Pentecost 5 year A Sermon Matthew 9:35 - 10:2; 5-23
Did you hear Jesus encouragement
Keep going... don’t give up... there are so many who need to hear the good news... so many...
who are harassed and helpless...
so many who need healing.
Last week our Presbyterian Moderator, Pamela Tankersley... encouraged our church... reminding us of Jeremiah’s instructions to the Jews in exile...
to go out from their insulated cultural community and seek the welfare of the whole city of Babylon
Now most of us haven’t been forced to move here...
as they were, but still the word from God is the same.
Seek the welfare of the place to which you’ve been sent. And most of are not native to Wanaka.
For thousands of years... God’s been sending his people to new places... starting with Abraham and Sarah...continuing with the exiles in Babylon... Encouraging them to... bring shalom – to bring peace with justice and mercy and compassion... wherever they find themselves... I think today’s gospel story is a continuation of that sending out....
Word slide
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.
Jesus was on a mission to all the villages in Judea...
and what was his response to the people he found?
Word slide
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. But there was only so much one person could do...so
Slide words
Jesus reported to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few...
there are so many who are harassed and helpless... and God needs people who can work with them... people with compassion
so Jesus tells his disciples to pray ....so
Slide words
“...ask the Lord of the harvest... to send out
labourers into his harvest."
And I guess they did pray as Jesus asked...
that God would send lots of people to go out to get their feet dirty ..But then uh oh... praying’s not enough....and Jesus tells his own followers...
to go out and do it... and he...
Slide words
gave them authority over unclean spirits,
to cast them out, and to cure every disease
and every sickness.
The work Jesus is sending them out to do...
was important ...because in those days among devout Jews... anything unclean... had the effect of separating people from community... anything unclean had to be kept away from the pious and religious...
the unclean were untouchable... whether spiritual or physical...anything scary and weird... anything that disfigured or disabled ...the mind, or the body or relationships with others. [pause]
Blank slide
But what is God’s word in this for us today?
What unclean spirits make people harassed and helpless...
here in our community...where do we find dis-ease and sickness? Just for a minute... try to name some of these in discussion with your neighbour. [Discussion and response]
And did you notice... Jesus gave them specific instructions... to concentrate on people in their own community first...
Slide words
"Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather... to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel.”
There’s a need among those who are like you...Jesus is saying...don’t think God’s work as just in foreign lands...
or among atheists and pagans. Your first mission...
is among the harassed and helpless in your own community. [pause]
And for Jesus’ disciples this meant the scribes and the Pharisees... the carpenters fishermen and shepherd and their families.
For us it might be engineers...builders...entrepreneurs ... real estate agents...shopkeepers...high school students ... families with toddlers and teenagers... doctors physiotherapists and chiropractors... teachers...and retired golfers... skiers and snowboarders.
And Jesus said...Slide words
“As you go, proclaim the good news,
'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'”
Tell people that God’s reign is breaking in right here
wherever compassion and healing are happening whenever unclean spirits are cast out and people are restored to community.
When these things happen... God’s kingdom is near ... not Caesars...not Herod’s... God’s kingdom is near... not the kingdom of greed and power... not the forces that tear marriages apart and ruin young people’s lives...
God’s kingdom is near... where compassion and healing and restoration to community are the rule so
Slide words
‘Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,
cast out demons.’
Jesus is encouraging these guys he’s recruited off fishing boats: This work isn’t just for specialists...
I’m sending you out to do it...When you’re doing this work ...you’re bringing the kingdom of heaven on earth.
[pause]
When you are doing this work...
you are bringing the kingdom of heaven on earth.
And forget all about payback...
Slide words
‘You received without payment; so give without payment.’
You are now operating in the realm of grace. So
Slide words
‘Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts,
no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, or sandals, or a staff - for labourers deserve their food.’
But what if there’s not enough...I can imagine them saying... what if we run out of money...or food...
Hey Jesus is saying...there is no place for that kind of fear in this work... because there’s so much to do! God will provide what is necessary...
God will provide what is necessary...
And what’s more Jesus says...I want you to find worthy allies... wherever you go...
Slide words
‘Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it... is worthy, and stay there until you leave. ‘
And isn’t that interesting...Clearly Jesus followers are going to find people who are worthy who hadn’t yet heard the good news and don’t already know Jesus!!! People who are already cooperating...
with the Kingdom of God...
living within its boundaries... already...
And Jesus is saying... Make these people your allies and your base of operation...people interested in compassion and mercy... will welcome you...
and those who aren’t... well just
slide words
‘...shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.’
Don’t waste your time judging those who reject God’s message of love and choose to live without compassion and mercy for their neighbours...
they’ll be accountable for their choices...
to the only one with authority to judge.
And Jesus warns them...there are dangers and risks involved... in bringing the kingdom of God near...
to the helpless and harassed. You’ll run into people...
with a real stake... in keeping people harassed and helpless...and they’re not just working for the Romans...
Slide words
“See, I’m sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves...so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.’ Keep your wits about you...you’ll need to be street smart...but don’t be corrupted yourselves. And be careful out there...because you will be persecuted and betrayed... because of your connection with me.
Slide words
‘Beware of them... for they’ll hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues;
and you’ll will be dragged before governors and kings... because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles.’ [pause]
I wonder if Judas remembered these words... on the night he betrayed Jesus...I wonder if Peter... recalled this warning after Jesus arrest...when he denied knowing him. Betrayal... Jesus warns them... is one of the pitfalls of this work. And as he prepares them to carry out his work in the world...little did they know... that Jesus hiself would endure all those things... long before they ever did. And
Slide words
‘When they hand you over, don’t worry about how you’re to speak or what you’re to say; for what you say will be given to you at that time; for it’s not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.’
In fact those you call brothers and sisters will be out for your blood...
Slide words
‘Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you’ll be hated by all because of my name.’
Slide words
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The one who endures to the end...will be saved.
Salvation comes for the one who endures and won’t retaliate...the one who forgives their enemies...
and loves them...for they know not what they do... [pause]
Blank slide
Today in Matthew’s gospel story...
Jesus encourages and equips his followers...
and sends them out...
2000 years later this call is remains a key part of what it means to follow Jesus...every time we gather as his disciples... the word of God is broken...
and shared among us... and we are sent out...
to get our feet dirty in his name...
in service to the harassed and the helpless around us
sent out with the authority... to cast out every evil... ...that separates people from God...
from others and even from themselves...
Sent out to carry the good news that there is a God who loves them... and a healing community to which to belong...sent out to proclaim the kingdom of heaven... has come near.
Did you hear Jesus encouragement
Keep going... don’t give up... there are so many who need to hear the good news... so many...
who are harassed and helpless...
so many who need healing.
Last week our Presbyterian Moderator, Pamela Tankersley... encouraged our church... reminding us of Jeremiah’s instructions to the Jews in exile...
to go out from their insulated cultural community and seek the welfare of the whole city of Babylon
Now most of us haven’t been forced to move here...
as they were, but still the word from God is the same.
Seek the welfare of the place to which you’ve been sent. And most of are not native to Wanaka.
For thousands of years... God’s been sending his people to new places... starting with Abraham and Sarah...continuing with the exiles in Babylon... Encouraging them to... bring shalom – to bring peace with justice and mercy and compassion... wherever they find themselves... I think today’s gospel story is a continuation of that sending out....
Word slide
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.
Jesus was on a mission to all the villages in Judea...
and what was his response to the people he found?
Word slide
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. But there was only so much one person could do...so
Slide words
Jesus reported to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few...
there are so many who are harassed and helpless... and God needs people who can work with them... people with compassion
so Jesus tells his disciples to pray ....so
Slide words
“...ask the Lord of the harvest... to send out
labourers into his harvest."
And I guess they did pray as Jesus asked...
that God would send lots of people to go out to get their feet dirty ..But then uh oh... praying’s not enough....and Jesus tells his own followers...
to go out and do it... and he...
Slide words
gave them authority over unclean spirits,
to cast them out, and to cure every disease
and every sickness.
The work Jesus is sending them out to do...
was important ...because in those days among devout Jews... anything unclean... had the effect of separating people from community... anything unclean had to be kept away from the pious and religious...
the unclean were untouchable... whether spiritual or physical...anything scary and weird... anything that disfigured or disabled ...the mind, or the body or relationships with others. [pause]
Blank slide
But what is God’s word in this for us today?
What unclean spirits make people harassed and helpless...
here in our community...where do we find dis-ease and sickness? Just for a minute... try to name some of these in discussion with your neighbour. [Discussion and response]
And did you notice... Jesus gave them specific instructions... to concentrate on people in their own community first...
Slide words
"Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather... to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel.”
There’s a need among those who are like you...Jesus is saying...don’t think God’s work as just in foreign lands...
or among atheists and pagans. Your first mission...
is among the harassed and helpless in your own community. [pause]
And for Jesus’ disciples this meant the scribes and the Pharisees... the carpenters fishermen and shepherd and their families.
For us it might be engineers...builders...entrepreneurs ... real estate agents...shopkeepers...high school students ... families with toddlers and teenagers... doctors physiotherapists and chiropractors... teachers...and retired golfers... skiers and snowboarders.
And Jesus said...Slide words
“As you go, proclaim the good news,
'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'”
Tell people that God’s reign is breaking in right here
wherever compassion and healing are happening whenever unclean spirits are cast out and people are restored to community.
When these things happen... God’s kingdom is near ... not Caesars...not Herod’s... God’s kingdom is near... not the kingdom of greed and power... not the forces that tear marriages apart and ruin young people’s lives...
God’s kingdom is near... where compassion and healing and restoration to community are the rule so
Slide words
‘Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,
cast out demons.’
Jesus is encouraging these guys he’s recruited off fishing boats: This work isn’t just for specialists...
I’m sending you out to do it...When you’re doing this work ...you’re bringing the kingdom of heaven on earth.
[pause]
When you are doing this work...
you are bringing the kingdom of heaven on earth.
And forget all about payback...
Slide words
‘You received without payment; so give without payment.’
You are now operating in the realm of grace. So
Slide words
‘Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts,
no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, or sandals, or a staff - for labourers deserve their food.’
But what if there’s not enough...I can imagine them saying... what if we run out of money...or food...
Hey Jesus is saying...there is no place for that kind of fear in this work... because there’s so much to do! God will provide what is necessary...
God will provide what is necessary...
And what’s more Jesus says...I want you to find worthy allies... wherever you go...
Slide words
‘Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it... is worthy, and stay there until you leave. ‘
And isn’t that interesting...Clearly Jesus followers are going to find people who are worthy who hadn’t yet heard the good news and don’t already know Jesus!!! People who are already cooperating...
with the Kingdom of God...
living within its boundaries... already...
And Jesus is saying... Make these people your allies and your base of operation...people interested in compassion and mercy... will welcome you...
and those who aren’t... well just
slide words
‘...shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.’
Don’t waste your time judging those who reject God’s message of love and choose to live without compassion and mercy for their neighbours...
they’ll be accountable for their choices...
to the only one with authority to judge.
And Jesus warns them...there are dangers and risks involved... in bringing the kingdom of God near...
to the helpless and harassed. You’ll run into people...
with a real stake... in keeping people harassed and helpless...and they’re not just working for the Romans...
Slide words
“See, I’m sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves...so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.’ Keep your wits about you...you’ll need to be street smart...but don’t be corrupted yourselves. And be careful out there...because you will be persecuted and betrayed... because of your connection with me.
Slide words
‘Beware of them... for they’ll hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues;
and you’ll will be dragged before governors and kings... because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles.’ [pause]
I wonder if Judas remembered these words... on the night he betrayed Jesus...I wonder if Peter... recalled this warning after Jesus arrest...when he denied knowing him. Betrayal... Jesus warns them... is one of the pitfalls of this work. And as he prepares them to carry out his work in the world...little did they know... that Jesus hiself would endure all those things... long before they ever did. And
Slide words
‘When they hand you over, don’t worry about how you’re to speak or what you’re to say; for what you say will be given to you at that time; for it’s not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.’
In fact those you call brothers and sisters will be out for your blood...
Slide words
‘Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you’ll be hated by all because of my name.’
Slide words
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The one who endures to the end...will be saved.
Salvation comes for the one who endures and won’t retaliate...the one who forgives their enemies...
and loves them...for they know not what they do... [pause]
Blank slide
Today in Matthew’s gospel story...
Jesus encourages and equips his followers...
and sends them out...
2000 years later this call is remains a key part of what it means to follow Jesus...every time we gather as his disciples... the word of God is broken...
and shared among us... and we are sent out...
to get our feet dirty in his name...
in service to the harassed and the helpless around us
sent out with the authority... to cast out every evil... ...that separates people from God...
from others and even from themselves...
Sent out to carry the good news that there is a God who loves them... and a healing community to which to belong...sent out to proclaim the kingdom of heaven... has come near.
