Kingdoms Interrupted
Preached by Jason Abbott
October 8, 2017
I remember hearing about the new guy who had moved to Jefferson City before my senior year of high school. The stories about him spread like wildfire—He was an outstanding half-miler, and he was a repeat state champion in Georgia before he moved to Missouri. He would easily break the school record this year. He’d maybe even lead our team to a championship. And this was unsettling stuff because, before this, these things were my domain. My goal was to do these things. But now my kingdom had been interrupted by this rumor about a new, great king. So naturally I wanted to see this guy. (None of it, by the way, turned out to be true. He was an average half-miler, at best, but a great guy, whom I liked a lot.)Nevertheless, I’ll bet you can recall hearing similar news about something—news which made you feel unsettled, news which called into question your identity or your kingdom. This text is all about the proclaiming and receiving of such news. It’s implied in Jesus’ instructions to his disciples when he sends them out to preach, and it’s displayed in Herod’s reaction when he hears of Jesus. There are kingdoms which are being interrupted here…even, perhaps, our own.Let’s read about it together then pray for God’s instruction.
Luke 9:1-9
1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
As we study this text, we’ll see (1st) the preaching of God’s kingdom come, and, then, (2nd) the picturing of Herod’s kingdom come…undone. Let’s look at each of these in turn.
1. God’s kingdom come (vv. 1-6)
When we read these first 6 verses, it’s easy for us to get distracted by the gift of power in them. Jesus sends out the 12 disciples and gives them amazing power and authority—the power and authority to cast out demons and to cure diseases. Because of this, we want to know why we don’t experience the same kind of power when we go out with the gospel today. We might think we’d be much more effective in reaching the lost if only we exercised such power.But, not so fast my friends! Let me give you a caution and an encouragement as we begin to study this passage.First, the caution—it can be very easy to confuse the medium for the message. In other words, people might see these miracles and be so distracted by their display of power that they miss the good news message to which these miracles point—namely, that God’s kingdom has come in the person of Jesus Christ. (This is a point which Benjamin made in last week’s sermon.) It’s an important point for us to learn as we follow Christ today. Miracles cannot save people. Only Christ can save people. We must not forget this good news.Second, the encouragement—though you may never work a single miracle, nonetheless you have irresistible and unmatched power working in and through you. You have the Spirit of God working in and through you. When we share the gospel with people and they believe, a miracle has happened. Greater than defeating demons and greater than curing disease is the unseen transformation of a hard-hearted enemy of God into a soft-hearted friend of God, for it doesn’t bring temporary deliverance but eternal deliverance. And God has called you and equipped you for this ministry. So be encouraged—the Lord works powerfully in and through you.In fact, this is precisely what the disciples were to learn during their journey. This is exactly what the 12 were sent out to find out. Not dependence on the miracles but dependence on their Lord. When Jesus gives them instructions on what to take and what not to take, growing these disciples’ dependence on God is clearly the goal. Look at what Jesus tells them:
Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart (vv. 3-4).
I tease my wife, whenever we go on vacations, that it looks like we’re moving. It seems to me she packs our van with things for every possible emergency scenario. Like if we somehow found ourselves stuck in a French-speaking, Midwestern town, which operated exclusively in gold bullion, we’d be good. French-English lexicon? Check! Treasure chest of gold doubloons? Check! It’s simply astounding to witness how much she’s capable of packing into a minivan.Jesus, however, tells his 12 disciples to pack in precisely the opposite fashion. In a sense, Jesus tells them: Prepare to be unprepared for what may confront you. Yet, he sends them out like this so that they might learn to depend upon the Lord—so that their faith in his provision might be strengthened. This is one of those lessons, which as Christians, we must constantly learn and, then, relearn.If you don’t believe me, just simply think about how uncomfortable you get when your bank account dips below a certain level. Do you toss and turn at night when that happens? Who’s going to provide for you? Or, think about your nerves when you find out your company’s downsizing. Do you start spiffing up the resume? Are your thoughts always on the career front? Does family and faith take a backseat when that happens? Friends, we need to learn to ultimately trust in God’s provision for our needs…just like these disciples.So, above the Lord, what are you trusting in for provision? What’s your staff? What’s your bag? What’s your bread or money? What’s Jesus telling you to discard so that you might learn to trust more and more in God’s gracious provision for you as you follow Christ? These are very important questions for us to ask ourselves. And we won’t typically like the answers we find. It won’t be easy for us to give up whatever it is we’ve been trusting. However, we’ll not grow in maturity as Christians if we don’t discard such false providers.I’ve done a fair amount of pastoral counseling, and I find that a good portion of that counseling revolves around some false provider which has stopped providing. I always begin such counseling sessions in the same way. I say, I cannot help you; only Jesus can provide for you. Then I explain the gospel.Friends, this isn’t callous or shallow counseling. The gospel is the remedy. You see, the gospel is quite realistic about life in this fallen, sinful world. It tells us when we pursue God’s will, when we follow Christ, that it won’t always be painless. It certainly wasn’t for Jesus—he experienced betrayal and he experienced loneliness and he experienced poverty. But, he didn’t look to the pleasures of life for provision. He looked to his heavenly Father for it. And, in the end, his Father did provide—because death could not hold him. God raised him to life!When we look to the things of this life to provide ultimate satisfaction for us, we’ll inevitably be disappointed because we weren’t made for life in this ugly world. Rather we were made for life with God. We were made to experience his provision—purposeful and satisfying work, intimate and trusting relationships, invigorating play and rejuvenating rest. We were made for a far greater “home” and “a real country” a “land” which we’ve all “been looking for” without knowing it. 1Friends, just like the12 disciples in this text, those of us who follow Christ are on a journey. Our lives here are a journey. Like them, we are to proclaim the gospel. Like them, we’ll experience acceptance and rejection. Also like them, we’re to trust in God to provide—to bring us through the journey, to bring us home. And in Christ, friends, he has provided and is providing and will provide.In Christ, God’s kingdom has already come and will finally come at the return of Christ. This is our hope as Christians. Amen.Well, let’s turn now to our second kingdom.
2. Herod’s kingdom come…undone (vv. 4-5, 7-9)
Maybe, as you’re reading Luke, you might wonder what this section has to do with its surroundings. It seems that suddenly Luke just plops us down in the middle of Herod’s court for no apparent reason. Look at the text again with me.
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him (vv. 7-9).
What’s the point of this little vignette? Why has Luke put it here before us? These are questions worthy of our attention, because—inspired by the Holy Spirit—Luke is certainly saying something through his placement of this vignette.Let’s begin by recognizing a common refrain in Luke which emerges here. Herod hears about the ministry of Jesus and, now, of his disciples too. So, he asks—Who is this? Over and over and over this is the question, isn’t it?! The 12 disciples after Jesus calms the storm…Who is this, who commands the winds and the waters? Or, when Jesus forgives the sinful woman while he’s at Simon the Pharisee’s house, they all ask…Who is this, who even forgives sins? Even John the Baptist enquires through his disciples…Are you the one who is to come?So, in one sense, Luke draws our attention to Herod’s reaction at this point because he wants us to continue to wrestle with the identity of Jesus—Who is he? This is the central question Luke places before us—Who do you say that Jesus is? And how we answer that question makes an eternal difference!Yet, Luke does more here than merely re-raise this question concerning Jesus. Luke also develops a contrast by placing this little picture of king Herod before us at this precise point in his narrative. Recall that Jesus sent his disciples out to heal and to preach. What were they to preach? Look back with me:
…and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God (v. 2).
In westerns, you may have heard the clichéd line—This town ain’t big enough for the both of us. And, if that holds true in old-west towns, it holds even more true in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms. One kingdom is only large enough for one king. Herod, and everyone else, knew this. Consequently, finding out about these miracles and finding out about the kingdom of God come in and through this miracle worker, Jesus of Nazareth, unsettled king Herod. It challenged his authority.So, certainly, he wants to see Jesus. Just like he wanted to see John the Baptist when John challenged his authority (Luke 3:19-20). That visit got John prison-time and, eventually, an execution. Thus, if this is John the Baptist back from the dead, Herod wants to see him. If this is a prophet, Herod wants to see him. And even more, if this is the Messiah, Herod wants to see him…because his kingdom and power are under threat. God’s kingdom come…challenges Herod’s reign!Yet, this isn’t simply true for Herod. This is true for each and every one of us. God’s kingdom come…challenges our personal reign. When God’s kingdom comes upon us, when we’re confronted personally by Christ, there’s no partial surrender. There’s no compromise—Oh, I’ll keep this and this, but you can have the rest, Jesus. That’s simply not how it works. As Abraham Kuyper put it:
There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine! 2
Look, we even see this truth signified in how Jesus instructs the 12 to behave while on their mission. When he tells the disciples to shake the dust from their feet whenever their message isn’t received, we think that it’s just a weird way of saying—Your loss! Too bad for you! But, it’s way more than that.It was customary for devout Hebrews to shake the dust off their feet and robes whenever leaving pagan territory and reentering Israel. It was a symbolic gesture signifying their unique relationship to the Lord as his chosen and beloved people. Thus, when Jesus has the 12 do this, it demonstrates the importance of the message they bring. In short, reception of the gospel message indicates that someone is part of God’s kingdom 3 while rejection of that message indicates that someone isn’t part of God’s kingdom. There’s no compromise. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is Lord of all. Every square inch! Jesus cries.Friends, God is loving and kind and gracious. But, he will not be badgered and he is not a pushover. We live in the time in which he extends terms of surrender to us. And that’s what it is…surrender. There’s no negotiating table.Yet, there is forgiveness. There is a pardon for sin. There is a hardy welcome into the family of God. All these (and far more!) are granted to us when we surrender to Christ. That, however, means the undoing of your personal authority and power—the undoing of your personal kingdoms. And, without a doubt, that undoing will hurt at first and even, maybe, for a long time. (It hurts to have our kingdoms interrupted.)It will, however, begin a process which ultimately ends in eternal glory for all who trust in Christ (Romans 8:17). And a kingdom far greater than our own!
1 C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle, chapter 15.2 Abraham Kuyper, Abraham Kuyper: A Centennial Reader, 488.3 Darrell L. Bock, Luke 1:1-9:50, 817.
