Mark 6: 7-13
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The New
Testament Witness of the Apostle
Peter |
The Pulpit at Pilgrim's Rest Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA) |
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In J.R.R. Tolkien's charming tale of Middle Earth, there were a handful of heavenly messengers who were sent down to whatever and wherever Middle Earth was in the myth that was being created. The purpose of these "angelic" messengers was to move the destiny of Middle Earth history along towards the appointed end, that the creator had in mind. While, Tolkien was writing fiction, at least symbolically he was onto something. However, the messengers that he had in mind were distinct species within a creation where there were several "intelligent" species.
Our real created earth, of course, sees only the material, higher order of mankind. The angelic spirits of Creation are not so evident as in Tolkien's myth. And unlike the growing popularity of guardian angels encouraged by the most "spiritual" show on television, that Gandalfian meddling is not much in evidence. Certainly, we may affirm that the angelic order does indeed have some purpose in God's grand scheme of things, however - we must be content with a more earthy, material comprehension that we can know and understand.
Yes, supra natural beings appear a few times in the New Testament as well as in the Old Covenant record as well. However, for the most part, the Lord our God uses all too human beings to accomplish His will in the regular context of history. Verse seven of our passage today shows us that the Lord does indeed use this method to spread the word of a necessary salvation. And within the best Old Covenant traditions - the messengers are sent out two by two to give credence to their witness. This is why the Mormons send their young men out in the manner that they do. Even theistic cults can get some few things correct!
We see also in that same verse seven that the twelve were given some limited power over the fallen angels, the demonic unclean spirits whose activities are known only by report, rather than by experience in our time and place.
These messengers are sent out with next to no resources to accomplish the Lord's task. I well remember when the PCA Church in Lexington was being established, a year and a half before the church planter was brought in, survey teams from a college and seminary spent several weeks testing the waters and finding interested people for future reference. They, like elders going to Presbytery traveled light. As in the early years of our Presbytery, hospitality was the expected custom. And until the Presbytery grew too large, most of the men stayed in the homes of local PCA members. Certainly, since Jesus and His disciples are operating within the context of the Old Covenant Church - that hospitality can be expected amongst the families of the Jewish Diaspora.
A walking staff was allowed for protection against wild animals, dogs and churlish bandits who might try to waylay an innocent traveler. Beyond that, their faith was tested by being made dependent upon what the Lord would allow them for support. As I read this I am thinking of a young pastor who proposes to come into Ohio, find a job and begin a congregation in the next year. And just as the Lord allowed for the Old Covenant people to support the traveling disciples, so are several families and congregations considering how he may be encouraged with support when he moves to the chosen area later this summer.
Now we have to realize that the disciples did not descend upon an unknown province as complete strangers. Even today, most of the evangelism of the Holy Spirit works within established organizations which - like the Old Covenant Church may think themselves to be more holy than they really are! I well remember a Billy Graham movie where most of the converts were already almost Christian in leaning and learning. The Apostle Phillip was even invited to Ethiopia by a trusted member of that country's court, so the establishment of the Coptic Church early on should be no surprise. Some cultures are more difficult and resistant to the gospel, and these we well recognize in the Orient, Middle East and Liberal New Age Europe. However, wherever God's people may reside, Jesus would have us send His messengers to the ends of the earth. Patrick returned to Ireland, to share the gospel with his people and Paul was invited to Macedonia by local people who desired to know more about Jesus Christ. The people to whom Jesus sent the disciples were providentially prepared to hear the messengers testify to their knowledge of the need for repentance and eventually for the Redeemer who would die for their sins.
While the disciples traveled light, their purpose was heavy indeed. I have always wondered in amazement at the shaking off of the local dust and dirt of those communities who would not hear the gospel message. In the liberal mindset, preventing the full gospel from being shared almost seems to guarantee a "proper innocence" of pagans who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is almost as if, in their mistaken "kindness" they believe that ignorance of sin and a redefinition of sin to be almost unknown, is better preparation for the final judgment than real Spirit inspired contrition and sorrow for having committed sin! Is this why "judgmental attitudes" are so put down in our time and place? Yet the necessary preaching of repentance is mandated and those areas that would not hear it are condemned in the harshest terms!
Look at the comparison, indeed. Sodom and Gomorrah - the source of the term sodomy, so regularly held up in our society today! Abraham lived almost a thousand years before the giving of the Law to and through Moses. Yet, the Creator God well demonstrated his hatred of such base and perverted sinners, that there should be no doubt about what the God of heaven thinks about any, every and all sin. The original Sodomites, while tolerated by Lot, were not encouraged to repent - not even ten "righteous and honorable" men were to be found in those twin cities with whom a revival might begin. And so they were destroyed.
In comparison, the cities to which the Lord's messengers are sent, do indeed hear preached a theme of repentance for sin. Having rejected that opportunity, those who refuse to repent are to more worthy of condemnation than those who never knew! So are we left with a special awareness that it is more wicked to refuse to admit sin than to do sin? Let us be careful here, there are many roads to heresy and only one road to heaven in and through Jesus Christ. But let us not hesitate to admit the true human condition that we were all once lost in the carnal house of sin and had not the Creator God of heaven and earth sent His Holy Spirit and some earthly messengers to call us to repentance, we should like the twin cities be left in sin, ripe for destruction on the day of judgment!
In addition to the preaching, we also see that demons were cast out and many who were sick were healed. While there were no doubt more dramatic events in the time of Christ, the impact of the Gospel message is still the same in all times and places. When repentance occurs, all manner of habits, heresies and social conditions are healed and changed. Society under the Gospel becomes almost heaven on earth - where people gladly accept the instruction of God the Father and imputed righteousness through the Son whom they accept by the Holy Spirit. Certainly, we can see in our time what can happen to the best of nations when the Gospel is hidden and forced from the public square. May the Lord our God drive out the political demons who resist His will and prevent our witness today. And, further, may we be encouraged to go out two by two to encourage people to repentance in out time. Amen.
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Cole, Alan. |
Tyndale New Testament
Commentaries: |
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Keener, Craig S. |
The IVP Bible Background Commentary:
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"Bringing the Light of the Reformation to Scripture" (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995) |
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B2b33 |
21 May 00 |