Luke 10: 1-4 "Where Waits Your New Life?"

Luke 10:1-16 “Where Waits Your New Life?”

[1] After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. [2] He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. [3] Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. [4] Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.

What is happening in this scripture? – Luke’s version of Jesus sending disciples out into the world. We do not know all of the whys and wherefores of Jesus’ instructions to them, but it is not hard to understand these words: See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. He tells them to carry no purse, no bag, and no sandals, and to greet no one on the road. Why? Perhaps this was Jesus’ way of expressing, through the lack of money, supplies, and even sandals to protect the feet of these disciples that he really knew of their poverty. Perhaps it was a way to say to these people, it isn’t about empire, or money, or possessions, or staffs or even swords. His advice to greet no one on the road might have been so they wouldn’t be mistaken for common beggars, simply looking for a meal. These people were looking for those who would listen. These people were to be seen as open handed, non threatening, like lambs, and they were sent to harvest. Jesus once used the term fishers, maybe a good metaphor for the coastal people. This time it was for the agrarian communities – harvesters. I can imagine them saying something like, “I come to proclaim that the kingdom of God is near. If you are angry, hungry, lonely, afraid, listen to me. I can help. Let me tell you about a man I know. His name is Jesus. He is a simple carpenter from Nazareth. He has shown us a better way. May I come in and tell you about him?”

How is this happening in the world today? – Sadly, so many have come to people in the name of Christianity with ulterior motives. Some come seeking money, others want to tell you what to believe, what to wear, what to eat, what to think, how to vote, who to accept, who to reject, etc. Jesus wanted these pilgrims to proclaim the kingdom of God, that kingdom that harvests followers with love and kindness, healing, forgiveness, a common meal, and a promise of a new life. They spoke of a better way, better than Herod, better than Caesar.

When is the last time you encountered a person who simply offered hope to you, no strings attached? When is the last time you were that person? Our religion has gotten so cumbersome, so weighed down with ifs ands or buts that it is easy to imagine Jesus shaking his head. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. These people weren’t salesmen. They were witnesses.

How is this scripture your scripture? – What do people like us know about speaking a simple truth? What do we know about being lambs among wolves? How does one tame a wolf? Who do we know in our lives, reaching out to us with a simple truth? Who is standing at your door, wanting to give you some good news? Where does your new life wait?