LUKE 10:1-12,16-20
JESUS TEACHES US ABOUT THE KINGDOM.
In the name + of Jesus.
The Church has no secrets. What we teach is taught publicly. What we preach is proclaimed openly. There are no secret hand shakes or passwords. Secret rites are for Masons or other lodges which worship generic gods to be molded to one’s own liking. But the Christian Church has no secrets. Ceremonies are meant to teach, not conceal. Our liturgical rites confess what we believe; they do not disguise it. God has revealed plainly in his word what he wants us to know, to confess, and to teach about the kingdom of God. Jesus teaches you about the kingdom as he reveals his mercy, forgiveness, salvation, and his instruction for godly living. This we are to proclaim with boldness.
The Lord Jesus had taught these things about the kingdom of God to many disciples. He called twelve to be his apostles, but he called many others to be learners of his word and followers of his teachings. Among these were seventy-two whom he also called to go forth and to proclaim what they had heard and what teachings they follow. This is still what the Lord calls his disciples to do.
(Jesus) said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 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...” (Luke 10:2-3) No sooner had Jesus urged his disciples to pray for more laborers than he sent 72 laborers out into the harvest field. He did not wring his hands, wondering, “Where are we going to find people who will preach the word of the Lord?” He had already found them. They were the ones to whom the word had already been preached, the ones who were already disciples of Jesus, the ones who already knew and confessed the Gospel. Jesus teaches us about the kingdom—that we are to pray for more laborers. He lets you know that you, too, are laborers in his kingdom and confessors of his word.
Jesus urges you to pray for more pastors who will go forth and tell others about the kingdom of God. But you don't need to wring your hands wondering where future pastors will come from. Future pastors typically come from the boys who grow up in Christian families. Perhaps there are some boys you know whom you could encourage to become pastors. The harvest field will always need laborers. Pulpits will always need pastors to preach in them. Jesus’ disciples will always need people to teach them. “Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2-3) Jesus teaches us about the kingdom—that his word is to be preached.
Not everyone becomes a pastor, but confessing the faith is not limited to professionals. The 72 Jesus sent out did not need years of seminary training to craft some slick, polished message. They were sent out to say what Jesus had given them to say. It is no different today. We do not need to set up marketing groups to figure out what will sell. We confess what we have been taught. We proclaim what God has revealed. We make sure there are no secrets. We say what Jesus has done—that he forgives the guilty, comforts those who are fearful, and brings eternal life to those who are dying. This is what Jesus teaches us about the kingdom of God.
It is really quite simple, isn't it? So, why don't we do it? What holds us back? The answer is fear. We fear being mocked. We fear being rejected. We fear that people will disown us or despise us. Could that happen? Jesus acknowledges: Yes. He told the seventy-two: “Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” (Luke 10:3) Then he told them, “But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” (Luke 10:10-12) Yes, they may reject your confession. They despise you for saying it. If that happens, so be it. It may be uncomfortable for a moment. No one likes being despised. But if people will not trust God for mercy and salvation and end up damned, may it not be because we were afraid to say something—even if that something was as simple as an invitation to church.
Do not be afraid to let people know that you are a disciple of Jesus, because there is no one else who forgives sins and saves sinners. The devil makes you afraid of your own confession. The devil knows that his kingdom stands as long as Jesus is not preached. His subjects remain in his firm possession as long as we are afraid to proclaim the Gospel. If our fears result in our silence and the Gospel remains a secret to people, they cannot be freed from Satan's grasp.
If you tell others about Jesus and his kingdom, might they despise you for it? Sure. But, dear Christians, you ought to recognize this: Your fears are overblown. It is true: There will always be people who reject the Gospel, but most people are interested in who God is and what God desires. If you confess your faith and tell people about Jesus, they may not agree or convert, but most will listen politely. Some will rejoice in what you say. None of us knows who will do which, therefore, we confess whenever we can.
Jesus told the seventy-two, “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house! And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him.” (Luke 10:5-6) The Lord has chosen people for salvation. There are, indeed, sons of peace to be rescued. They are brought into the kingdom only by God's promises being delivered to them. This congregation exists for the purpose of declaring God's promises to his people. Our prayer is that more people will come and receive those promises with us. They will only come if we go to them first. Jesus teaches us about the kingdom—that those in the kingdom proclaim these things so that more will be added to the kingdom.
I don't know how much fear gripped the seventy-two as they went out, but their attitude on their return was enthusiastic. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20)
Jesus tells us what happens when the Gospel is preached: Satan falls. People are snatched out of his kingdom. The lost are found. Sinners are saved. The angels rejoice, and so do God's people. As exciting as this is, Jesus notes that your joy does not reside in how many we speak to or in how many are added to our numbers. Your joy is found in this: God loves you and has saved you. Jesus teaches us about the kingdom—that his disciples should rejoice that they are in it.
You have been snatched out of Satan's grasp and have been brought into the kingdom of God. For our silence when we had a chance to confess our faith because of fear or laziness, Jesus silently suffered and died to gain forgiveness for our sins. To overcome our negligence to support those who study for the ministry or go in our name to mission settings, Jesus diligently upheld God's commands to preach the word to all. Jesus' perfect life covers over our sins; Jesus' innocent death pays for our guilt. Jesus has overthrown Satan; he has rescued us from his grasp. This is what Jesus teaches us about the kingdom of God.
Jesus forgives all our sins. This is not to excuse us from confessing our faith before others. Jesus also forgives our lies, our slander, our greed, and our anger. We know that it would be wicked to run back to lying, slander, greed, and anger. We do not use forgiveness as a reason to do it again. We repent and turn from our sins. The same is true when it comes to our silence in confessing our faith. We do not use forgiveness as an excuse to say nothing; forgiveness is the reason we confess God's love and salvation.
Jesus teaches you about the kingdom of God. And the main thing he teaches you is that God loves you and has saved you. Your names are written in heaven. This is no secret. God has made it known to you. He urges you to tell others about the kingdom, too, so that Satan falls like lightning, so that the spiritually dead will be raised to life, so that saints and angels rejoice, and so that God's goodness is known. God's goodness should be no secret. Our mission is that it will not be; and by our confession, we will make it known.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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