Seeking Saving, Sending

 

Jesu Juva

St. Luke 10:1-9                                                                 

October 18, 2020

St. Luke, Evangelist                

 Dear saints of our Savior~

          A quick check of the calendar reveals that Christmas is only about two months away.  If you’re one of those people who just can’t wait to unpack your Nativity scene with the holy family, the shepherds, the stable, and the angel—or if you find it heartwarming to hear a group of little children singing, “Away in a manger,”—or if you yourself become a vocal virtuoso while singing Gloria in Excelsis Deo or Hark! The herald angels sing—then let’s join the holy Church throughout the world today in giving thanks to God for the man who made all that possible: Saint Luke, the Evangelist.

          The Holy Spirit inspired Saint Luke to write one third of the entire New Testament, including his detailed account of the Nativity of our Lord.  It is

exclusively in the Gospel according to St. Luke that we hear angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth good will to men.”  It’s only from Luke’s pen that we know about the shepherds, the manger, the inn, and that Quirinius was governor of Syria when Jesus was born.  Luke alone gives us Mary’s Magnificat and Simeon’s Song about departing in peace.  Christmas would be quite different—in fact, the entire Christian faith would be poor and impoverished—without the “good news” written down by the historian—the physician—the disciple—the author—the Evangelist named Luke.

          If you study up on Luke’s gospel, you’ll discover a consensus concerning the gospel’s main theme.  That theme was spoken by Jesus at the home of Zacchaeus the tax collector:  The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).  Seeking and saving the lost—that’s the beating heart of the good news according to St. Luke.  Luke makes clear that’s why Jesus was born in Bethlehem—that’s why angels sang at His birth.  That’s why Jesus was crucified, died and was buried—why He rose again on the third day—why He ascended to the Father’s right hand.  Jesus came to seek and to save sinners.

          That seeking and saving continue today.  You and I are proof of it.  For wherever there are sinners—wherever there are sheep without a shepherd—wherever there are prodigal sons and daughters—there you can be sure that Jesus is seeking, Jesus is saving.

          But today’s Holy Gospel reminds us that, before there can be a seeking and saving, there has got to be a sending.  Sinners aren’t able to stumble and grope their way to God by their own reason or strength.  Someone has to be sent to them.  There must be a sending of men to preach and proclaim the good news about Jesus.  All Scripture is breathed-out by God and is useful.  But all Scripture must also be preached and applied to the hearts of men and women everywhere.  This is why the Savior who seeks and saves the lost is also in the sending business—sending pastors and preachers to proclaim:  The kingdom of God has come near to you.

          About this time every year I remember how the Lord sent me—how He sent me to you, here at Our Savior.  For it was right around Columbus Day that I accepted the call and came here to visit with my family for the first time.  Fall colors were blazing.  Leaves were falling like big, colorful snowflakes as we walked down the block to Richards school to get our kindergartener and our 1^st grader enrolled.  It was exciting and scary and overwhelming.  But in, with, and under all that, the Lord Jesus was sending—sending me to you, so that His work of seeking and saving the lost might continue in this place.

          When Jesus sent out the seventy-two, He told them, “I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.  You have to wonder what the seventy-two thought when they heard that.  Note the danger.  For we all know what can happen to lambs among wolves.  And Jesus sends them out practically empty-handed—no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, no wolf repellent, nothing.  Like lambs among wolves—like kibble for carnivores.

          But because the wolves will be watching those sent by the Lord, He sends them out two by two.  There’s some safety and security in numbers.  That’s why you shouldn’t be a solitary Christian.  Never separate yourself from the Communion of saints.  Believers who think they can get by on their own—privately, apart from the church—are like a lone lamb.  That’s what the wolves look for.  You don’t have to watch too many nature shows to know what the outcome will be for the defenseless, solitary, little lamb.  That’s why in His sending of the seventy-two, Jesus sends them in a fellowship, a team, a communion with one another.  That’s why He’s called you into this congregation.

          St. Luke tells us that when Jesus was born, the angels sang about peace—peace on earth, good will to men.  That’s also the message Jesus gave to the seventy-two to proclaim:  Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace be to this house.”  These sent-ones are ambassadors of the Prince of Peace.  This is so much more than just a fond wish or a sappy Hallmark greeting.  This peace comes from the cross of the Crucified One, a peace the world cannot give—resurrection peace—a peace that surpasses our understanding. 

          You yourself have received that peace.  You are receiving that peace today as the one God has sent to serve you places God’s Word in your ears and places the body and blood of God’s Son on your lips, saying:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.  The peace you receive here is the peace of sin forgiven and heaven opened.  With the peace of Christ reigning in your heart, you (like Paul) can fight the good fight.  You can finish the race.  You can keep the faith and claim the crown that awaits all who trust in God’s beloved Son.

          Jesus told the seventy-two He sent to say these nine words:  The Kingdom of God has come near to you.  That sentence probably summarizes every sermon I and my fellow “sent ones” have ever preached.  The kingdom of God has come near to you in God’s Son, Jesus Christ—in the words of His promises, in the splash of His baptism, in His holy absolution, and in His precious body and blood.  That’s how God’s kingdom comes to you.

          And take note of this too:  God’s kingdom comes.  We don’t build the kingdom of God.  We don’t make it succeed or fail.  We proclaim it.  We preach the kingdom and God Himself gets the results.  We proclaim, but God builds.  The kingdom of God is not built on our efforts but on God’s efforts, not on our works, but on Christ’s works, not with our blood, sweat, and tears, but with Jesus’ blood, sweat, and tears.  He does the work.  Those He sends announce, “It is finished.” And you—you simply believe it.  The Lord Jesus has sought you and saved you.  And He has sent me to tell you that good news.

          The Lord Jesus has not specifically called and sent you to preach the gospel.  But He has called and sent you to do other important work.  You have your own callings, your own vocations as parent or grandparent, son or daughter, citizen, neighbor, worker, or friend.  These callings also require risk and sacrifice.  You may sometimes feel like a lamb among wolves.  And sometimes we’d rather not do what God has sent us to do.  But know this:  Wherever Jesus sends you, there He will bless you.

          That’s how it was for Saint Luke.  Luke wasn’t a preacher like Paul.  He was a historian and a physician.  As Paul’s execution drew near, Luke was there, attending him.  Luke was by his side as a physician of body and soul.  The Lord used Luke in mighty ways that have enriched our lives and strengthened our faith.  Because of Luke, you know for sure:  The kingdom of God has come near to you.

 

          In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.