Proper 9 C / This Sermon isn’t about You / St. Luke 10:1-20
7 July 2013 – Redeemer
Luke1001 Proper 9 C 2013 This Sermon is not about You
I recently asked someone, “What makes for a good sermon?” The answer came back, “When it is about me!” If that’s your definition of a good sermon then today’s sermon is not good. Today’s text from Saint Luke is one of those unique texts in the New Testament that doesn’t apply directly to anyone here because not one of us is called to do exactly what those 72 men were called to do.
Jesus has not called you to go town to town in Minnesota, in pairs of two, to spread His peace. He does not command us to travel around without a wallet, a suitcase, a cooler of food, and bring His good news to our good state. He has not summoned us like a modern day John the Baptists to prepare people for his visitation.
So you can rest assured today. I’m not going to collect your purses, wallets, and credit cards at the door and send you out in pairs to neighborhood to proclaim the peace of Christ. Jesus hasn’t called you to do that and He hasn’t called me to do that either. These 72 are unique in Scripture. They are uniquely apostles – that very word “apostles” means those sent by Jesus.
But as people who pray, “Thy Kingdom come” on an almost daily basis, the Holy Spirit still has something to say to us from this text. For this text is about the Kingdom of God. Whether the peace of Christ was accepted or rejected, these sent men were to proclaim, “The Kingdom of God is near.” When we pray the Lord’s Prayer desiring God’s Kingdom to come we pray that it would come to the world and that it would come to us, and so this text answers our prayer and tells us where the Kingdom of God comes – it comes in Jesus.
Jesus called 72 men. He sent them to go before Him, so that people would receive the Kingdom. They are His men and they do what Jesus does. They are his ambassadors. Wherever an Ambassador of the US resides that embassy is US soil. An American citizen being pursued by the government in Moscow could find refuge in the US Embassy there. These 72 stand in the stead and by the command of Christ and His instructions make it clear that His Kingdom is about Jesus and only Jesus. The Kingdom is the Presence, the Word and the work of Jesus.
His Kingdom is safety, peace, salvation, and life for you. Jesus wants to gather the world to Himself and give the whole world those same gifts – the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. We pray for workers and then Jesus answers the prayer as He sends out workers.
Can you imagine the 72 as they heard the Lord’s instructions? “OK guys you’re going to be traveling. Long miles. Dusty roads. I know you want to be prepared so here’s the list of things you should take – no billfold, no suitcase, no shaving kit, no tooth paste, no GPS or MP3 players, no cell phones, no bottled water, no gummy bears to munch on in the car, no extra sandals. Oh, and one more thing. It’s going to dangerous out there. Believe it or not people hate the Kingdom of God so to protect yourself along the way you can take nothing.”
These men were given nothing and yet they were given everything they needed. These men were given the Word and promise of Jesus. And wherever they went with His Word Jesus went with them. Jesus removed everything they could have used as a resource to live except His Word. Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Mt 4:4) Amazingly all 72 lived and I think they were surprised that they lived. Into every village they traveled and down every road they walked they preached a sermon not only by their words but with their luggage (or lack of luggage). All they carried was the Word of Jesus. That was it and by that Word the peace of Christ was offered and given to those who received the Word. Their very lives were sermons preached about Christ – for He would go with nothing to the cross except the promise and Words of the Father in his ears, “The Christ should suffer and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24:46)
He goes with nothing but His Father’s Word to bring you everything by His Word. Jesus becomes nothing at the cross. The Lord of life becomes a dead man. The Holy One of God becomes the filthy rag of your unrighteousness. The Son of God becomes an orphan – all alone in suffering, death, and hell. He becomes the chief sinner, indeed His will is that He would be the only sinner ever punished for sin. He is made sin that we might be declared righteous. He is robbed of life that He might steal death away from us.
It is the most amazing news in all the world. There is no better news to be found anywhere. God the Father has offered His only Son that you might have peace – the peace of all your sins forgiven, the peace of your past and present covered with His righteousness, the peace that your coffin is but a place to rest in peace, the peace that you will see again your loved ones who have died in faith, the peace that no evil, no trouble, no tragedy, disease, or demon can snatch you from God’s hand. This is the peace of the Kingdom, the peace of Christ, the peace His men speak.
So wouldn’t you think every one would want this peace? Don’t you think people who heard of such a peace would run for the churches on Sunday morning like they run to the beach on the 4th of July or run to Walmart on Black Friday? Third Street should look like Highway 10 on the opening of fishing every Sunday morning. And yet each of us know family members and close friends who do not want this peace.
The 72 were not received everywhere they went. There were towns into which they came who said, “Thanks, but no thanks.” And then those men of God did what they never wanted to do, they did what Jesus never wants to – they left those souls alone. They shook the dust off their feet and walked away – with a little sermon – a sermon of promise and warning, “The Kingdom of God has come near.” You cannot force Jesus on anyone. There is no magic sermon or word to restore your children and friends to the Kingdom of God. There is no sure fire method or effective evangelism program. Even Jesus Himself was rejected and did not win over everyone to whom He spoke. The Kingdom of God is Jesus and the Kingdom of God operates by love and love does not force or coerce – you can reject Jesus.
As I mentioned the 72 returned from their journey amazed. They returned alive. They had lived like the birds of the air and the lilies of the field – without a suitcase, a wardrobe, a cooler, or their credit cards. Not only had they lived but the Word of Jesus they carried gave them great success. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (vs. 17) And Jesus gave them a glimpse behind the scenes, a glimpse of the spiritual battle in the heavenly realms. While these 72 soldiers of the Kingdom proclaimed the peace of Christ, Jesus saw Satan falling. And the word used here by Jesus is “continually falling.” While the 72 were preaching Satan got shoved down the stairs to hell. While the Word was being preached Satan tumbled, every soul saved, every sin forgiven, every child baptized, every demon cast out, every disease healed, bounced, beat, and bumped Satan into a tumble that will end with him crumpled and beaten, behind the doors of hell on the last day. That’s what happens when the Word of God is preached and heard, when water is poured and a child is baptized, when bread and wine are given and Christ’s true body and blood is received. So take heart for the Kingdom of God has come near to you today.
But don’t let it go to your head or your heart. Do not rejoice in the victories, do not think you have something that others don’t, do not think that the Church’s success or failure rests in your hands, rather rejoice “that your names are written in heaven.” That’s your peace, your hope, your life, and your future. And that’s good news you can speak – not town to town like the 72, but where you work and play, where you live and die, for the Kingdom of God has come near for you and for the world, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
6 July 2013 anno Domini