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Yesterday was 7-7-07. Many
people rushed to get marriage licenses on this date not only because it is an
easy anniversary date to remember, but because the number 7 is considered to
be a particularly lucky number. Three sevens in a row are conceivably three
times as lucky. Our lives are filled with all kinds of numbers from
birthdates and ages to account numbers and Social Security numbers.
The Bible is filled with numbers. There is even a book called Numbers that centers
around the census taken among the children of Israel.
Numbers in the Bible often have profound meanings. God created the earth in 6
days and rested on the seventh, making 7 a number of rest and reward. There
are 4 Gospels and the ancients believed that there were 4 corners to the
world, giving the number 4 a special place with a special meaning.
In the Biblical languages, letters are used as the characters of numbers. (We
do not have this in English. Our alphabet and written numerals are
different). If they were the same, we would use an "A" for the
number 1 and a "B" for the number two, and so forth.
If I took my initials and transferred it to numerals, I would be 712. Wayne's
would be 2515. Elaine's would be 5127.
In the book of Revelation the number 666, which is considered sinister and
unlucky corresponds with the initials of theRoman Emperor Diocletian. The
emperor was responsible for the martyrdom of many Christians by feeding them
to the lions, and committing such atrocities as dipping them in tar,
crucifying them, and then setting their tarred remains on fire to light the
streets around his palace. Kind of a Christian Tiki Torch.
The number 70 is used in our Gospel text today (Luke 10:1-11); Jesus sends
out 70 followers. According to commentaries, this is also a number rich in
symbolism. There are 70 nations listed in Genesis. 70 is the number of Noah's
descendants. Symbolically this number 70 represents all the nations of the
world. And it represents all the followers of Jesus. It counts everyone.
It counts everyone.
It may literally mean that there were 70 followers of Jesus but it may also
mean that Jesus sent out EVERY ONE of his followers, all people, all types,
all nationalities, and all personalities.
Consider this, in last week's passage (Luke 9:51-62), Jesus is on a journey.
On this journey, the people of Amaria do not receive Him. James and John ask
if they could call a violent maelstrom down on these folks and Jesus rebukes
their hardheartedness and prejudice. Three others are encountered and they
pay lip service to Jesus; they have more important things to do in their
lives than to be concerned about God's call to discipleship and yet, and here
is an important understanding, Jesus sends all of them, the 70, the perfect
and all-inclusive number into the world to be his witnesses. Their mission as
found in verse 6 specifically is to proclaim the Kingdom of God by announcing
peace.
Announcing peace is to live a life of peacefulness and to pronounce blessings
on others. He tells them to eat with people and to cure the sick and if
people disagree with them or treat them badly, simply to move on and not to
hold a grudge. This is their mission healing and promoting peace, blessing
and being a blessing.
Now, talking about numbers, it is serendipitous that we have about 70 people
(give or take a few) who are the active core of our congregation, roughly 70
who worship, contribute and commune on a regular basis.
Perhaps this model of ministry can tell us something about our lives
together.
Jesus sent all of them, even hot-tempered James and John, even reluctant ones
out to be ambassadors of His Church. Consider that for a moment in the lives
of your own discipleship. God calls all of us, and uses all of us, despite
our shortcomings, and even despite our priorities in life.
This relatively small group was the beginning of a great and profound
movement. With 70 people, the entire history of the world was changed. We
should take heart from this lesson for our little congregation of 70, that
sometimes seems to be struggling. Margaret Mead once said "Never
underestimate the power and ability of one person to change the world. In
fact, that is the only thing that ever has."
AMEN
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