Video of this worship service can be viewed on Facebook here -
https://www.facebook.com/david.p.charlton.9/videos/10164155695360298
And on Vimeo here -
I appreciate David preaching in my absence last Sunday. Thanks also to Jordan, Denise, James, and Kim. Normally, when I am on vacation, and in town, there are one or two churches I like to attend, but because of the pandemic I was unable to do so. I watched, then, the livestream of our worship service, which was a good experience for me. I watch bits and pieces of the service each week, but this was the first time for me to have my entire worship experience via our livestream, which made me even more grateful that we have this technology available to us.
We are continuing the series of messages, What Did Jesus Do? The title of today’s message is, He Sent His Disciples, from Matthew 10:1-16. The story in this passage takes place early in the ministry of Jesus and tells of when he sent the twelve disciples out to do ministry in his name. Interestingly, the previous passage is the one in which Jesus famously said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Sending out workers is precisely what Jesus then does, remedying that shortage, by commissioning his disciples to go and do ministry, asking them to be workers for the plentiful harvest.
There are a lot of significant words in this passage, and I will emphasize some of them as I read. I don’t have time to talk about all of them, but I will talk about several of them this morning. These words tie together, and it is interesting to see how these words do. Some words don’t go together. The other evening, at the end of the day, I turned on Netflix to watch a few minutes of a science-fiction show I’ve been viewing. I watch shows in 10 and 15 minute increments. It’s hard for me to sit down and devote more than small amounts of time to a TV show or movie, so I usually watch them in short increments at the end of each day. When you open the Netflix menu, at the top, left-hand side of the screen are words that describe the shows that are recommended on your home screen. When the first preview came up, I noticed an odd combination of words – frightening, disturbing, chilling, romantic. Romantic? How did romantic get in the list of frightening, disturbing, and chilling? There’s someone who needs some counseling! Someone is in a relationship that needs some help! Those words don’t go together, in my opinion.
In this morning’s Scripture passage, however, are words that leap out, and they go together very well as they bring before us the elements of what it means to be sentby Jesus. The words are, authority, proclaim, heal, and give.
1Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—
10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.
11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.
12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting.
13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.
15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
These four words will frame what I have to say this morning about what it means to be sent by Jesus.
Authority
I was in a meeting a while back, and in the course of the discussion, it was asked – who is a person who is admired across the spectrum of society? Who is someone who would be seen as a statesperson by people of all different political, religious, and social stripes? Who is someone who has a moral authority and is recognized as a leader? Those are good questions, and it was hard for us to answer. I’ve continued to think about those questions and have struggled to come up with names, and maybe that’s a failure of my own imagination and awareness, but can you think of anyone? Who would you pick, in our current climate, as being such a person?
There are two primary kinds of authority. There is an authority that is backed by official power. Someone who is elected to a political office has a level of authority that comes because of the office they hold. The CEO of a corporation possesses an authority that comes with that position. The CEO has authority over people and over the direction of the company. If you are a teacher you have an authority in the classroom. These are examples of “official” authority. Then there is a power that is a greater and more important authority, and it is what I have already referred to as “moral” authority. It is power that cannot come through an election and is not a power that can be given by virtue of a position. Moral authority is a power that comes from natural, God-given gifts of leadership abilities and because of the way a person lives and conducts their lives. That person has the respect and honor of people in a way that other types of authority can never grant. This is why, I believe, that Jesus told his disciples 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 (verses 9-10). People often take this statement as a guideline for how we are to go, but I believe Jesus asked this of the disciples because it demonstrated a level of commitment that provided them with moral authority. When people see those who are willing to step out on faith and to go with no extra resources, it makes a powerful impression. For all the power that comes with “official” authority, it is no match for moral authority. It is, sadly, moral authority that we are so lacking on our world today.
Jesus had an immense amount of moral authority that brought with it an authority unmatched by anyone, anywhere. In fact, it was often said of Jesus in the gospels that 28 when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law(Matthew 7:28-29). It was a moral and spiritual authority.
It is interesting to note not only that Jesus sends out his disciples almost immediately after calling them to follow him, but also to note that they were not “credentialed” in any official way. That is, they were not theologically educated, they were not trained in the latest leadership techniques, and they were not set aside in any official ceremony, such as ordination. I want to be careful to say I am not against those things. I have after all, been ordained – twice, actually – licensed, granted standing, and met every official requirement for vocational ministry. I earned a Bachelor’s degree as a religion major, and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from a fully accredited college and seminary. All told, I spent 11½ years in higher education, being trained in how to serve as a vocational minister. I say this not in a prideful way, but to affirm that I believe so strongly in ministerial training that I devoted a large chunk of my life in its pursuit. What is important to note, however, is that ministering in the name of Jesus does not require any special credentials or training. We have, to some extent, communicated that people must be “credentialized” before they are qualified to go out in the name of Jesus. And sometimes I fear that we have communicated the idea that only some people have been designated to go out in the name of Jesus. As I read the Scriptures, it is obvious the disciples did pretty well in ministering to others without possessing any of what are now seen as ministerial qualifications. One of the reasons why they did so well is because they had moral authority that came because of their sacrifice and their willingness to go where Jesus sent them.
Proclaim
To use the word proclaim carries with it the idea of using words, obviously. St. Francis of Assisi famously reminded us that we should preach often and use words when necessary. Proclamation comes through more than one kind of presentation, however. We see it primarily through our words, and that is important, we also proclaim through our actions, which is hard. Can I tell you something? I don’t know what it is like from your perspective, but I can tell you that it is hard to preach. I’ve been doing this a long time, and in some ways, I find it harder to preach now than I did many years ago. The mechanics of preaching – writing a sermon and delivering a sermon – are not easy, but what is most difficult is the awareness that the message comes through an imperfect vessel, and I am a very imperfect vessel for the message of the gospel. Please don’t ask my family to confirm this, as they would probably be happy to do so. I am an imperfect vessel for proclaiming the message of God and I will freely acknowledge that fact.
Truth be told, we are all imperfect vessels. When we proclaim the gospel, people are listening with their ears but they are also watching with their eyes, asking, how well does this match up? How well does that person’s actions match their words? And again, I think this is why Jesus challenged his disciples to not take extra resources with them when he sent them out, because their actions of faith would match their words proclaiming their faith. It is well known that when I travel, I take way more than I need to take. In fact, I had somebody post a picture about that fact on my Facebook page just yesterday. I can’t imagine what it would be like to go out without an extra tunic, without extra money, and being at the mercy of those who would extend care to you. But what a powerful way for the disciples to demonstrate that their words and their actions are in harmony. They proclaimed not only with their words, but with their actions as well. Someone once said, your actions are speaking so loudly that I can’t hear what it is you are saying. That is a very sobering comment, isn’t it?
The disciples proclaimedby word and by deed. We are also called to proclaimby both word and deed.
Heal
In recent months, we have all come to appreciate even more the work done by our medical personnel, and so I very much appreciate that Wanda mentioned in her prayer about the medical personnel on the frontlines of the struggle against Covid. God bless them in every way possible. They are people who are placing their own health and well-being at risk in order to care for others. We have all heard too many stories of medical personnel who have lost their own lives as they have provided care. It is so heartbreaking to hear of those losses, and yet so touching to see those examples of devotion and dedication.
There is so much healing that needs to take place. Did you see the report the other day that estimates are now raising the possibility of over 410,000 fatalities in the U.S. from Covid by the first of January? That’s astounding to consider, isn’t it? Talk about healing that is needed! But not just physical healing is needed, but healing from all the attendant difficulties that have come from this pandemic. We will all have, to some measure, a sense of PTSD from what we have suffered during these months. There is so much we have experienced this year and so many difficulties that have come to us, and we understand there is a lot of healing that is needed now and in the months to come.
Jesus sent his disciples to bring healing, and it wasn’t just physical healing. There is much physical healing that is needed, yes, but there is also a great deal of spiritual, emotional, and psychological healing that must come as well. Anyone who has had surgery understands that, after the surgery, there is more than physical healing that is needed. This is especially true when it is heart surgery of any sort. In my experience, I have noted that any surgery or procedure that involves the heart produces a much more profound emotional reaction in the patient, but all surgeries require more than just physical healing.
Some people are the very picture of physical health, and yet they are in need of spiritual, emotional, and psychological healing. We can generally see when a person is ill physically, but we don’t always notice – and we do not always reveal – when other types of illness are present, such as spiritual, emotional, or psychological illnesses. When the torn meniscus in my knee is bothering me, you will notice it in the way I walk. When I am suffering spiritually, or emotionally, or psychologically, however, you are not likely to see that pain, as I am very good at hiding it and disguising it.
We are spending billions of dollars and giving countless hours to the effort of finding a vaccine and a cure for Covid – and I am grateful that we are – but we must also remember the other kinds of healing that needs to take place. The need for that kind of healing will be with us long after the pandemic has passed.
Peace
Peace I leave with you, Jesus said, not as the world gives, give I to you (John 14:27).
Healing and peace go together. I said at the beginning of this message that some words naturally go together; peace and healing are two words that very much go together. The lack of healing – spiritual, emotional, and psychological – is one of the reasons why we have such a lack of peace in our society today. Healing and peace are directly related. How do we bring about healing, for instance, to the tragedy of centuries in which people were enslaved? How do we bring about healing after centuries of inequality? How do we heal the divide of economic inequality that has been with us for millennia? Until we heal the wounds of those divides, we cannot and will not have peace. This is why we are so lacking in peace, because we have been unable – or unwilling – to find healing for the wrongs and the injustices that have plagued humanity from the beginning. This is why Jesus said, do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34). Jesus brought peace, but it was a peace that was born of the healing of long festering wounds. If Jesus had not brought his peace, he would not have been very effective. Sometimes, to bring about peace, it requires the sword of truth that exposes painful and harsh realities, and that is what Jesus did. To say there are some things that should not be taking place, and to bring attention to the wrongs of society means that some people will respond harshly because they benefit from maintaining the status quo, even when the status quo is harmful to others. To say, I don’t want to create a fuss; I don’t want to create a problem;and I don’t want to upset anyoneis to ignore harmful realities and allow people to be harmed. That is not real peace.
Jesus, at times, found it necessary to bring a sword in order to expose painful and harmful realities. I would use this analogy – it is similar to a surgeon using a scalpel. A knife is a tool that has more than one application. It can be a weapon of harm and a weapon to inflict terror on people or it can be an instrument to bring about healing. I have been very fortunate in my life in that I have never had surgery. The only time I have experienced a scalpel was years ago when I had a boil suddenly spring up on my upper cheek. The doctor had to use a scalpel to slice the boil and allow the infection to be released. It was not a pleasant procedure, but it brought healing. Many of you have had surgeries, and you know that while it is unpleasant, that scalpel is an instrument of healing. This is what Jesus meant when he said he did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Jesus cut through the ailments of the world in order to bring about healing.
Peace will not come to our world until healing comes. As Hebrews 4:12 reminds us, the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. In the historical moment in which we find ourselves, I believe God is taking a spiritual scalpel to bring healing to his creation to bring about not only the healing that needs to take place, but to also bring about peace, peace which has proven so elusive for so long. When Jesus says, peace I leave with you, not as the world gives, he is speaking of a peace that comes from healing the ailments of the world. It is not a superficial peace, it is not a peace that papers over differences and problems, it is not a peace that subdues that voices of those in need or who suffer injustice, but a peace that can only come when our world is healed of its sufferings and injustices.
Let us go, then, with the authority of God, to proclaim the good news, the good news of healing, and of healing that brings peace.
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