+ 4th Sunday after Pentecost – July 3rd, 2022 +
Series C: Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:1-18; Luke 10:1-20
Beautiful Savior Lutheran
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God is the God who sends. He sent Noah to build the ark. He sent Abraham to a new land. He sent Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, the wilderness. He sent Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land. He sent Elijah and the prophets to Israel: to convict them of their sin, and comfort them in YHWH’s promises of rescue and deliverance. As we heard in our Old Testament reading, this is why God sent Isaiah. To warn Israel, and to give hope to His people.
For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
When we come to the New Testament, it’s second verse same as the first. God is the God who sends. He sent out His apostles. Like St. Paul, sent to the Galatians in today’s epistle reading. Like Isaiah, Paul is sent to afflict those comfortable in their sin, and comfort those afflicted by their sin. Paul is sent that we too, might boast, not in ourselves, but in Christ crucified.
Throughout the Gospels, God reveals himself as the God who sends. So too, in today’s gospel reading from Luke 10; Jesus sends the 72. God is the God who sends. And when God sends, he sends his people – He sends you – his deliverance, grace, and love.
the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
Two by two the Lord brought the animals into the ark to save creation. Now, two by two, the Lord in the flesh sends out his apostles two by two to declare the new creation has come in Him. Even the word apostle means “sent one.”
Notice, too, the verbs Jesus uses surrounding this entire section of Luke’s gospel. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
Verbs like “Appointed.” Sending. Prayer. A declaration of peace. Healing of the sick. In this way, the kingdom, or the reign of God in Jesus, comes. By the sending of His word and restoration through the sending of His apostles.
God’s work of sending is not without its troubles though. Along with His provision and His peace, Jesus gives a rather sober warning. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
The apostles didn’t have it easy. They weren’t sent out by Jesus to be social media influencers or join the lifestyles of the rich and the famous. They were sent to follow the way of Jesus. The way of suffering. The way of denial. The way of sacrifice. The way of the cross.
There’s a reminder for us in Jesus’ words. We, his baptized priesthood of beleivers, will not always have it easy either. Perhaps you’ve felt that in recent days, weeks, months, years. Our Lord sends us as his lambs into a world of wolves that slaughter our brothers and sisters in Christ for bearing his name. Wolves that burn, bomb, and belittle Christian churches and organizations for standing up for God’s gift of human life. Wolves that devour us by fixing our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds not upon the things of God, but upon the things of man. And don’t forget the wolf of our sinful flesh that dwells within each of us threatening to devour us.
This is why God is the God who sends. This is why in the midst of this fallen world, Jesus gives his apostles, and gives us a sacred promise, a holy declaration, a gracious greeting: “peace be to this house.” And when the Lord speaks peace, he also gives it to you.
‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him.
Our Lord speaks peace because he knows that is what the world needs. What his apostles need. What you and I need. His peace. Peace in Jesus’ word of promises. Peace in the forgiveness of sins. Peace in the healing waters of your baptism. Peace in the body and blood of Jesus that sustains you on the journey. Peace in the cross where Christ died for you. Peace in the wounds He bore for you. Peace in His rising from the dead for you. Peace in his church given freely to you.
All of this is sent to you in the word and sacraments that are sent to us today. Here in this house, where Jesus continues to say, “Peace be with you.”
This is what God does. God is the God who sends. Before Jesus sent the 72, the Father sent His Only begotten Son. Jesus is the Sent One. Jesus is sent into the dust of our Death. Jesus is sent to the cross to bear the world’s rejection, hatred, and sin on His own shoulders. Jesus is sent to destroy the kingdom of sin and darkness and the devil, that you may be his own and live in his kingdom in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.
God sends you as well. Sends you to die and rise in baptism, where Paul says you are a new creation in Christ. The old has gone. The new has come. God has sent His Spirit to live, abide, and dwell with you. To make you holy. And to send you as well.
God sends you into your daily vocations to declare His peace, in your homes, among your family, with your neighbors, at work, to give to anyone a reason for the hope that is within you. You are Christ’s chosen priesthood, holy and precious in His sight. You are sent out in His name. With his peace in your ears, hearts, and minds, and his mercy and praises upon your lips. You are Christ’s man, Christ’s woman, Christ’s servant wherever you go – on the assembly line, in the office, in the classroom, at the gym, at home.
And wherever you go in this life, know that the God who sent you is always the God who promises to be with you. Always.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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