Does anyone still have their Christmas decorations up? The other day Michelle asked me if we were the only ones with Christmas lights still twinkling in our front yard. Most of my neighbors took down their Christmas decorations last weekend. I don’t really blame them; we had a few hours of good weather last weekend, and it was a week past Christmas. I stubbornly kept my decorations up till this last Friday and as you can see, we still have them up here at church because last Thursday was Epiphany.
Epiphany is a celebration of the wisemen who came from the east to “worship the one who was born king of the Jews” and “presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” Since these wisemen were not of the nation of Israel but came from a distant land, Epiphany has become known as the day when the Gentiles (that is those who are not Jewish) celebrate Christmas. Since I am a Gentile, I like to keep my keep my Christmas lights twinkling till after Epiphany.
I am not trying to make anyone feel guilty for taking their Christmas decorations down before Epiphany. When you chose to unplug your Christmas lights is your business. I will tease you about it and will passively yet aggressively insinuate that you have grinch-like qualities, but the truth is I don’t really care about the lights that may or may not be twinkling in your front yard. I am much more interested in the light shining your heart. Because you see, the light that shines in you and from you is at the heart and core of Epiphany.
Epiphany is nearly synonymous with evangelism. The word Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means to appear or make visible. It is used to describe the visit of the wisemen and this current season of the church year because the season of Epiphany highlights the appearance of the Son of God, our savior, Jesus. From His Baptism to His transfiguration, the season of Epiphany shines a big ole spotlight on Jesus revealing Him to be the savior of the world. That is why I said Epiphany is nearly synonymous with evangelism and one of the reasons why I want to talk to you about Luke 10:1-9. In this section of scripture God does not use a star shinning in the night sky to lead Gentiles to Jesus, instead he uses the faith shinning in and from the hearts of 72 people.
Right before this section of Scripture we are told “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem”[1]. He was on His way to win salvation for us and all people. Along the way He wanted to share that good news with as many people as possible. So, Luke tells us, “1 the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” Jesus wants as many people as possible to know who He is and what He came to do, that is why He sent these 72 people out into the world and that is why He sends you. Like the 72, you have been appointed and sent by Jesus to shine a light on the world’s Savior. From Matthew 28:19 Jesus commissions you to “Go and make disciples of all nations”. As the star led the wisemen to Jesus you, like the 72, are to use the light that shines in you to lead the nations to Jesus.
Since you share a similar commission as the 72, you will be interested in Jesus’ description of the work you have been commissioned to do. But I must warn you, Jesus’ description is honestly not that appealing. In fact Jesus’ description of the work you have been commissioned to do is so unappealing that it is shocking anyone would want to do it.
Jesus wouldn’t be a very good recruiter. I spent the first two years of my ministry as the recruiter at Luther Preparatory School (one of our worker-training schools). It was my job to encourage young men and women to consider serving in the public ministry much like the 72 people that Jesus sent out. I usually started out by talking to the people I was recruiting for ministry about the dorms they would live in and how they provided the young students freedom from the watchful eye of their parents. I would then describe the LPS cafeteria by highlighting the all-you-can-eat nacho bar and endless supply of ice cream. I would tell them about the on-campus movie theater, fuzzball and ping pong tables. If I suspected they were interested in the arts I would tell them about the theater in the auditorium, the number of pianos on campus, and the trips the choir made to exotic places like Beverly Hills, Florida. If I sensed they were into sports I would tell them about the variety of sports offered and assured them there would be a spot on the team for every one of them.
Everything I told the people I was recruiting for ministry was true. But I will confess I did not tell them everything. I did not tell them about bedtimes and study halls. I did not tell them about Monday mystery meat and Sunday leftovers. I didn’t tell the athletic students they would be forced to play the piano or the artistic students that they would be required to participate in Phy-Ed. I didn’t lie to the people I was trying to recruit for ministry, I simply focused on the fun things, like a good recruiter should do.
Jesus doesn’t do what a good recruiter should do. Instead, Jesus tells the 72, and He tells you, just how unappealing the work He has sent you to do really is. Jesus says, “2… The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” One thing you can say about the world we live in is it is a target rich environment. I mean you can’t shake a stick without hitting an unbeliever or someone who has fallen away or become disillusioned with “religion”. But the sure volume of unbelievers also means you are going to be understaffed and overworked, and no matter how much effort or energy you expend your work will never be done. Jesus says, “3… I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Lambs are cute and cuddly (just like many of you), but they are also defenseless and vulnerable, especially against the claws and fangs of the wolf. When you let your light shine in the midst of a pack of wolves you shouldn’t be surprised when one of them bites you in the back or tears into you. Jesus says, “4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road”. Some people seek security in the possessions and pleasantries this world has to offer, but not you. Letting your light shine means regardless of how well funded your retirement account might be, you are completely dependent on the providence of God, trusting that he will give you what you need when you need it. Jesus says, “5 When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.” Thankfully some people will be receptive to the message you have to share, but not all will. Jesus tells you how to handle rejection because honestly that is what the vast majority of people do. If you are going to let your light shine in a world that is dark with sin you better get used to rejection. Jesus says, “8… eat what is set before you”. If you are fortunate, occasionally that will be a Dry Age Tomahawk steak and Crème Brûlée desert, but, more often than not, it will be something far more modest than that and you will need to learn how to be content with what you have. And not only content with what you eat but where and how you live, even if that means you can’t keep up with the Joneses whose grass is always so much greener than your own.
This is how Jesus described the work He placed before the 72 and it is what you can expect when you let your light shine in a world that seems to be growing increasingly dark with sin. Honestly, it sounds like a horrible job, and we might rightly ask why anyone would want to do such unappealing work? Frankly, I’m a little surprised Jesus found 72 people to send. Likewise, I am a little surprised He found you. But what is perhaps most surprising is, if we read a little further in this section of Luke’s gospel, we are told "17 The seventy-two returned with joy…”. Despite its unappealing nature, the 72 found joy in the work Jesus had given them to do.
You see, there is an appeal to the unappealing work Jesus has placed before you. It is something far more appealing than an all-you-can-eat nacho bar, private movie theater, or exotic trip to Beverly Hills, Florida. Jesus sent out the 72 and He sends out you to tell the world, “The kingdom of God is near you.”. God’s kingdom is not a cold palace off in some distant land. It is near us; indeed, it is within us. God’s Kingdom comes to us through the preaching of the word and the administering of the sacraments. It is the proclamation that our old evil foe has been defeated and we have been delivered from our slavery to sin because Jesus not only died on the cross but three days later rose from the grave. It is the promise that he who believes in Jesus as their savior has everlasting life.[2] By grace God has established His kingdom inside of you. He rules in your heart so that even now you can know the peace of forgiveness and joy of salvation.
Jesus sent out the 72 and He sends out you to share that peace and joy with others. They need it, my friends. More than they even realize, they need you to share the kingdom of God with them. On the surface they may look comfortable, happy even, but you who have struggled with sin yourselves, know the agony they are in. You know how guilt eats away at them and shame fills them with despair. In the darkness of their unbelief, they are lost and lonely, anxious and afraid. They need you to share the kingdom of God with them. They need the light that shines in you to shine on them so that they can see Jesus and He can rule in their hearts as well.
You know what an impact the kingdom of God has had on you. You know the peace of mind it gives you to know that in Jesus you are right with God. You know what a joy it is to have your salvation guaranteed by the one who has already risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. You know what a difference the kingdom of God has made in your life which means you know what a difference it can make it the lives of others. Making that kind of impact on the lives of others is what caused the 72 to be filled with joy; it is what makes the unappealing work Jesus sends us to do so appealing.
At the conclusion of our worship service today, after we grab a cup of coffee and send our children off to Sunday school, we are going to take down our Christmas decorations here at church. We are going to unplug all the twinkly lights and box them up for next year. But, even after all our Christmas decorations have been put away, the light that shines in us will continue to shine from us. Like the star that led the wisemen to Jesus, we, by the grace of God, will do the same. Now that we understand the unappealing appeal of Epiphany, we will strive to be the lights that lead our friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors to Jesus, and as we do, I pray that God fills us with the same joy as the 72. Amen.
[1] Luke 9:52
[2] John 6:47