Lambs among wolves?

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. Luke 9:1-6

Some birds are in the habit (so I’m told) of pushing their young out of the nest in order to teach them to fly. Probably not nice for the baby birds – but presumably it does the trick.

In Luke 9:1-9 Jesus treats his twelve disciples in rather that way: he sends them off on a whistle-stop evangelistic tour, having first given them the same power which had enabled him to exercise his ministry in those early days (verses 1-2). It’s as if he says: “Right! You’ve watched me preaching, healing the sick, even casting out demons – now it’s your turn! Off you go!” 

And… they did (verse 6): “they went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere. (Let’s notice, by the way, that linking of preaching and healing, of word and deed; both are vital.)

The really striking thing is the conditions Jesus imposes on them: Don’t take a staff, or food, or money, not even a second set of clothes. This is truly “travelling light”! They are to be totally dependent on the charity of strangers to support them. They aren’t even allowed to look around for a nice place to stay: no, if someone welcomes you into their home, there you stay – even if you then notice something a bit better a couple of doors down the road (verses 3-4).

Oh, and if no-one gives you a welcome in a particular place – all right, just head off somewhere else; don’t waste valuable time with people who don’t want you (verse 5).

Just reading these verses makes you quite breathless!

Today, of course, we simply don’t operate in this kind of way, not even pioneer missionaries and evangelists. No; we settle in our local communities and hope to communicate the gospel by personal witness and influence plus the occasional explicit word about Christ.

So you might say: That means this story has no practical application for us, then? But no; while we aren’t meant to copy the disciples’ exact method, there are several aspects of their situation which are relevant for us. Let me pick out three…

First, Power.

Jesus didn’t send the twelve out naked, so to speak. No, he clothed them with the same power that had enabled him to exercise his own ministry. And likewise, he gives to us the power of the Holy Spirit to make the gospel known by both word and deed.

That raises a difficult question: if we have that power, why do we so often seem weak and feeble? Why do we seem to have so little impact on our world?

That’s a question for another time, and personally I don’t think there is any simple answer. But what is clear is this: You can’t do the work of Christ without the power of Christ.

Let’s pray, then: Lord God, please baptise us with the power of the Holy Spirit, please give us a little Pentecost!

Second, Faith.

If ever there was a “faith mission”, this was it! “Take nothing for the journey” Jesus tells the twelve (verse 3). That was a big ask, wasn’t it? -  frightening, in fact. They are to rely totally on the provision he makes for them on a day-to-day, even hour-by-hour, basis.

How can this challenge us? Well, we live in a society where we value comfort and security above almost anything else. But while of course we are not to behave irresponsibly or recklessly, may there not be times when God calls us to “step out in faith” and act in a way that makes us catch our breath?

Somebody once asked, How do you spell “faith”? The answer came back: That’s easy! F-a-i-t-h, of course. To which came another answer: Not always; sometimes faith is spelled R-i-s-k.

When did you, or I, last take a risk for Jesus’ sake?

Third, Urgency.

Verse 5 seems rather harsh: in effect, if people don’t welcome you, so be it; leave them to the judgment of God.

Again, this goes flat against our instincts. And quite right too; the New Testament tells us, after all, to be patient and persevering - it is very rare for someone to come to faith at first time of hearing; it may require months and even years of determined witness and prayer.

But there are exceptions to that general rule. The gospel is not just something to be politely (or impolitely) listened to: no, it is a message to be responded to.

And so we must be ready, if the occasion demands, to take a deep breath and – politely and respectfully, of course – point out to someone that perhaps the time for decision has come.

God help us all to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5)! – in the power of Christ, by faith in Christ, and with a spirit of urgency. Amen.

Lord Jesus, please pour out on me afresh the power of your Holy Spirit, please deepen my faith as I trust in you, and please give me a sense of the urgency of the task of making you known. Amen.