Unskilled Apprentices Called to Speak Out

Scripture Verses that caught my attention today: 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Observation: there is the great reconciler and then there are the proclaimers of this reconciliation.

Application: It’s Maundy Thursday. It’s a day when we remember two betrayers: Judas and Peter. The first was a follower turned rogue and the second proclaimed himself a follower but couldn’t follow through. We often think of this as a dark day for Jesus, but it was also a low point for each of them.

Interestingly enough, although Judas and Peter in one way or another demonstrated that they were through with Christ, Christ demonstrated that he was not through with them. It’s not that he was blind to their significant foibles. He was just able to look past them. Reconciliation is Christ’s specialty. I believe that’s true even for Judas.

Our task as preachers is first and foremost to point to this reconciling work of Christ. We may and indeed should endeavor to practice reconciliation on our own wherever possible. But we cannot rely, depend, boast, or despair over how well our personal reconciliation efforts play out. Christ is the great reconciler of all and we are simply entrusted with sharing the depth of that incredible news. Paul called it the “ministry of reconciliation” which is accomplished by sharing the “message of reconciliation” which has been “entrusted” to us.

That’s our task. That’s our privilege. Let the day begin.

Prayer: Lord, in an ideal world we would all be reconciled to each other as well. Unfortunately the depth of our own sinful condition in combination with the sinful condition of others always makes such ideals fleeting. This can be discouraging to say the least. In such circumstances, help us to remember and proclaim that you are the true reconciler of all and that we are merely unskilled apprentices. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Ruth 1, 2, Psalm 53 and 61, and 2 Corinthians 5)