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To Proclaim the Kingdom of God

Luke 10:1-24

Key Verse: 10:9

“Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’”

              In this week’s passage Jesus sends a large group of witnesses into each town he was to visit on the way to Jerusalem. He has spent most of his time evangelizing and teaching in the North, around the Sea of Galilee, now the dedicated followers were increasing a little. I tried to pray for doubling my ministry since 2006. But I did not do it yet. I think I gave up praying for that too. Now I am praying for a new Bible student, and some secret way to contribute to increasing the kingdom of God. See Jesus ministry increasing. The last time he sent 12 disciples 2 by 2. Now seventy two, in this Bible. 72 divided by 12 is 6. We might conclude that Jesus’ ministry SIXPLED in just a few months. The people were really excited about his message and the incredible power coming from the apostles was definitely exiting. It was nearing the time of his departure, so Jesus wanted everyone to be aware about the kingdom of God so he started a bigger campaign of public awareness in the towns of Judea. This passage teaches us the evangelists mission and the result of their adventures. There is also a chilling and yet hopeful declaration of the work of God in the lives of the people whom the servants of God visit. Let’s consider it and pray for our missions to have similar results whenever and wherever Jesus sends us.

1) Proclaiming the Kingdom of God is near

              Let’s read verse 1. “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” Try to imagine the people Jesus sent this time. We know many were approaching Jesus to follow him these days. There is a good chance that all these evangelists had not been with him for a long time at all. He called them lambs and little children later on. Their knowledge about the deep theological things was not so good. There message was not long at all. My message has a five page limit. But their message was one sentence. "The kingdom of God is near." What does this tell us? One obvious thing is that Jesus does not need the most well trained and scholarly people to evangelize the villages. Jesus does not need the most eloquent and intellectual scholars. Jesus only needs willing and faithful people. So you can go fishing any time. The folks he sent this time anonymous, unexpected individuals in the world history. But they are great in the kingdom of God because they were willing to represent Jesus in the uncertain atmosphere. They were great servants of God with instant faith, just like you. 

              Jesus sent them two by two into all the towns and villages he was about to go. It is good to go fishing two by two. When fishing alone it is easy to be distracted by the news paper or the coffee shop. But if fishing two by two there is a little less chance of giving up. There was increased safety in those days too if two people traveled together. So there are practical and spiritual reasons to send them two by two. They had an important mission to accomplish and hard to work hard. There evangelizing is similar to our fishing on the campus. It is hard to go fishing on the campus because we don’t want to get rejected or be annoying to the villagers. In my life I have found complacency to be a great hindrance to faithful fishing. We are very free to evangelize in America, but not many Christians go evangelizing. I think the people who personally approached me to talk about Jesus in my life are quite few. But there were some. Praise God for them. God is still sending workers into the fields, so keep praying for more. I was surprised when I was leaving the center to attend the New Year Bible conference in Princeton, because a mom and here daughter were knocking on the door. I called them to the car to see if I could help. I imagined they were looking for a room where the daughter could stay this semester. Many people came to the center to find a room. But they asked me if I knew about Jesus! That was a nice surprise. Cold call evangelizing is the beginning of many many eternal lives, so never give it up.

    Something keeps coming up in evangelistic discussions these days. There is an idea that evangelists must adapt their evangelistic style to the people's individual culture. Many leaders think it will make a more successful work of God if they first understand the culture. There are lectures and books about how to contextualize the gospel coming out all over. In this weeks message I was happy to find Jesus' contextual view of the situation. I believe his view is the best. Let’s read his thoughts about evangelizing in verse 2&3. Let’s go. “He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”” In Jesus' view the whole scope of human society is a harvest field. There are fields to plow with tracts and invitations. Seeds to plant with Bible studies and messages. There are growing bible students to feed with conferences and special events and with fellowship. Harvesting is hard work. It is not something to do alone. Jesus gives us a little bit of the harvest field to work in. At this time, Jesus gave us Rutgers, Princeton campuses and New Brunswick, Highland Park, Piscataway, Princeton and a little bit Plainsboro villages to work in. Our focus has been the campus until now. But we cannot deny that there are branches spreading out in many directions of UBF these days. Whatever the work we can find at the moment, and wherever the field is, we have the same mission. Proclaim the kingdom of God and pray for more workers to join. This has not changed at all. The world is still Jesus’ harvest field, and we need to put our labor power, intellect and money into operations that work for harvesting the lost souls to the kingdom of God. 

    The other contextual insight Jesus shared is interpersonal. It is the most important context to understand. In Jesus view, his servants were going out like lambs among wolves. We want to think that the world is a much nicer place now. We do have many more technological comforts and gadgets. We might think our human rights are improving with worldwide literacy, education and industrialization. Relatively speaking, it looks a little better. But in the spiritual scope there is very little change. The world at large remains quite hostile toward Jesus and his servants. Each new generation of Jesus followers start go out as lambs among wolves, with no real idea how to change any one other than to practically obey Jesus' words and share the simple message, "The kingdom of God is near." The people who hear the message will become followers of  Jesus or they will spend their life here on earth like the wild animals who do everything for their own glory and to satisfy their natural cravings to kill and devour. This is the context of Gospel work in from Jesus’ view. It is amazing, and though it may be hard to accept, it is the true view of human nature.

    In verse 4-12 there are the direct orders what to take, what to eat and what to say for the missionaries. “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.” This is much like the previous journey. Having no purse, bag or sandals placed the disciples at the mercy of the villagers and forced them to really see the provision of God for their life. He told them not to greet people on the road. Those people be travelers too, going to Jerusalem or to other places. Meeting them and talking with them about the kingdom was not expedient at the time. Jesus wanted them to prepare the villages for his arrival. It is better for them to ask around the square for a family to take them in. Then they could pray for sharing the stories of Jesus’ work with the families of the town. After a few days, the residents may become familiar with Jesus’ disciples and testify that his disciples were not vagrants, but true followers of God. What should they say to the people? Let’s read it in verse 5 and 6. “When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.” Did you try that when you visit your friends in the dorm or in their home? I have tried that many times. Most people were confused by what I said. I wondered if they were men of peace or not. What's the point of saying that? Disciples of Jesus did not have anything material to share with the people they met, but what they shared is really much much better. It is a beautiful thing to share the peace of God with others. This does not change today either. Honestly, the peace of God in me makes me glad even when there are difficult things going on. I pray you may have such peace about the trials of life and stand on God’s side all the time. Ultimately the only thing of value we have to share with other is the peace of God that passes understanding and which guards the heart and mind, enabling someone to trust Jesus for eternal life. 

    Verse 7 is challenging. I often remember that verse when there is some funny smelling food available in the center. Eat and drink whatever they give you. He also asked them to stay a while with the people, not moving around here and there. That is a good strategy I think to make a good friend and to allow the villagers to really take stock in Jesus’ disciples and learn that they are not up to any thing bad.

    Look at verse 8 and 9. This part is the real point of their mission. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' What a blessing when the servants of God showed up and eliminated all kinds of sickness and demon possessions in the towns! How amazing that a village could be set free from all human suffering in just a couple of days! It must be  the work of God. There could be no other explanation. So the evidence of God’s kingdom coming was very strong in their actions, so their message could was very simple. The kingdom of God is near you! Do you think believer’s in Jesus can say this today? Why, why not? I think so. We are the temple of God’s Holy Ghost. We are Jesus witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth. “The kingdom of God has come near you today. Because I shared the Bible with you. That is really amazing. What am I telling others then, when I say the kingdom of God is near you? I am saying, Hey friend, God is offering you eternal life, right here, right now. Trust Jesus and it is yours. The devil and his angels have done their best to deceive you and destroy your soul in eternal fire, but you can escape. God is putting an end to the devil and his works of ruining human beings. God’s kingdom is winning the battle of good against evil right here, right now whether you know it or not. It is happening. Like the hymn says, God’s kingdom is marching on. It is very subtle for the most part though in our times. And when someone is rescued from hell, they often get mistreated and disregarded. But that happened to Jesus too. God’s kingdom comes near to everyone who hears the message of salvation in Jesus from his servants. The heart of each one is revealed by their reaction, and the consequences are glorious for those who accept the message but grizzly for those who do not.

              In verse 16, Jesus said, “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” They are definitely Jesus’ ambassadors and representatives of God’s kingdom. The ones who reject Jesus people are in big trouble. Look at verse 10-12. “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” That is a very harsh and condemning reality for the people who reject Jesus’ messengers. I read again about the people of Sodom. They are known as some of the wickedest people in the Bible because they all wanted to rape the heavenly visitors who came to spy out their city. Lot tried to warn them, even placate them with his daughters, but they kept insisting on abusing the men. What kind of animal people are they? They were the most hateful and disrespectful monsters, but Jesus said they will have less suffering than the people who rejected his messengers on this journey. This tells us something remarkable about the hard heart of man. It is very hard heart that can see the work of God in front of his eyes and still go on denying his own sinfulness, refusing to let Jesus help him. Why should they suffer so miserably who reject the servants of Jesus as they share his message? They will suffer because they despise Jesus and ultimately mock his life giving sacrifice to save them from the consequences of their own wickedness. 

              When Jesus thought deeply about all the mighty works of God he did up in Galilee, he had to cry out for their over all disregard toward his person and message. It is sure a few people followed him, but the vast majority were the sort of hit and run benefit seekers who could not give their life to Jesus. This happened once when he challenged the crowds who ate the miracle bread to take up their cross and follow him. Thousands and thousands went away. They were the ones in Jesus’ mind when he lamented, “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.” This is the chilling misery that exists in the villages and towns where the gospel message is proclaimed, even today. When the disciples were un-welcome they had to make it clear that the people made a big mistake that day. Jesus instructed them to wipe the dust from their feet against the town. That is a very bad sign, if God considers you worth less that the dust on his servants feet. Please don’t let it happen to you. Please welcome the servants of God and seriously consider their message.

2) The result of proclaiming the Kingdom of God

              Let’s read verse 17. “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” The latest mission journey was a great success. Each one saw the grace of God poured out beyond their imagination as many sick people got well, and even demons had to run away when they rebuked them in the name of Jesus. It was one thing when Jesus did that, but when the disciple of Jesus cause demons to flee it is very amazing. It is amazing because their real mission stretches into spiritual dimensions beyond our observation. It is real. There are demons at work in many nations and many people today. We are fighting the same battles against the spiritual forces in dark places even now. We want to see the devils run away and shout for joy because we have such power don’t we? That’s our problem. Jesus said it is not the real thing to rejoice in. In fact we might confuse rejoicing with gloating, if we did see demons run away. There is a fine line to watch out for. Look at Jesus’ advice in verse 18-20. Let's read. “He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”” These are very interesting words. They tell about the authority Jesus servants possess and what should be the thing that really makes them joyful. In my opinion, it implies that the snakes and scorpions are spoken of in a parabolic sense. Jesus associates them directly with spirits that were driven out by the servants of God who had authority granted to them at the time. So, I don't know if Christians should be like the “Crocodile Hunter” stomping on rattlesnakes and picking on little scorpions. Jesus battle is not against flesh and blood. His ministry is not showing off for the eyes of the world. His battle is against devils and demons and all the evil desires of human beings that live in enmity against God. His hope is not to make us proud of our accomplishments, even if they give him glory, but to share the work of God together and rejoice when sinners come back to God. “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

              When the Holy Spirit worked among Jesus’ disciples and revealed the fact that they were going to be in heaven, Jesus was over come with joy. He gave thanks to God for the glimpse of his saving grace in verse 21. “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” God’s good pleasure is very gracious. He reveals the power of God to destroy the devil’s grip on mankind to unlearned, little children. I heard about it when my little sister testified how reading the Bible saved her from demon inspired self-mutilating tendencies. Did you hear about the power of Jesus to save a man who tried to drown himself in the sea after his story writing career went down the tubes? It is an amazing story. Did you hear about the work of God that revealed his kingdom to a man bent on enjoying his perverted sensual pleasures in Sin City? God opened his eyes to the kingdom of God in a moment and he could not find any joy in the pleasures of Sodom. There are many such stories of God revealing the hidden joy of heaven to such unexpected little children. I pray you may share many stories of the work of God like this. They make Jesus very happy and they amaze me every single time.

              Listen to the rest of Jesus words. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”” Jesus alone truly understands when God is working and he alone knows exactly what God wants to do. But his servants are blessed above all people because Jesus decided to reveal God to us. Thank you Jesus for showing us the work of almighty God as the creator of heaven and yet as our heavenly father. Thank you for blessing the nations and neighbors through the 5 Loaves and 2 Fish Orchestra miracle. Thank you for revealing God the Father to the young people who heard your words through our one to one Bible study last semester. We see the things that kings and prophets longed to see, people restoring their relationship with you and sacrificing their stuff to help others have eternal life. Please remind us of our unworthy position and use us preciously to continue Jesus work proclaiming the kingdom of God to this lost world. Please let us know that our names written in heaven and teach us to trust in you at all times. In Jesus name and for his sake, amen.