Views from the Valley

Sunday, June 28, 2026

The Scripture: Matthew 10:40-42

[Jesus said,] “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple–truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

The Sermon

As I thought about what it means to welcome Jesus, as the title of this sermon suggests, I thought about some experiences I had years ago when I was a staff member of a worldwide evangelical Christian organization whose responsibility it was to go out and tell the world about Jesus, and how each person needed to accept him as their personal savior in order to be in right standing before God.

       And so, regardless of what area of the ministry we were working in, going out and telling others about Jesus was at least one small part of our ministry. I worked in the media department, mostly as a phototypesetter (a rare career in these days of personal computers that allow even the least typographically-savvy people to work up a flyer, a poster, or a card). When I was in training for work in this organization, I joined up with a group of young, starry-eyed people who were accepted into the ministry and given training in Ft. Collins, Colorado. I learned a lot. Played a lot of guitar. Enjoyed the daily rain showers that fell every afternoon on the east side of the Rocky Mountains. And one day, we went up into the Rockies on a soul-winning expedition. Rocky Mountain National Park, full of all sorts of summer vacationers. Our goal was to share the contents of a little booklet, otherwise known as a tract, called “The Four Spiritual Laws.” It was developed by the organization’s leader and was seen as an almost magical formula for a person’s salvation, should they choose to accept the words of this little tome.

       And so we proceeded to hike near an area where we found a group of young folk, relaxing in the shade near a footbridge. I seem to remember maybe a bicycle or two lying in the grass nearby. And two of the people in our little team went over to them and began sharing with them the Four Spiritual Laws.

       I watched them. The idea of doing such a thing terrified me, and part of me wanted to walk away from that little trip and never go back. Meanwhile, the recipients of our well-intentioned encounter were not happy at all, nor were they welcoming. This happened so long ago that I don’t exactly remember what I did, but I am almost certain that I said, or tried to hint, to the people who were pressing this news upon the young vacationers, “Let’s go. Let’s leave them alone.” And to my embarrassment, the brave crusaders were determined to get all the way through that book. Did they convert anyone? I’m pretty confident they did not. What a relief it was when my friends finally got the message. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were asked, flat out, to just go away.

       Another aspect of my time with this ministry was when I reached my destination in San Bernardino, California and had become full-fledged staff in that same organization. We were encouraged by our media supervisor to take part in a phone campaign. Bibles had been given out by staff all over the country, and in them was an 800 number to call if any interest was piqued by the recipients. Our job was to follow a script, probably not unlike the booklet we used in the Rockies, only it was a large thing, like a diagram, with boxes and quotes and arrows guiding us from one subject to another. If they gave one response, we’d go one direction. If they gave another, we’d proceed a different way, with hopes they would all end up in the arms of Jesus.

       Unfortunately, I received a call by a number on the other end of which was a woman in a very, very dark place in her life. Needless to say, I decided not to be your typical crusader – I wonder who would have been – and I found myself completely ignoring the script in an effort to meet this woman in the place where she was in her life. I can only pray that my response was helpful, because there was no way I would ever be able to contact that person again. It did not involve sharing four spiritual laws. I can’t imagine how that would have gone.

       This leads me back to the Scripture lesson. Jesus’ disciples are actually the subjects of this lesson: they are the prophets, the righteous people and the “little ones” Jesus tells his listeners to offer their kindness and hospitality to. And granted, while we know that at some point along the line the disciples’ role was to convey the message that Jesus wanted them to convey, they were also told, as was proclaimed in the gospel lesson two weeks ago, from Matthew 10:8: “As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse those with a skin disease; cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.”

       Hmmm. Interesting. There’s something missing from this enjoinder: A booklet. A formula. Four spiritual laws about how to know the man who was very possibly standing among them, or somewhere nearby.

       He didn’t say, “If you share a booklet and a formula, the commonwealth of heaven will come.” He said, “Tell them the realm of heaven has come near.” He also told them to heal people. Make people better. Give to people. Take care of people. Do good to people.

       And in this one, he speaks to the listeners, telling them how to treat the disciples, the people who were out there serving with him. “Welcome them,” he said. “Give them a cup of water,” he said. “Because when you do, you will receive the same reward as they.” And most crucially, he says, “Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.”

       That’s where we find out what it means to welcome Jesus. Welcoming Jesus means to welcome those who represent him; those sent to work on his behalf. Prophets. Righteous ones. Little ones. All three of those roles were taken on by the disciples. Prophets: by proclaiming that the kingdom of God is near. Righteous people: I really like Google AI’s summary of Matthew’s view. “In the Gospel of Matthew, ‘righteous’ people are those who humbly obey God’s will and show compassion, rather than acting in religious pride.” Little ones: Also the disciples. Prophets in the name of prophets. Righteous people in the name of righteous people. Little ones in the name of a disciple. Little, as in children of God. Learners. Out there doing something new and probably just as scary as reading tracts to unwilling folk in the Rocky Mountains. Jesus asked the people to treat his disciples – and I have no doubt he didn’t mean just the twelve, but his many followers, men, women and children alike – with respect, and love. And in so doing, they would be treating him the same way. They would be honoring him. They would receive their reward – because the realm of heaven was near.

       And so we come to this little church in this little town called Davenport. Who might we be? Are we the people to whom Jesus speaks, being asked to treat Jesus’ representatives well? Who would those people be? Pastors, teachers, guides: people out there in front, whose names would be associated with the word “leaders” and “Christians.”

       But we also are the disciples. Don’t forget that I included women and children, too.

       In fact, this gospel passage encompasses a lot of people. For those who treated Jesus and his disciples well likewise became disciples and followers. Just handing out something as simple as a cup of cold water to a disciple was highly meaningful to Jesus, and we know that he often used simple illustrations to convey very big concepts. A cup of cold water could mean a hello, a handshake, and a bit of respect. Even respect for people who don’t want to hear the contents of a booklet called “The Four Spiritual Laws.” Great respect and compassion for people who call a phone number when they are in desperate need of help, and not words of a formula that takes a person nowhere because it has nothing to do with what that person really needs at that moment.

       We are those disciples. We are to be treated with respect. And we are also to treat others in the same way. With love, and compassion, willing to proclaim God’s love in word and deed, and willing to share at the very least a cup of cold water with others. Because you never know when you might be sharing something special with Jesus in disguise.

       A cup of cold water could mean more to someone than all the riches in the world. Food, a kind word, a helping hand, all expressed in the name of Jesus, could mean much more to someone than offering them a formula for how to know God. Jesus and his followers went out and spent time with people, and the receptive ones listened, heard, and heeded.

       So can, and do, we, in so many, many ways, too, because each of us has gifts to offer others. A sweet spirit. A helpful hand. A book. A card. A smile. Cooking. Baking. Fixing. Guiding. Our time, our talents, our treasures. Our prayers. You are valuable. You have something to offer. And I believe every one of you is aware of the impact you can have on and in the world around you.

       And I believe that by being who we are, where we are, as the wonderful people that we are, we are indeed welcoming Jesus.

       One final word, though. In one of my commentaries I read this little story: “Recently a friend told of an interaction with a bagger at her local grocery store. She had been talking with this woman off and on for a year, and upon learning that she no longer worked on Sundays, invited her to come to her church, to their casual, outdoor, come-as-you-are service. Much to my friend’s surprise, the woman responded by giving her a hug!”

       This is the cup of water we can offer. The invitation. We love our church, so why not invite others to join us here? We are God’s prophets, God’s righteous ones, God’s little disciples, all. May we, by opening our doors to others, know that in so doing, we are always and forever welcoming Jesus. Amen.