In Matthew 10, we have the beginning of an internship. Jesus, having lived in front of disciples, is now sending them out to do what they have watched.

It’s a great strategy for teaching. At some point, if you want people to be able to live something out, you have to give them safe opportunities to try it, to find out what they know.

Jesus tells them where to go (and where not to go). He describes what they are to do (what he’s been doing). He tells them what to pack (nothing). He tells them where to stay (with supportive people). He tells them how people will respond (including the negative responses). He tells them what will happen to them (they’ll go to jail). He tells them what their support system will be (God). He tells them how to respond (with confidence).

If you read the paragraph above without the parentheses, it’s a pretty familiar description of topics, to be found in any internship description or short term missions invitation or even some travel guides. If you read just the parentheses, you would never ever go on this kind of a trip.

And if you look at the text itself, it gets worse.  Jesus is analyzing whether it’s better to be afraid of the one that can kill your body or your body and soul.

And we think, “I’ll take door number three, Jesus. I want the person who won’t kill either.”

But the options Jesus is presenting don’t include that safe option, not for peopel who want to take the next steps in following, not for people in the serious course.

The interesting thing is that the disciples apparently went. And survived. At least long enough to report this.

I think it’s safe to follow when he sends us.