate with people who are not Jewish. We are not allowed to go into their homes either. But God has shown me that I must not call anyone unclean or unholy." (vs.28)

Peter replied, "I see that indeed God makes no difference between the people of different nations.But He loves everyone who worships Him and who wants to live the way He wants. That is also the good news He has brought to Israel: that there is peace through Jesus Christ. Jesus is Lord of all people." (vs. 34-36)

Today we, too, may radically and unconditionally welcome people on behalf of Jesus. This is not always easy, but we may help and encourage each other in connection with Jesus himself, to grow in this and daily work out the example Jesus gave us. What will be your first step?

Take the following questions to think about:

• What about your hospitality?
• Everyone is welcome to Jesus. What do you think about this "boundlessness"?
• Is there anyone you can radically welcome today?

Prayer:

• Express your renewed desire for Jesus, to be radically hospitable like Him.