Go in Peace to Love and Serve - Mark 6:1-3 - Pentecost 07.08.2018 Sermon

Mark 6:1-13

6He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ²On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! ³Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. ⁴Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” ⁵And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. ⁶And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. ⁷He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; ⁹but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. ¹⁰He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. ¹¹If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” ¹²So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. ¹³They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. 

Today’s Gospel lesson is BOGO.   Two stories for the price of one as the lectionary links two stories together.  In the first part of today’s lesson Jesus returns to his hometown, preaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath.  He is not met with a warm welcome. 

In the second story of today’s lesson Jesus sends out the 12 disciples, two by two, instructing them to leave everything behind for the journey.  To travel from house to house and remain as long as they are welcome. This morning I want to explore both of the stories a little bit. 

Jesus has crossed to the other side of the sea and back.  While on the other side of the sea he heals a man possessed by a demon, by sending the demon into a herd of swine.  The swine they run down the bank into the sea and drown. 

Upon his return from the other side of the sea, Jesus heals a woman who has been hemorrhaging for 12 years while on his way to raise the daughter of a synagogue leader.  Jesus has been busy. So he returns home. 

Jesus, since birth has been growing into and living out his identity as the Messiah.  Preaching, and healing, performing miracles and casting out demons. He’s been busy and now he returns to his hometown, perhaps for a bit of respite.   And while he is home he teaches in the local synagogue on the Sabbath. 

And as he teaches, the text tells us that all were astounded!   Astounded. Some translations choose the word astonished. Or Amazed, or even overwhelmed.   

The son of man was in his hometown teaching in the synagogues, and the home-crowd that gathered was astounded.  Astonished. Amazed. Even overwhelmed as this Jesus guy. 

I suppose being astounded, amazed or astonished is a reasonable reaction when the son of God is teaching on the Sabbath in your hometown.  It is perhaps no surprise that they would react in such a way. 

But what’s interesting here is that the home crowd isn’t reacting because they are blessed to be taught by the Messiah himself.  They’re not amazed or astonished because they were able to get tickets to the most popular book reading in town. 

No, their reaction is purely rooted in the fact that this young boy of a carpenter is living well outside of his class.   Jesus, the lowly, illegitimate child of a peasant girl, was living way outside of the social boundaries. They were astounded because this homegrown kid was overreaching his status and their expectations. 

I think it’s incredibly ironic, that in Jesus’ hometown of all places, the Messiah and son of God teaches and proclaims the good news, and rather than celebrate their kinship, they question, challenge, insult, and diminish him all because he is not what they expected.  All because he reaching beyond social norms. 

And it’s not that they question his knowledge, or dispute his wisdom.  It’s not even that doubt his healings and miracles. 

Rather, they just can’t get over the fact that such power and authority is coming from a commonplace boy like Jesus.   And it is so ironic, because you would think of all the places Jesus might go, it would be his home crowd that knew him best.  That would celebrate his arrival. Eager to hear what he might have to say. We could assume that His hometown might be the first to see, hear, and believe. 

And Friends, if Jesus, the son of God and messiah, faces that much opposition and unbelief ...if Jesus encounters that much resistance in his own hometown, then what might we say of God’s call for us to teach and preach the gospel throughout the world.  What challenges and roadblocks might we face. What level of disbelief or astonishment might we encounter as we proclaim? Surely there is a world eager to resist.

In the BOGO portion of today’s lesson, Jesus sends out the 12 disciples.  Immediately after being rejected by his hometown. Jesus now turns to the disciples.  He sends out the 12, 2 by 2, for a journey of their own into the unknown. 

These 12 are the ones whom Jesus called by name, hand-picked to be his disciples and followers.  Since the beginning of Jesus’ ministry he has been preparing them for such a time when they would be sent into the world to teach, preach, and proclaim a message that may not always be received warmly. 

Here is the part I always find a bit intriguing.  Jesus sends the disciples out into the unknown with power and authority to teach and heal.  He instructs them to enter households and remain there until they are no longer welcome. 

Call me crazy, but that sounds like an intimidating adventure with a lot of responsibility and trust.  And the curious part, is that the last time Jesus directly addressed the disciples, 2 chapters ago, was when a tremendous storm rocked the boat at sea and caused the disciples to fear for their lives.  Jesus calms the storm and calls them out saying, “Have you no faith!?” “Why on earth are you afraid?” “Where is your faith and trust in God?” 

Here we are 2 chapters later and Jesus turns back to the disciples and says, I have an idea...you who were scared and without faith….your turn!   Two by two, take nothing and go. 

I think it’s curious that Jesus sends the same bunch of guys who had no faith only a few days ago...and Jesus sends them to teach, proclaim, and heal.  No faith? Great, grab a partner and hit the streets! 

Now that’s a scary model of ministry, is it not?  Could you imagine me coming to worship next Sunday and saying...does anyone feel unqualified to preach the gospel, unprepared for the world, anyone scared, worried, or afraid for teaching about God, anyone uncertain or doubtful about your faith… If so raise your hand.  

Great, pick someone next to you.  You are the newest members of the evangelism committee.  Go, house to house, I give you authority to teach and heal.  Go in peace and serve lord. Wait, no one responded with Thanks be to God?!

But that’s the reality of the call right?  Jesus knowingly calls by name the most unsuspecting of people to be his followers, and in the end his apostles.  And thanks be to God, because if the ministry of proclaiming, teaching, and healing was reserved for only the most educated, knowledgeable, and well versed, ...if the ministry were reserved for only those who have perfect faith, then the message of God’s salvation through Jesus for the world would never be shared.  No one would ever experience healing. 

Jesus didn’t send out the scared, fearful, unknowing disciples to watch them fail.  Nor did Jesus send them out to convict them for struggling with their faith. No. Jesus sent the disciples to show that the power of God is not dependent upon our own faith. God is more powerful.

_____

Last week our youth attended the ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas.  During the Gathering each group rotates through three full programmatic days.  One of those days is service, where 10,000 youth dress up in matching orange shirts, board buses, and embark on a service project for the day.  

Each morning, I would grab my coffee and walk over to the convention center for a full day of work.  But I was walked to my office, the entire lobby was filled with youth in orange shirts. Volunteers were spread out across the lobby holding numbered signs.  As youth arrive they would find their sign and wait patiently for the bus to arrive. 

By the time I walked in at 7:00am each morning, the lobby was full.  Thousands of teenagers, eagerly waiting to board the bus for service. In Gathering language, it was called a launch.  Launching 10,000 youth daily into service. Simply put, they were being sent.

Now the comparison is an exaggeration since Jesus only sent 12 and he sent them 2x2.  We were launching 1,000 times that amount, and sending them 200 x 200, but the call and the sending was the same.  

As youth gathered each morning in their groups, waiting for the bus to arrive, they had no idea where they would be going, or what they would be doing for the day.  They would not find out their service project until they were on the bus and well on their way. Much like the disciples, it was hard to be prepared for the unknown.

They didn’t know if they needs gloves, sunscreen, hats, or old clothes.  They didn’t know if they need tools, water bottles, or change of shoes.

And yet 10,000 youth were launched across the city each day.  Some when to clean up parks, or build fences for dog parks. Some went to nursing homes, dog shelters, or fire and police stations.  Some went to local schools to read and interact with children. 

Some painted, or did yard work, some cleaned up streets, cemeteries, churches, schools, home.  Some sorted books for local literacy while other sorted food. But no matter where they served the emphasis was the same.

Jesus instructed his disciples to go in groups and trust that all would be provided.  He told them not concern themselves with the specifics or logistics for the journey. Above all, Jesus told them to go house to house...meet people...and remain with them as long as they were welcomed.  Jesus launched the disciples to hear people’s stories and connect their story to that of God and Jesus Christ. 

For the ELCA, we call this model of ministry, accompaniment.  It is the foundation for both our global and domestic mission units of the ELCA, and it was the emphasis of service day for 30,000 youth at the Youth Gathering.  

No matter where they were launched or sent.  No matter what they did or didn’t do on their day of service, the call was not to fix, impose, correct, enforce, or override the community and their needs.  Rather the call was to go, serve alongside those in need, and share with them in their stories and the story of God. Just like the disciples the call was and is to accompany.  

And I promise you, healing took place in those days of service.

The same is true today, my friends.  God chooses us. God chose each of us in the beginning through the waters of baptism.  God called us by name to follow and learn. And to be sent. 

God sends us out, not because of our ability, qualification, or strength….our preparedness, understanding, or even faithfulness, but simply because we are God’s chosen.  

Let me be clear, I am NOT implying or suggesting that you or I or any of us are unprepared, uneducated, unfaithful, or otherwise.  In fact, I am not insinuating anything about any of us in anyway. All I mean to say is that we belong to God, and it is not about us at all.  It is about God and what is doing and will do through us to heal the world around us. 

And I know, that’s a scary call.  And the truth is, we might be dismissed and rejected.  But perhaps the good news tonight is that Jesus knows how that feels too.

We are sent be God purely because we are God’s people.  And in God’s name, the time to be sent is always Now. This is our launch site.  Worship is where we hear the story of God again and again and we affirm God’s faithfulness.  God launches us as we are. Sends us out to be who we are. Regardless of where we go or what we may do or what we may see or say.  Regardless of our worthiness, faithfulness, or other. God sends us in the name of Jesus so that the world may experience healing.

And rest assured dear friends, wherever the disciples, the youth at the Gathering, you and I, or we are sent, God is sure to be there with us to offer healing.   Because our God is a God of accompaniment. 

So God in peace, serve the Lord.  Amen.

© Pastor Daniel Locke, peached on July 08, 2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Jacksonville, FL