Luke 10:1-20, sermon given on July 7, 2019

Below please find, the video of and the manuscript of, last Sunday's sermon.  The sermon covers the story of the "Sending out of the Seventy".  We need to remember that Christ continues to send us out into the world to do His work... to tend His fields... to bring in His harvest.

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In Christ,
Roy

Sermon – Sunday, July 7, 2019

Today the Lectionary brings us to the verses found in the Gospel of Luke at Chapter 10, verses 1-20.  This is the story of “The Mission of the Seventy” or as it is found in some manuscripts “The Mission of the Seventy-Two”.  The translators of the NRSV determined that the number '70' likely was the more reliable and the original number, I agree with this determination for reasons we will talk about in just a few moments.

The story we're looking at today follows behind the story of the sending out of the 'Twelve Disciples' in Chapter 9, and the feeding of the 5,000.  It directly follows where we are told in Luke 9:  that Jesus has made his final turn towards Jerusalem.  Time is running short now.  Christ sends these 'seventy' out ahead of him to prepare the way in the towns he has yet to visit or perhaps to re-visit.  One can question whether he is sending the seventy out because he doesn't believe he has time to visit all the locations he had intended, but to me, in the Greek, the idea that these are advance parties seems to be fairly obvious.
Jesus' ministry isn't just a haphazard trip through what we call today the 'Holy Land'.  He has a plan and he is sending people ahead of him to make arrangements for the success of his ministry.  If we truly wish to follow his ministry model, then we too need to plan according to God's will and accept the call when given to go ahead to prepare the way.

Let's now turn to the text and hear what the author of Luke and Acts is relaying to us:

Luke 10:1-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Mission of the Seventy
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.
Woes to Unrepentant Cities
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum,
will you be exalted to heaven?
    No, you will be brought down to Hades.
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
The Return of the Seventy
17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

As I said earlier, these verses follow after the sending of the 'Twelve', which is generally interpreted to symbolize the witness to the 'Twelve Tribes' of Judaism, thus understood as the ministry to the Jewish Nation.  Here now we have a new, larger group being sent out... seventy or seventy-two in other manuscripts.  The number seventy has a number of meanings for us in reading scripture.  It is the number of elders that Moses is told to appoint in the eleventh Chapter of the Book of Numbers.  It then was used because of this appointment as the number of members of the Sanhedrin.  Seventy was also, and what I think is being applied here, the number of Nations in the entire World as set out in Genesis Chapter Ten. This line of thinking is strengthened by the fact that approximately equal numbers of manuscripts state the number of Disciples sent out as seventy as do seventy-two.  The reason for this is that in the Septuagint Genesis Chapter Ten records seventy-two as the number of Nations as opposed to seventy in the Hebrew Old Testament. Thus, here, we can be fairly certain, that we are encountering a symbolic number to represent the number of Nations in the entire world.  Thus we are being told symbolically, that the message of Christ Jesus is to be taken to all the World... none are to be excluded any longer.

These Disciples are sent out in teams of two, likely due to Jewish laws pertaining to a reliable witness requiring two individuals and due to the great dangers of traveling in Biblical times.  This model of working in tandem is continued on for the most part into the writings of the book of Acts and the letters of Paul.

Jesus sends these 70 out with the warning that this will not be an easy trip.  They will encounter resistance and confrontations.  Certainly, as I mentioned travel in Biblical times was dangerous, there were difficult roads and thugs could be lying in wait to rob lone travelers.  But, “Sheep among wolves”, also most certainly means there is a very real chance they'll be attacked for their witness.  We too are often attacked for our witness, though here in the USA it is generally not a physical attack but certainly verbal abuse is all too common.  Though we have recently seen an increase of actual physical attacks especially it seems to those Christians protesting at Abortion Clinics and advocating a pro-life agenda.  Still, we are not suffering ever-present danger like some believers are in other regions of the world.  Never forget to pray for those whose witness places them in literal danger of physical attack, destruction of property, rape, or even death.

Here in Luke's Gospel, time is now short.  The metaphor is of the harvest and we with agricultural backgrounds understand all too well the urgency that harvest brings... there is no dilly-dallying to be done.  Jesus sends these 70 out almost like light infantry troops... they're scouting or advance parties.  They are to travel quickly, not burdened by unnecessary possessions, they are not to chit-chat along the way... they are being sent to a predetermined village or town and that is where they are to gather intel and make preparations.  They're not to try and find the best hosts for themselves, moving from home to home... seeing who will provide them the greatest luxury.  No, they have a job to do and they need to stay focused on the job... their job is like ours today... to prepare the way for Christ.

There is also talk about eating what is set before them, and this combined with staying where they are put, can be looked upon as a message to those later Disciples traveling and spreading the word and works of Christ.  Remember all the issues we've talked about in Galatians with the co-mingling of Gentiles and Hebrews.  This eating what is put before you can certainly be applied to a Hebrew Christian staying with a Gentile family or individual.  You are to eat and abide by the host and not search out a family or host whose dietary practices were your own.  The Lord has provided a host for you and you must practice proper hospitality as a guest... besides, you're about the Lord's work and things are urgent.  

It seems that once they've returned to report back to Jesus that at least some of the locations visited weren't particularly welcoming.  We can only wonder if that means that Christ then skipped going to those villages and towns or if this simply gave him the knowledge of how to present his message once he got there.  We have to remember that scripture is not exhaustive about every stop that Christ made nor for that matter even every stop that Paul made.  

We could read the verses about shaking dust from the feet and all the woes as telling us that Jesus just gave up on those cities... we could then go on and determine that this allows us to just 'give up' on some people, or even places on earth.  But, that seems to run counter to the Parable of the Sower.  In the story of the Sower, he casts seed onto all the types of soil... soil that seems obviously good, and soil that seems hopeless... he does not judge who may or may not be worthy.  I don't think these verses here in Luke are telling us to give up on people.  It is, to me at least, more intended as a warning to those who may be inclined to reject Christ.

There is a certain allowance for grace strangely hidden in these verses of woe, for Jesus says those great sinners in “Tyre and Sidon” and even the much-maligned Sodom... will have it better at the time of judgment than “Bethsaida and Capernaum”.  Jesus lived in Capernaum and it's believed that the Disciples lived in Bethsaida after Christ's ascension.  Certainly, there was a church in Bethsaida very, very, very early on and it's actual remains have been discovered.  If things are going to be better for these three long disparaged cities than they will be for cities that were blessed with Christ actually living there and or the Disciples living and ministering there... then can we not see that there is some hope for grace for the most lost and defiant of nonbelievers today?  We are called to cast our seed, like the Sower of the Parable on all soil... rocky, thorny, salty, and what have you... we are not to judge.  The only Judge is Christ, we are the workers preparing the way of the Lord.  We are being sent to work among the thorns and rocks, often throwing seed where we think it's an absolute waste of time.  I have often held forth that it's not for us to know what seed sprouts and what seed flourishes.  We are called to assist God with the planting, to water, to nurture, to guide, but the harvest is God's alone.  Luke uses the metaphor of harvest, but surely the real harvest is by God's hand alone.  Only our egos make us want to count the noses of those whom “we've saved”.  But, I can tell you all exactly how many you've all saved... zero... they've all been saved by God.  You can... and we all should... submit to being God's hands and feet, but you need to leave your ego out of it.

This need to leave behind or at the very least keep our egos in storage is the warning that Jesus gave to the 70 and to us by extension, in these verses;
17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Lest one is tempted to take these verses literally, I will caution you as one who grew up in rattlesnake country... stepping on certain snakes is never ever a good idea.  But.. this warning isn't to be taken literally... it's a metaphor for and a warning against human ego.  The seventy have just used the wrong word... “us”... sure they said the demons submitted in the Lord's name, but then they went on and said: “the demons submit to us”.  Just as you've never saved anyone, no evil will ever submit to your personal power.  Jesus is not a magic potion that you wield like some sort of sorcery.  

This ring that Gail gave me for Father's day is a Saint Benedict Medal or also sometimes called a “Devil-Chasing Medal”.  It's what my son Creath also calls Catholic Witchcraft.  It contains verses meant as a talisman against evil.  The incantation on it in Latin is supposed to ward off evil, illness, and neutralize poison.  Now when Gail purchased it she didn't know what it was and I don't wear it because I believe it has any power or abilities what-so-ever... no power that is beyond the reminder to the wearer that only through Christ is there any ability to withstand the evil that lurks within the heart of all mankind.  The ring's power is simply its ability to remind one to have faith in Christ and in Christ alone.

There is no more magic in this ring than there is inside of me the ability to bring another soul to Christ.  Both the ring and I are only reminders of the power, love, grace, and glory of God the Father.  Each of you too are reminders to the world of the power, love, grace, and glory of our Lord and Savior.  Remember that when you go out into the world.

But, back to our verses... you see the story of Satan that Jesus is referencing has to do with Satan's pride, he elevated himself to being equal with God and thus his pride... his ego poisoned him and he believed himself the more powerful or at least as powerful as God.  Remember that the story of Satan is that he was the most beautiful and favored of the Angels.  Here in relaying a story of Satan falling from grace, Jesus is not trying to paint a picture of the end-times but rather warning the Disciples and all of us... to keep our egos in check.  It's not about us, it was never about us, it's all about God... and doing God's work of bringing His children into a loving relationship with God.

Paul warns us about ego and doing the Lord's work in the 1st Chapter of 1st Corinthians;
12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephan as; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Let me interject that I love these verses written by Paul for it shows his humanity in not being able to remember who or even how many he baptized... he's so very human here... someone we can relate to... I love that part.  But, I digress... Paul is warning those in Corinth and us, to remember that it is Christ that we follow and serve.  It's not about our wisdom or our eloquence, it's not about a slick package or a powerful sermon delivery... it's about the grace, the forgiveness, the love... of Christ.

If we start thinking it has anything to do with us then we're in danger of falling just as Satan fell... and maybe even worse we're trying to empty the cross of Christ of its power.  Not that I think we could ever accomplish such a thing.

But my friends we are told to rejoice...  rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Through our faith in Christ Jesus, we have received the grace of God and even though we are lowly sinners our names have been engraved in the book of life... they have been written in heaven.  

Let us pray:
Dear Father, Abba, Creator, Lord... we thank You that through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus that we have been welcomed into Your blessed Kingdom.  We who through our evil human nature are not worthy of being in Your presence have been redeemed, renewed, restored, re-created, into the very Children of God.  Thank you for that blessing beyond all blessings.

As we who are gathered here go forth into Your creation here on Earth O Lord, use us as your hands and feet to reach those who are lost and hurting.  Through Your name, Your love, Your grace alone, let the children all come to You and abide with You forever.

Praise be to God and God alone.  Amen.

Luke 10:1-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Mission of the Seventy
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy[a] others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’[b] 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’[c] 12 I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

Woes to Unrepentant Cities
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?
    No, you will be brought down to Hades.

16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

The Return of the Seventy
17 The seventy[d] returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Footnotes:
a) Luke 10:1 Other ancient authorities read seventy-two
b) Luke 10:9 Or is at hand for you
c) Luke 10:11 Or is at hand

d) Luke 10:17 Other ancient authorities read seventy-two