Jesus saves sinners through His messengers.

 

Sermon for Pentecost 8, July 21, 2024

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Mark 6:7-13  ⁷Jesus called the Twelve and began to send them out two by two.  He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  ⁸He instructed them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their money belts.  ⁹They were to put on sandals but not to wear two coats.  ¹⁰He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.  ¹¹Any place that will not receive you or listen to you, as you leave there, shake off the dust that is under your feet as a testimony against them.”  ¹²They went out and preached that people should repent. ¹³They also drove out many demons.  They anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (EHV)

Jesus saves sinners through His messengers.

Dear servants of the Living Word,

            A great danger in the use of this portion of Scripture is that we could become like Pharisees who glorify the law rather than be hearers of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  In the past, some used passages such as these to seek a special glory with God, while others used them to hide their unbelief and lack of love.  For instance, because Jesus sent His disciples out with the command to take no extra provisions, some have guessed that called workers must take a vow of poverty to serve the Lord.  Others make such a lifestyle a badge of honor.  Rather early in the ancient church, the false idea was floating around that individuals who abandoned all property to live in poverty and isolation were doing something meritorious before God.  These fanciful ideas are nothing less than lies from the devil himself. 

Instead of these passages being rules for how Christians should live, Jesus was teaching His disciples to trust Him to provide for their material needs through the people who were being saved from eternal condemnation through the Gospel Christ’s messengers proclaimed.  So, rather than seeking to earn favor with God by our lifestyles, we learn that Jesus saves sinners through His messengers.

The first thing we should note is that Jesus calls those He intends to send out to proclaim His saving Gospel message.  No man should assume that call on his own.  This is not, however, to limit the universal priesthood of all believers as Scripture clearly teaches elsewhere.  Every Christian has his or her role in spreading the Gospel to the world, and each is given the authority to forgive or retain sins.  Those truths are not contradicted here.  Yet, there is a separate call to those whom Jesus intends to serve in the public ministry.  The first twelve received a direct or immediate call from Jesus.  Today, pastors receive a mediate call through which Jesus calls servants into the public ministry through groups of believers such as this congregation, and only those men who receive such a call should assume the office of public ministry.  At the same time, we are shown that the Lord doesn’t call ministers because they possess such great skills, but rather, He gives them the gifts to serve His people.

“Jesus called the Twelve and began to send them out two by two.  He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”  Those twelve men were called and sent out to participate in the work of Christ’s harvest.  In this role, they received authority over the evil spirits that could lead people to hell.  By the power of Christ’s message, the disciples cast out demons miraculously.  More than that, by the preaching of the Word, the demons were bound, and the powers of hell defeated.  That continues to be the work pastors do today.  As we proclaim the Good News of Christ crucified for sinners, Satan is kept chained lest he harm God’s people.  Therefore, the disciples were sent out to preach true repentance, preaching the plain law to convince sinners of their need for a Savior, and then pointing the repentant souls to Jesus, the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.

Now, perhaps the more misunderstood passage throughout history comes next.  “He instructed them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their money belts.  They were to put on sandals but not to wear two coats.  He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.’”  Some have said that this means God’s called workers must accept a life of poverty, but that is not what Jesus was teaching here.

Remember, as Jesus sent out these twelve men, He was training them to be His witnesses to the world.  Jesus’ point here is not to require a total lack of worldly things, but that His followers have absolute trust in Christ to provide all needed things along the way.  Jesus wanted nothing to hinder His disciples from doing their work.  Therefore, these witnesses-in-training were not to go out expecting material gain, nor should they go as beggars.  Rather, the Lord wanted them to learn that He would provide all things needed for their work through those to whom He was sending them.

For that reason, the disciples were to go out just as they were.  A staff was their ordinary tool for walking, sandals their ordinary footwear.  Even today, most travelers would take along extra clothing for unseasonable weather.  However, Jesus was telling His disciples not to be concerned for material things.  Everything necessary would be provided for them by His rich blessing.  That is also why Jesus told them to stay in the first place they entered rather than to look around for what might be considered more beneficial lodging.  Jesus’ disciples were to focus on sharing His salvation mission, and not to be concerned about earthly things.  The entire focus of their work was proclaiming Christ’s message, that the hearers should turn away from sin and unbelief and follow Jesus for life and salvation.  In other words, they should know that Jesus saves sinners through His messengers.

Now, even though this text speaks to the office of the ministry, it also teaches much for all Christians.  Jesus told them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.  Any place that will not receive you or listen to you, as you leave there, shake off the dust that is under your feet as a testimony against them.”  Jesus’ disciples should not expect better nor worse material care than those who hear their message of salvation through Christ could provide.  As is usually the case, some homes would be more richly appointed than others.  Some would have much to share and others very little.  Yet, the disciples should be content with whatever their circumstances,  The hearers of the Gospel would gladly and willingly share what was needed in thankfulness for the forgiveness and salvation they received when hearing of Christ Jesus.

This concept remains in place for us today.  Pastors should not seek material enrichment by their work, but neither should congregations expect their pastors to be willingly impoverished.  Later in time, St. Paul took up a collection for the struggling church in Jerusalem saying, “Our goal is not that others take it easy while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.  At the present time, your abundance will provide what they lack, in order that their abundance will also provide what you lack—in this way there will be equality.” (2 Corinthians 8:13-14)  Jesus also declared, “The worker deserves his support.” (Matthew 10:10)

Dear friends, if any of this sounds like I am worried about my salary, please understand that is not the case.  Both pastors and laymen face the same temptation: that we lose focus on Christ’s mission because of concern for material gain.  And that temptation is sin.  This world is passing away, and not one of us will carry any material thing to heaven, or to hell.  So, our main concern should be on those we can take with us, the sinners who will hear the Gospel of Christ, repent, and be saved.

As proof for us, “They went out and preached that people should repent.  They also drove out many demons.  They anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”  Let us not get caught up in discussions about physical healing and the casting out of demons.  The point here is that these new Gospel preachers did what Jesus sent them to do, and His power went with them.  When they preached repentance, they were preaching the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, even if they didn’t yet realize how that would happen.  As the people were told to repent of their sins, they were also told to put their faith in Jesus.  This is the only true repentance.  The believer confesses his sinfulness, turns away from his former ways, and from any self-righteousness, then trusts in Jesus for forgiveness, life, and salvation.  Thus, when faith in Jesus is truly present, there is no room left for the demons.

Today, as we study God’s Word, let His warnings be real for us, but may His Gospel be always more powerful.  The disciples were told to shake the dust off their feet whenever someone or some place would not listen to their preaching.  It was a sign with which the Jews were familiar, for the Pharisees would shake the dust from their feet whenever they left a Gentile property.  They intended it to show that there was nothing in common between the two groups.  Jesus meant it to be a final warning to those who would not hear of His salvation.  There is no fellowship between Christ and the unbeliever.  There is no fellowship, no common ground, between Jesus’ followers and those who reject Him.

Jesus warned His disciples that some would not listen to them.  In fact, many people would reject and hate them for their message.  However, He also tells us that many will believe and be saved.  The LORD declared through Isaiah, “My word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty.  Rather, it will accomplish whatever I please, and it will succeed in the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)  This is our confidence.  God’s promises are always true.  The forgiveness and salvation Jesus promised us is already ours, for we have the good news that Jesus has dealt with our sins by His perfect life and innocent death.  His sacrifice as the Lamb of God eliminated the rift that had separated mankind from the Father in heaven.  We now enjoy a perfect relationship with God even though we don’t yet feel that glory here on earth.  Still, this should be our continual focus, hope, and joy. 

For the believer, what is there in this world that we would hold on to?  It is all headed for destruction in the end.  However, the blessings we receive through faith in Christ give us power to serve Him all the way home without fear of trial or hardship.  We don’t need to be concerned about material things for Jesus promised to be with us and to rule over all things for our everlasting good. 

So, what should be our concern?  The same as that of our God: that all people hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and live.  God’s plan includes that Jesus saves sinners through His messengers.  In that plan, Jesus calls and sends His messengers into the world so that sinners might hear, believe, and thereby be kept from the torments of hell.  And, Jesus gives every member of His Church ways in which to participate in His mission of bringing forgiveness and salvation to the sinners of the world. 

At the same time, we all are being continually re-assured that Jesus died to take away our sins.  As we examine our own hearts, we each see times when material concerns overwhelm our desire to serve as Jesus intended, and we feel guilty.  Yet, this is exactly why Jesus came into this world. 

Jesus walked this earth for you and me without any material cares.  He had absolute confidence in His heavenly Father to take care of His needs, and Jesus’ absolute confidence and trust in His Father’s good will and power is credited to you and me through faith.  Furthermore, Jesus paid for your sins on the cross so that God in heaven welcomes everyone who has been brought to believe in Jesus, counting the believer as His perfectly holy child, washed in Jesus’ blood, cleansed of all sin in Baptism, made holy by the sacrifice of His Son, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. 

That is our focus, our comfort and our joy.  Therefore, for the benefit of all those still hurting in the slavery and torment of sin, may our concern be not on earthly things, but always on the Gospel of Christ Jesus, for He lived and died and rose again that through the Gospel proclaimed by the men He calls and sends, Jesus will save many more repentant sinners through His messengers.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.