What is this passage about? Is it about the disciples, the twelve? Yes, of course, it is about them; these are Jesus' final words of instruction to them and astonishing words they are! "Whoever welcomes you guys welcomes me," Jesus says, "and whoever welcomes me welcomes the Father who sent me" (10:40). Their mission was God's mission; their words were God's words; the people whom they met encountered God in them and their teachings.

These are strong words, but we know that these disciples (minus Judas) turned the whole world upside down with their proclamation. Whoever welcomed them did indeed welcome Christ and the one who sent him.

But what is this passage about for today? These disciples are long gone. Do the words still apply? How do we welcome them and in so doing welcome Christ an…