The passage has much to say about strategy and focus. These disciples seem to
be sent out for the sole purpose of getting the neighborhoods prepared for Jesus’
visit on his way to Jerusalem. Some strategy was involved here; not just a "go into
all the world" type of sending forth, but a more focused strategy. How has this
focused approach to ministry resulted in a total quality management of our
congregation’s resources?
Comment from Interpretation Commentary:
Running ahead to announce Christ’s coming not only implies preparation but
gives to the mission a magisterial or regal tone. But just as strong or even stronger is
the eschatological flavor of the passage . . . Harvest time . . . instructions to travel
light . . . and to take no time for social amenities.
Preachers are not authorized to judge. Notice that the message to those who accept
and to those who reject is the same: "The kingdom of God has come near." The
preachers were not to wait to see how they would be treated before preparing their
sermons. Relevance is, of course, important in preaching, but the basic message is not
contingent on the response.
The
instructions that Jesus gives to the missioners seem to be harsh. He seems to be the
marine sergeant at Paris Island running his newest recruits through the backwater.
"On your way!" Jesus shouts. "Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no
extra luggage."
Why the urgency? The only ones who never stopped to talk other passersby or neighbors
were the prophets who were on their way to deliver a message; to stop and settle into a
conversation was to veer off the mission-a death or life mission in which time lost was
lives lost.
You might want to recall a missionary trip that
you’ve had as a youth or recently; that would help to set the context for approaching
this passage, a common denominator.
You might
want to recall a missionary trip that you’ve been on; your experience would help to
set the context for approaching this passage. Here’s how I would enter the passage .
. .
I remember standing at La Guardia in New York to catch a flight out with fifteen
missioners to Latvia to do a church plant. What a mess! We had all manner of backpacks and
bulging suitcases stuffed with enough shirts, underwear, and socks to clothe every kid in
Russia-all donations that we were bringing over. We were even purveyors of foods and
diet-someone had donated a small van size of Babe Ruth and Snickers to distribute as
"goodwill" gifts to the children of Latvia.
Both of my 70 lb. suitcases were filled with discarded choir robes-some church choir
had gotten new robes and was going to toss them, but they would make excellent graduating
gowns for a small seminary in Jelgavia. But I also had Mexican tortilla shells scattered
throughout-a taste of home for my missionary friends.
I’ll never forget the attendant’s antics when he hoisted them up onto the
conveyor belt. He bent down and began talking to them: "I know this guy is trying to
smuggle you into Latvia, fella; but don’t worry, we’ll get you out of here in no
time."
"Travel light," Jesus says to his missionaries.
Can you recall a "sending" or "commissioning" service that
you’ve had in the past year? That might be a good starting point in your proclamation
of this passage.
