where is Jesus going?

Yesterday in one of my classes at Fuller, we practiced the lectio divina with a text in Luke 10.  The story tells us that when Jesus sent the 72 out in pairs, they go to 'every town and place where he himself intended to go.'

Strategy.  In this text we see that Jesus had plans, a goal, a mission, a strategy.  Involved in any mission are the elements of preparation, activity/proclamation, and follow up.  These courageous missionaries were preparing the way of the Lord.

Incarnation.  As they went, they took up residence in different towns and different houses in those towns.  They talked and ate and drank with people.  They didn't fly in, put on a show, and fly out.  They didn't drive to the soup kitchen from their nice suburban home.  Rather, for as long as there was peace, they remained in that town and lived the life of those townspeople.

Sacrament. As they went, they carried Christ with them. Sacramental theology opens our minds and hearts to the places where Christ is present.  While many Christians disagree sharply over where, when, and how Christ is present with us, we can all agree that we desperately need Christ present.  So in our mission, if we can carry Christ to the places where he intends to go, we are engaged in sacramental mission.  Christ present in us.  Christ present in 'every town and place.'

I pray that as I engage in mission to orphaned children around the world by mobilzing the church to give hope and give help, that I would do this in a strategic, incarnational, and sacramental way.  I want to go where Jesus is going.

Where is Jesus going?  Where are you going?

Comments

[brad brisco]

Dan, what wonderful reflections from this passage through lectio divina. I was wondering what class had encouraged you to do this?

[Daniel Clark]

Brad - thanks for your post. It was in a class called Ethnicities and Churches. The focus of the class is to learn to be faithful and courageous and humble leaders in a multicultural world. So we begin each 3 hours class on Thursday nights with a 30 minute devotional focused on reading the Bible through a multicultural lens. It's been a great experience.