In this passage we have Jesus and the twelve disciples. Jesus has called the 12

Transcription

1 Luke 9:1-9 Givers and Takers In this passage we have Jesus and the twelve disciples. Jesus has called the 12 together- when he called them earlier in chapter 6, the author tells us that he named them apostles. And that is just what they are, apostles, for that word means those who are sent, and Jesus sends them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal. And then, at the end of the text, we find Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. Here Herod is perplexed and wants to meet Jesus. Is it just me or does this sound ominous? It is never good if your king is named Herod, and a confused king is like a spider under the seat cushion or a cornered wildcat. It doesn t like the situation and will do anything regain the advantage. More about Herod a little later. Three characters, or sets of characters. But I think there is one more we should account for- a fourth set. Characters who are not listed, but who make possible the mission of the 12. Without them the 12 could not have gone out. They are the ones who welcome the twelve apostles into their homes, provide food and lodging, perhaps even spending money or a change of clothing. They are the givers, who take in the missionaries and so, make it possible for their neighbors to hear the gospel and to be healed.

2 The 12 go out on their mission like hobos. Flat broke, no master plan, no itinerary. Just get to a place and find someone who will take you in and make that home the headquarters of the mission- that seems to be the meaning of verse 4, stay there and from there depart. The writer of Luke-Acts seems to be preparing the readers for the story of the beginning of the church; the early days in Jerusalem when they met in homes and shared all things ; and also, a few years later, as the church went out from Jerusalem to other parts of Palestine and into all the Mediterranean world. Read about the occasions when Peter or Paul went out and found hospitality in various homes- in the home of Simon in Joppa or Lydia in Philippi or Priscilla and Aquilla in Corinth. Again and again the wandering servants of Jesus Christ go out with perfect trust in the Lord, and their trust is affirmed as God provides help and friendship and sustenance. They are the takers of the sermon title. Certainly not meant in a negative sense, but simply that they receive the hospitality of the givers. We would like to think this giving and taking is reciprocal. That each set of characters has what the other needs. That the providers have houses and food but need to hear and grow in this good news about the loving God, and need the healing and mercy God gives; and the missionaries have this astounding thing that

3 verse 1 so calmly mentions: Jesus gave them power and authority to heal and to cast out demons, and sent them out to preach. They are able to do what Jesus, Son of God, can do! But yet, they need a place to stay; they require nourishment, and sometimes rest. And so, the givers and the takers, both, are blessed by one another. In the act of giving, they receive. And together they are partners in the work of God s Kingdom. This is an important point, that the missionaries do not depend upon God alone to provide, but must lean upon those faithful ones who hear and believe, and stay at home and help. Nor do the hospitable helpers depend upon only God to teach and to heal them, but also must count on those strange travelers to guide them into a deeper knowledge of and more complete faith in God, and to tell them and show them the wonderful ways of God s might to heal and forgive. It is the way of God s Kingdom to cause us to rely upon others. I m sure that we have known someone and thought, She s such a giving person. And perhaps we agree with the sentiment that there are two kinds of people in the world- givers and takers. But maybe in this instance, in God s Kingdom, the takers possess nothing- look at the text, no worldly gifts, only the profound gifts of the power and authority of Jesus, which they are able to share with others as they take in the gift of hospitality. And the givers- they may have

4 much or little- but all they have they are willing to share, and so receive from the missionaries the blessings of God s spiritual gifts. That is the way of God s Kingdom. It is the fellowship of caring for one another- taking the blessings of the Lord and giving them to others. Our blessings cannot grow by hoarding them but by sharing them and experiencing them together. Here perhaps is God s purpose for the world. Not just God s plan for the church, but for all society- the rule of sharing- caring for one another- a command to love that transcends borders, or any kind of barrier that separates people, that calls us to trust absolutely in God and to go, believing we will find help; or trusting that even if we stay, God will send to us those opportunities to offer aid. This is how we participate in the work of the gospel. But we must realize that the going or staying, either one- the giving or the taking, it is never a matter of percentages. It requires every bit of ourselves. Look at our passage, the apostles go in poverty. The Kingdom demands just as much from all of us: can we truly receive such faithful servants as these missionaries with partial commitment, with mere tithes, with a half-hearted faith or minds focused elsewhere? No, those of us who stay, we givers, must match their single-minded service to God with perfect devotion and a promise that everything we have is the Lord s, and that we will use

5 it for one another. For if not, the true disciples of Jesus will shake off the dust from their feet as a testimony against us ; our selfishness or penury or pride will testify against us, and the needs of another person- which we can supply- may never be met, and so, we may forfeit the blessings of God s Kingdom: its fellowship and spiritual health, and the peace and hope of God s grace. Our passage is about Jesus getting his followers ready for the time when he would no longer be with them. So he gives them these gifts, and commands them how to go and with what attitude and purpose. Unspoken, but just as real is the gift of fellowship and the command to the rest of us to be hospitable; that is, the attitude and purpose of our lives, our home lives and working lives, making us able to share with one another the love of Christ and the joy of God s kingdom. Which we can do right now in this communion meal- a sign and a promise, which we share together, of the physical and spiritual blessings of our Lord. As we read the gospels, we see Jesus time and again in conflict with the religious leaders, but it is clear from the mention of Herod in our passage that Jesus is not only a challenge to religious normality, but also a threat to kingdoms and rulers and power. Not that Jesus goes out of his way to speak against government, but

6 the simple command to love one another stands counter to the laws of countries and kings. Those laws must necessarily deal with personal privilege or the rights of corporations and nations. But the Kingdom of God, which the 12 apostles go out to proclaim, is where the people live under God s merciful rule, and where all share the gifts of God. And the world- governments and politics and wealth and power- is threatened by that. The world is always for itself and against whatever is other-oriented; and will destroy, if it can, any threat to its power. Isn t it rather chilling, in verse 9, where Herod so nonchalantly says, John I beheaded, but who is this? And then to read that Herod wanted to see Jesus. A few chapters later in Luke, Jesus is told to flee the area for Herod wanted to kill him. One thing we need to remember amid the political debate in our country is that politics is all about power, and that the question isn t about the rightness of one party as opposed to the other. In our scripture, government isn t shown to be against Jesus and God s Kingdom because it is an evil or illegitimate government, but because it refuses to share its power. But our scripture tells us where the real power is- Jesus gave them power and authority. If the church possesses God s power, then perhaps all other entities should tremble. Not only because nothing can withstand God s might, but because

7 the powers of the world do not understand the power of this Kingdom of giving and taking and sharing. God s power resides in the loving and forgiving community, where persons find mercy and are made whole, and where they share the good things God has given, so that others may receive and give thanks to our Lord.