Sharing Peace as Lambs among Wolves

Text: Luke 10:1-20

Gist: Jesus sends us with heavenly authority and human vulnerability into communities to bring peace and to heal. Our joy in this kingdom mission depends not on the response of cities, but on our identity through Jesus.
Thesis: Sharing peace is a way of life for Christians. Jesus reminds us that it is also a way of joy.
Theology: The community Jesus sends in mission is at risk, yet being in mission is also the doorway to being transformed, becoming Christlike.
Purpose: To send PMC joyfully into the city with the strong identity of Jesus.
Image: Communion as the meal of peace.

Lambs among Wolves

Jesus sends us into the world as lambs among wolves. How many of us grew up with pictures of Jesus as the Good Shepherd? Jesus loves and cares for the little ones. Jesus carries us when we are hurt. Jesus protects us.

As adults we chafe a bit at the image of being a flock of sheep--especially in our current setting where we know next to nothing about sheep, goats, shepherds, sheepfolds. But even folks like us can understand that when Jesus says, "I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves" it is not good news for the lambs. The lambs are the babies, the little ones, the vulnerable ones in the flock. And as smart and sophisticated as we may think ourselves, Jesus refers to his followers as lambs, little lambs sent among wolves.

I did a bit of Bible study on wolves. You see wolves are not just bad guys. Jesus is not saying: "It's a big scary world and there are thugs out there who might get'cha. I'm sending you as lambs in the midst of wolves." The Bible Jesus knew had a fairly narrow use of wolves as a metaphor. In the Bible wolves are corrupt judges, false prophets, warhorses, and dishonest priests. Jesus is really saying here that the 70 are sent into a hostile world where people in legitimate (or at least official) authority may harm them. Wolves are not random thugs, but those who have sanctioned power within a community, yet prey on the innocent, the ones sent by God.

MC USA--Citizenship Sunday

Like lambs among wolves, we are a sent people. Mennonite Church USA celebrates Citizenship Sunday today. And we Mennonites believe our church has a mission within the United States. As a church we offer healing to all those wounded by the fears, insecurities, economic priorities, cruelties, and casualties of a war on terrorism. We are sent to confront the principalities and powers of evil. We are sent to share God's shalom with anyone who will welcome it and mutual hospitality to those who welcome our peace. We are sent to proclaim allegiance to another ruler and another reign. Mennonite Church USA has a bold vision of the church in mission.

We are People of God's Peace-Harmless Christians

Mennonites have a long history of peace. Way back in 1632 in the Netherlands a statement of faith was written and circulated called the Dortrecht Confession. Both the Dutch Mennonites and the Swiss Mennonites considered the Dortrecht Confession as a touchstone for their distinctive identity. The translation of the original subtitle is this:

Buried in that title is the phrase "harmless Christians." Harmless! What could be more offensive to us today? We want to make a difference in the world. We don't want to be known as harmless. Elsewhere in the same document, the Dortrecht Confession, this group is referred to as the "harmless and defenseless" Christians. Basically, Mennonites are known for not causing harm, for not relying on weapons for defense, but rather-harmless and defenseless-being people of peace. We embrace peace as a value and peace as a way of life. Specifically, we identify with Jesus, as God's message of peace for us, in us, and through us.

Our scripture reading from Luke chapter 10 is one of those texts which emphasizes Jesus as God's peace working through us. The 70 are sent ahead as representatives of Jesus, sharing peace in the homes where they stay and healing people. This was a very successful mission, a foretaste of the mission work after Jesus' resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Those who are sent out return rejoicing. They defeat evil powers, they heal, and they enjoy hospitality with other children of peace.

The Numbers-70/72

There is some significance to the number 70 or 72 in our text. You see way back in Genesis chapter 10 the number of people in the whole world is 70 and in the Greek translation of the Hebrew the number is 72. So the number of disciples Jesus sends into mission here is the number of the peoples of the world. In other words, the Christian mission is global-the whole world is our destination. This month during Children in Worship, our kids are learning about the God who is present with children around the globe. This morning they are focusing on Viet Nam. Really, Mennonite mission in Viet Nam during the 1960s and 70s changed our views of citizenship and what it means to share peace. The lambs among wolves metaphor is very relevant for Vietnamese Mennonites today. My spouse Kent is studying some of this and if you corner him in the social hall he'll share more than you ever wanted to know! So the number 70 or 72 reminds us that our Christian mission is global.

The number 70 is also a parallel to the number of elders Moses calls in the book of Numbers. The Spirit of God is said to rest on these seventy elders and then the Spirit also rests on two others, namely Eldad and Medad, who became prophets in the Israelite camp. So this mission of 70 or 72 refers to both a global mission to all the peoples of the world, and a Spirit-filled mission. This is a bold image of the church in mission.

Lambs in the Sonoran Desert

Today in the Sonoran desert crossing the US-Mexican border into Arizona, some of the lambs of this world are making their way to cities and towns of the United States. If the migrants from Mexico and other parts of Latin America successfully cross the desert, they will likely find work that will sustain themselves and supply enough money to send back to families. A few of them will encounter one of the humanitarian stations staffed by Christian Peacemaker Teams offering emergency food, water, shelter. Over 200 migrants died crossing the desert last year. Most of the deaths occured in the month of July. At our Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference this past weekend I heard the stories of our conference ministers Clare Ann Ruth-Hefflebower, Al Whaley, and Jeff Wright who had recently visited the US-Mexican border to learn about these issues. Among the members of our Mennonite churches in the southwest we have persons who entered the US without legal documents. We also have members of our Mennonite churches who are in business as California fruit growers and rely on immigrant laborers. Jeff suggested that addressing the peace and justice issues at the border may be the place to which we as a conference of peace church Christians are sent.

Jesus sends us with heavenly authority and human vulnerability into communities to bring peace and to heal. But Jesus' understanding that those sent are lambs among wolves is not a foolhardy mission plan. Jesus has instruction for how to authentically bring the message of the kingdom. The 70 go with no money bag, no luggage, barefoot, and they speak to no one on the road. In other words they will have to rely on the households and communities which host them for their daily provision. They will not worry about preserving what money they have, or rationing their food, because they will be relying on the generosity of those they serve. When they go to these cities and towns they are to heal and bring the message of the kingdom of God. There is no real distinction between their presence and their message. Even if these disciples are utterly rejected and find no children of peace in a particular place, and shake the dust from their feet as a protest against a hostile host community, even then they are to declare that the kingdom has come near.

Sharing Peace with Halliburton

Over the next six weeks and closer to home than the US-Mexican border the PMC Peace and Justice Education Committee has planned some public peace witness events. This Saturday at 10 in the morning the lambs of PMC are gathering to sing, and pray, and share our peace on Colorado Blvd. where Kellogg, Brown, and Root, a Halliburton company, has offices. If you are considering joining us, I hope you will come acknowledging that we are sent as a community. This is not the private campaign of one person. We plan to sing and pray together as a community sent into the city. God sent us here to Pasadena and greater LA.

When Christians engage communities with heavenly authority, in the name of Jesus, and in the humility and vulnerability of lambs, our mission or presence in the community is a sign of the kingdom of God. You see we have legitimate and right authority from Jesus our Lord for sharing peace in our communities. As we eat together, as we heal the sick in body, mind, and heart we are a sign of the kingdom of God. And yes, even when we must denounce the powers of this world and witness against the things that oppose Jesus Christ and his way of peace, we are a sign of the kingdom of God.

Rejoicing in Jesus Christ

The good news of this scripture is that the 70 return rejoicing. The mission is successful. They know it. They feel it. They express it. It's a moment of high fives and a job well done. In the midst of the celebration Jesus' word on the subject is to say: "Hey, what matters even more than your immediate success is your identity, your name". You see we are sent as a community in the name of Jesus. Jesus says, "Rejoice that your names are written in heaven." In other words: "You are known. Your faithful journey is a sign of the kingdom and you belong to this kingdom. Your names are written in heaven. Rejoice!"

When small faithful churches recognize that we are sent to our communities by God, we grow more Christlike. Remember that God sent Jesus Christ into the world with heavenly authority and human vulnerability. As Jesus healed, shared meals, and confronted evil powers, some followed and welcomed his peace. Others resisted Jesus and the kingdom. Some even retaliated and killed him.

There is a Biblical image of Jesus as a lamb led to slaughter. I haven't always embraced that image. I haven't typically embraced the image of us, the church as lambs sent out in the midst of wolves. But perhaps through God's word in scripture and through God's presence in the meal we are about to share God's message of the kingdom can reach me and I can be a welcoming host.

Hear It Again

It is quite reasonable to hear God's word this morning and recognize ourselves as those whom Jesus sends in a bold mission. We are, after all, a peace church in the midst of a superpower host nation. We have a word of peace to speak in our communities. We have a healing ministry to offer those who are hurt and broken. We have marching orders to confront the powers of evil. And we do all this representing Jesus and as signs of the kingdom of God.

But you know there is another way in which this text meets us. We are not only those who are sent. We are also those who receive. Remember that bit about "woe to you!" Jesus spoke warnings against the towns who would reject the messengers and the message. Curiously, he spoke these words not to Bethsaida and Chorazin, but to the 70, the very people he sent-his followers, his friends. Just like the cities and towns that Jesus and his followers visited thousands of years ago, we too are visited by Jesus, his people, his kingdom, his peace. Jesus visits us and we can welcome Jesus as Lord or we can reject what God is doing. When we are sent, and when we go out in ministry we have a new opportunity to accept or reject God's kingdom and shalom-that thick sense of justice, peace, well-being, wholeness.

Sharing Peace in the Remembrance Meal

Today we share in the Lord's Supper. It is an open table where we remember Jesus as God's peace for us. He came with divine authority and human vulnerability. And though the wolves of the empire, and the religious establishment ravaged his body, his mission was not foolhardy. His identity, name, and life was resurrected. And through Jesus we are people of God's peace-lambs among wolves, but bold in our mission.

As we come for the bread and the cup this morning, expect a share in God's peace. The meal given for us, works in us, and then through us. Sharing this meal together is a sign of the kingdom of God. As we eat and drink together, welcome the One who has visited you, and share in God's peace.

Jesus said, "The kingdom of God has come near." It is a controversial kingdom of peace in which divine authority and human vulnerability are all wrapped up together and it's better to die than conquer with force. In a matter of minutes you will be sent out into that beautiful world God created and I know that we will encounter some of our society's wolves. Let's go as PMC, the harmless defenseless Christians whose identity with Jesus Christ is the greatest source of joy we know.

Benediction