Independence Day • July 4, 2004

2 Kings 5:1-14 • Psalm 30 • Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 • Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sermon by Michael R. Martin, Certified Lay Speaker
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY
• In loving memory of Ed Rhodes•

Luke 10: Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two

Our gospel reading today recounts Jesus recruiting and sending a large number of new disciples ahead of him. Depending on which bible translation you read, the number of disciples is either 70 or 72. For consistency, I will be using 72, the number in my NIV translation. This story takes place right after Jesus had conversations with the several reluctant disciples we talked about last week, those who would follow Jesus after they had taken care of other matters, to which Jesus replied that nothing was more important than this calling, that nothing come before God.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near’ . . . . "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

In Luke 9, our Gospel reading over the past two weeks, Jesus sent the twelve ahead of him, two by two. Now, in Luke 10, 72 new recruits, new disciples, are sent out by twos. The number twelve would remind the hearers of the twelve tribes of Israel, while the number seventy-two would remind hearers of the Gentiles. The Jews believed that there were 72 nations traceable back to Genesis 10. The progression from twelve disciples in Luke chapter 9 to the 72 disciples in Luke chapter 10 hints that the Gentiles or all the nations, not just those who considered themselves “God’s chosen,” would be recipients of the gospel. As these new disciples were sent, Jesus used two metaphors to prepare them for their mission:
• Harvest and laborers – the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few; there are many to be saved and so few disciples
• Lambs and wolves – I am sending you out like lambs among wolves; this task will not be easy. In fact, going forth will be at times quite dangerous. Just imagine yourself a cute fuzzy little lamb hopping around the pasture, and behind every boulder, every tree is a big wolf, lying in wait, long toothy jaws snapping in anticipation, just waiting for that tender morsel to skip on past.

So Jesus has told the disciples there is much for them to do, and it will be dangerous. Yet he also told them to take nothing with them. The community would care for them. Matthew 10:9-10 recounts this same event and provides Jesus’ reasoning. Jesus instructs his disciples in Matthew

"Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep."

Later on, in Luke 22:35-36, Jesus refers to these very instructions & instructs his disciples to do just the opposite as he prepares them for the coming of Judas & his betrayal:

Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered. He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one."

But for now, early on in his journey to the Cross, Jesus sends them empty handed so that the good people of the communities they visit have the opportunity to take them in and feed them. Jesus is saying: we do not need anything to be a disciple, except a trust in the Lord that he will provide. Go out into the world prepared only to preach the Good News and all else will be provided.

Jesus’ guidelines for discipleship were simple:
• Go where they were received.
• Remain in one place and eat what was set before them. In other words, don't move around seeking a better deal - take what ever is provided, lest they be accused of being opportunistic.
• Do the works of Christ and proclaim the kingdom of God in places where they were welcomed.
• Wipe the dust off their feet in protest against places where they were rejected.

Make no mistake, however. Jesus never said that to be a disciple for Christ would be a picnic. In fact, we are repeatedly told just the opposite. In today’s reading, Jesus likens it to being a lamb among wolves.

I believe that we, as modern day disciples, can act with this same trust, that we can proceed armed only with God’s Good News and our needs will be taken care of. All that is required of us is FAITH. I am reminded of Joshua 1:9 –

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

But do we, as modern day disciples, have the same power to heal as Christ gave the 70? I suppose it depends on how you look at it. We DO have the power to comfort and to trust God’s will, and to help others come to know Christ so that they to might trust in God’s will. And the power to comfort, to love with compassion, should not be taken lightly. I believe that God’s love and the Holy Spirit, which fills all believers to overflowing, is channelled to those we comfort if we do so with a pure heart, without motive or thought of self. And bringing someone to peace who is troubled, sick or in pain, bringing that person to acceptance of God’s will, IS healing. I think of our pastor visiting the aged and infirm at Uihlein and how appreciative they must be, I think of Cindy Smith visiting those of us who find ourselves rooming at the Adirondack Medical Center and how thankful the patients must feel. And I think of Ed, gleefully recounting the travels to the White Mountains of NH in his early life to my son Mathew and me when we dropped by during one of his recent stays at AMC, and I think of Ed this week, to weak to even speak, barely able to keep his eyes open. I see the twinkle in his eye and the smile on his face as I played and sang a few songs for him; how he clearly said my name, “Michael,” and “thank you” when I got up to leave – I’m not sure who was healing whom, but that is the wonderful thing about sharing Christ’s love – the more you give, the more you receive back. It is a well that will never run dry.

In the Gospel, Jesus instructs his followers in missionary technique and he gives them authority over all spirits. When the 70 returned, they were excited -- even the demons submitted to them! Jesus both encouraged and warned them. Yes, they had authority, but their salvation was cause for greater rejoicing. The disciples were instructed not to rejoice in their power over the spirits, but rather rejoice that their names are written in heaven.

Today, our nation celebrates its independence – fireworks and “hurrah!” for we are a great nation. There will be beer drinking and barbeques, a nation rejoicing. But you and I, the Body of Christ, let us celebrate our TRUE independence: independence from SIN by Christ’s suffering for us on the cross; independence from worldly worries having FAITH in Christ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

As we read in Nehemiah 8:10 –

"Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Rejoice! These good things are promised to us, given to us, ours for the taking. Take it! You deserve it, you are worthy of it. Take it all! Let THIS be your Independence Day. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven!

Oh yeah. And just one more thing:
As we are reminded in Paul's letter to the Romans (chapter 12: 13)

"Share with God's people who are in need."

Now that you HAVE your independence, go OUT THERE and share it!

Michael R. Martin – July 4, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM