Listen to Sermon
Pastor Tom Johnson, July 7, 2019
Jesus sends us out these seventy disciples into the world as lambs among wolves. At first it may sound like he is sending them out for certain defeat and death like snow cones into the scorching July afternoon sun. Lambs are innocent, helpless baby sheep. They are adorable. But to wolves they edible—an easy and delicious meal—especially if they leave the fold of the adult sheep and care and protection of the shepherd. It almost sounds like Jesus is intentionally sending out his sheep to be devoured by wolves. But if we look at the context it is quite the opposite. He sends them out two by two like Noah. Noah sends out his animals to be fruitful and multiply and rebuild a world that almost experienced total self-destruction.
Jesus is rebuilding our world by sending out his disciples two by two to extend the reign of his power. He does it in a way that is perplexing and counter-intuitive. He sends them out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Jesus is keeping it real. He does not sugar coat what it means to be a disciple. He prepares them for the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges ahead. It is going to feel like we are helpless lambs among ravenous wolves.
And it is not just a feeling. It is a fact. Evil is palpable. Wolves are gunning down lambs on our cities streets and in our nation’s places of worship. Wolves are persecuting and killing our sister and brother lambs around the world. Jesus is clear that not everyone will welcome the good news we Christ followers preach—that we are all loved, accepted, and forgiven in the person and work of Jesus. But as the Shepherd’s lambs we will face misunderstanding, rejection, and violence. It is in the very nature of wolves to go after the weak and vulnerable. And that is exactly who we are as the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand (Ps 95:7)—weak and vulnerable. We are powerless in and of ourselves. When we step out into the world in the name of Jesus we are vulnerable to misunderstanding, rejection, and even worse.
Jesus asks us to trust him just as he sends out the seventy barefoot and bare handed. He asks them to depend on the hospitality of others. He encourages them not to take rejection personally but that their struggle is really with the good news of Christ’s Kingdom that is difficult to understand. “I send you out like lambs into the midst of wolves,” Jesus says. “I am sending you out in what will often feel like certain defeat and the Shepherd’s absence.” I admire the courage of the seventy who go out to do exactly what Jesus tells them to do. They come back surprised, overjoyed, and excited about participating in the spread of God’s reign. They participate in and witness what Jesus does through them—extending God’s healing, forgiveness, and love to the world. Jesus even cures the demons that haunt and plague the people they come across. They are surprised that Jesus has the power to defang the wolves and take away their appetite for fresh lamb. This is the kind of power Jesus promises in the Kingdom. It is what the Prophet foretold of God’s Kingdom—that the wolf will take an afternoon nap with the lamb—that both wolf and lamb will share a salad bar together when God brings them to his green pasture (Isa 11:6; 65:25). The wolf’s appetite will change from carnivore to herbivore.
We are lambs that go out to do the Shepherd’s work in his name and by his strength among wolves. It is by his power that even the demons that plague us are finally driven out of our lives. The greatest surprise is that we are rewarded for something that we did not deserve or earn—that our names are written in heaven. He does not ask us to do anything more than he has already done for us. He is the Lamb of God who was sent out into the midst of our wolf-infested world and wolf-infested hearts. He took upon himself the ravenous violence. He is the sacrificial Lamb who surrendered his life to the wild dogs and wolves on the Cross of Calvary. He is also the Lamb who was slain but now has risen victorious over death, sin, and evil. In the name of Jesus our sins are forgiven. In the name of Jesus we have the assurance of eternal life. In the name of Jesus he has taken our names off the wolf’s menu and written our names into the Lambs book of life. In the name of Jesus our names, our selves, and our souls are secure in the Good Shepherd’s hands as we get to participate in extending his reign to those around us.
Spread the reign of God the Lord
Spoken, written, mighty Word;
Ev’rywhere His creatures call
To His heav’nly banquet hall.
Tell of our Redeemer’s grace
Who, to save our human race
And to pay rebellion’s price
Gave Himself as sacrifice (LSB 830 “Spread the Reign of God the Lord” vv. 1 & 3)
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