Title: Christ rejoices in the harvest!
Text: Luke 10:2-5; 16, 20
2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
There is a story of Jean Frederick Oberlin, a minister who served in 18th century Germany and France. You might recognize the name - as Oberlin College was named after him.
One winter, he was traveling by foot when he was caught in a severe snowstorm. He soon lost his way in the blowing snow and feared he would freeze to death. Despairing at his situation, he sat down not knowing which way to turn. Just then, a man came along in a wagon and rescued Oberlin. He took him to the next village and made sure he would be cared for. As the man prepared to journey on, Oberlin said, "Tell me your name so that I may at least have you in grateful remembrance before God." The man, who by now had recognized Oberlin, replied, "You are a minister. Please tell me the name of the Good Samaritan." Oberlin said, "I cannot do that, for it is not given in the Scriptures." The man responded, "Until you can tell me his name, please permit me to withhold mine."
Source Unknown.
Anonymity - which is the quality or state of being unknown or unacknowledged - is for many the way God uses those He calls to serve His greater purpose.
In the Gospel lesson today our Lord appoints a large number … 72 as our text reads to go in pairs, telling them:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
As we learned last week in the Gospel lesson, Jesus was resolute as He set His face towards Jerusalem. His time on earth was moving towards the cross and his atoning and vicarious death for you. This sending of workers into the mission field would be no easy task as Jesus Himself says when He says, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. This calling and sending, for those 72, would bring the same anger and rebuke that was leveled at Jesus. Many who serve the proclamation of the Gospel today see and feel this as well.
The provisions for these who are sent fall to those who welcome them into their homes and this is where the Lord’s peace rests and remains. And this also should be the earnest prayer of all Christians, that the Father of all grace and mercy would send forth laborers into His harvest field, making many young men willing to heed His call into ministry … and those who are served by these men would willingly take upon themselves the joy and privilege of supplying their needs while attending to these duties.
Kretzmann Commentary NT Vol. 1 Pg321
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
These messengers were sent to bring peace and healing to a dying world. They were sent with the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Kingdom of God was embodied in the incarnate God/man Jesus Christ and some would reject this good news … sending the dust of their town off the sandals of those sent in condemnation for their rejection. Though at times the comfort and peace of Christ is rejected … service to the Lord remains joyful and:
Christ rejoices in the harvest!
Peace and healing. Two wonderful and good things; but in our day to day not always appreciated or received. At times when we have peace we push others to the brink of anger, instead of taming our own tongue and keeping things peaceable. At times we break friendships and even sever families requiring God through repentance, to bring forgiveness and healing to those in need.
Christ’s rebuke though, to those who rejected His messengers in Chorizin and Bethsaida which were two towns, almost side by side, on the shores of Lake Gennesaret, though great miracles had been done in their midst, the words of eternal life and love out of the mouth of Jesus had made no impression upon them.
Even Capernaum, the Lord’s headquarters during His Galilean ministry, would receive the full measure of His wrath on the last day and be forcefully thrust down to hell.
Pretty sobering … and a word of warning here for us all …
Though Christ has called us to faith by word and sacrament and has been in our midst for years, decades, and even generations, in both the written and spoken Word of the Gospel; how often, is He (Jesus) neglected and overlooked in the homes of his children! No Scripture, or family devotion; and no regular church attendance for some; -- how might Christ’s rebuke to these cities reach into your home and mine as the dust of His judgment is kicked off His feet and settles at the feet of those who have turned from His loving call?
Kretzmann Commentary NT Vol. 1 Pg322
If you reject His love you receive his wrath. But even in the Lord’s rebuke there is hope.
Tyre and Sidon, heathen cities whom the Jews despised for their idolatrous practices and beliefs, Jesus said, would long since have repented, covered with sack-cloth, and ashes.
Though you fall and maybe even many times hope is in God’s work in you.
Ill.
Spending time in the hospital with some and in home visits with others recently, the truth of God’s abiding peace and comfort becomes evident. Families at these difficult times are brought back to the reality of life and death issues. Even in dire situations the Lord works on the hearts of those He loves.
As I visited with a family at the hospital I was asked how I went from working in the piano business to being the pastor here at Peace. I related the story of my mom’s dying from cancer in 1988 at 57 years of age and how the Lord used this time in my life to call me back into relationship with Him. I told the story of not knowing what to pray for and calling out in my grief, finding comfort in the Lord’s Prayer. I told the story of the Lord leading me through a strange path and a few churches to this place that I am at and serve. I was able to sing the good news that has been given me in Christ, to a family and house that is hurting as death nears and the peace of our Lord and savior Jesus is resting upon them and His healing touch is there to comfort and bind up the broken hearted.
Friends, the good news is really good news as the 72 returned rejoicing!
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
But Jesus though he reminds them of the great power that they have in His name also cautions them …
20 … do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Christ rejoices in the harvest!
Martin Luther had this to say in his Lectures on Galatians:
Christ says, (Luke 10:20): “Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.” When this is a joy of the Spirit and not of the flesh, the heart rejoices inwardly through faith in Christ; because it knows for a certainty that He is our savior and High Priest and outwardly we demonstrate this joy in our words and actions. The faithful rejoice also when the Gospel is proclaimed, and when many come to faith and thus the kingdom is increased.
Luther’s works Vol. 27 Pg.93-94
Christ’s joy is to bring peace to your house in Him. In Christ you receive the comfort of eternal life because His promise is to never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5)
Christ’s call is to:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, as you 7 cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. And we are told to 8 be watchful, because the devil, your adversary, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Though he prowls, in Christ you have eternal security and Lord’s promise that your name is written in heaven.
In Christ you can rejoice that you are part of the His harvest!
While it is not important to know the names of those the Lord uses to bring His Gospel message to the lost. It is important to know that He knows you, and that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
God’s peace and healing comfort to you in the blessed name of Jesus!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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