Parallel lines

The Gospels tell us stories that seem to repeat.  We all realize that the Synoptics tell many of the same tales from slightly different perspectives.  You have heard Troll tell how the whole book of Revelation is the story of redemptive history told from seven different perspectives, seven being the number of God.  Today, Troll will look at two parallel passages in Luke.  The first passage concerns a debate over who is the greatest disciple.  The second concerns the sending of the disciples out in pairs.  This was the subject of last week’s homily.  Sorry, we are just getting to it today.  Troll was busy eating rocks and water buffalo last week.

Let’s start with Luke 9:46-48.  Notice first of all, that these three verses seem to be just stuck into the narrative randomly.  But this passage echoes throughout the Gospels.  See the same or similar in Matthew 18:1-5, 20:20-28 and Mark 9:33-37, 10:35-45.  What is it about being a child that is so important?  Or, if we follow the latter citations, what is it about being a servant that is so important?

Nothing, that isn’t the point.  We need to let go of our legalistic and pietistic lenses and remember that Jesus is talking about something else entirely.  It is not being innocent like a child or humble like a servant.  Those ideas turn this passage into an imperative.  The issue here is that the disciples are asking the wrong question.  Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?  The background of that question is in the Jewish political expectations of the messiah.  The disciples still believe that Jesus is going to create His Kingdom on earth right then.  As His lieutenants, they are thinking in terms of the honor and glory attached to being in the vanguard of the messiah.  They are completely off base.

Check out the Luke verse that precedes this.  Jesus foretells his death, for the second time in that chapter.  The apostles just don’t get it.  That is why they ask this question.  That is also why the apostles and disciples don’t understand His answer.  Serve the least among you.  Be as a servant to the least.  Jesus came into the world to be a servant of man.  His whole life, death and resurrection was a Ministry of Reconciliation.  He came to provide all of the components of our external righteousness in Him.  He is prophet, priest and king.  He is the perfect sacrifice that expiates and reconciles us to God, to Himself.  He condescended to us.

The imperative here is the ledger of the Law under the heading of Love your neighbor.  As we know, the Law has two components.  Jesus is answering this question with the implied imperative to follow the second ledger of the Law.  At this point in the redemptive story, the disciples just don’t get it.  The parallel later passage in Luke is 22-24-27.  This time, Jesus tries to help them unlock the code.  This is occurring just after the introduction of the Last Supper.  But still the Apostles do not get it.  It is interesting that Jesus offers the glimpse of Redemptive history in the next verses, telling the Apostles of their thrones of judgment over the twelve tribes.  But this is not his point concerning the greatest.  Again, He reminds them His life was in service to them and all of His elect.

Now let’s back up a bit in the same chapters and look at Jesus sending out first his apostles, and then 70 or 72 disciples, in pairs, to preach the Gospel.  Starting with Luke 9:1-6, Jesus gives instructions to go out and take nothing with them.  This is echoed in Matthew and Mark in similar passages.  In Luke 10:1-12, Jesus expands the mission to 70 or 72 disciples.  The discussion of wiping off sandals and shaking out the garments is an OT reference to judgment from Nehemiah 5:13.  And so we see that there will be judgment upon those who forsake the messengers of God.  The importance of the 70 witnesses may be to represent the number of nations represented in Genesis 10.  But the real issue is the going out in pairs.  This is the prescribe method of giving witness.  (Have you ever noticed that Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons travel in pairs?  They do get that part right.  That is the danger of their apostasy, that they mimic the scripture in some things, while denying it in crucial places.) The issue of witnessing is described in Deuteronomy 17 and 19, although it is in the context of testifying in crimes, similar to the Matthew passage we looked at last week.

So, what is the difference between Luke 9 and 10 and this passage in Luke 22?  Now, the instruction is changed.  What has happened?  First, we are in a very different moment in redemptive history.  Jesus is no longer training his disciples to have faith in Him to provide.  He is warning them, on Maundy Thursday, that the big event is looming.  Be prepared.  Things are about to get very bad for all of you.

Another interpretation is that Jesus is saying that it is time to be armed spiritually.  Take up arms figuratively to defend the faith.  Since he tells Peter to put down his sword a few minutes later, this more spiritual interpretation may be appropriate.

Whichever, it is clear that the time for training is over.  The time for preparation is upon us.  The Great Commission is coming.  It is upon us now.

--Troll--