Luke 10:1-20

Lord of the Harvest

            Have you ever wondered why I wear these garments? It’s not because I always want to. Trust me, especially during these summer months, I’d much rather be wearing shorts and a t-shirt. But I wear them because they’ve become a confession. They’re a reminder both to me and to you of the office I hold. For let me show you. The shirt that I wear is called a clerical. It’s completely black to remind me of the depth of the stain of sin. Pastors are no different than anyone else. We’re no holier than anyone else. All have sinned (Rom. 3:23) … even me. This shirt reminds me of that. Yet, notice my collar… it’s white for a reason… though I’ll come back to that later. Next, the robe I wear is called an alb. It’s a reminder of the white robe of righteousness I and every Christian receives in the waters of baptism which has covered over our sin. Then comes my stole. Traditionally a thin band placed over the neck and hanging down the front… this is what I received by right of my ordination as a pastor. This is the yoke of ministry, like a yoke placed around an ox or a donkey to pull a sled (Matt. 11:30; 1 Timothy 6:1). It’s a reminder that I serve God and God alone. I’m not here to be a people-pleaser. I’m here to speak the very words which God has given me… a “Thus saith the Lord!” For this is why my collar is white. It’s a reminder that Christ has promised to use my voice to speak his holy word. Last, this poncho looking garment is called a chasable. Colored for the season of the church year, it’s meant to remind you that I stand in Christ’s stead… that it’s really Christ who is nourishing you today. The Chi (X) and Ro (P) are the first two letters in Greek for “Christ”; and on either side are the letters Alpha and Omega, as Jesus says in Revelation (22:13). All of this is meant to combat the two false notions by which Satan seeks to tempt pastors. One, the notion that pastors are somehow special or better than everyone else. Two, the notion that we are imposters or somehow unworthy to fill such a holy office. For so, we’re given this reminder through our garments… of our own sinfulness, yet also of our Lord’s prevailing promises.

            For the reality we hear in our Gospel reading is that the Church needs pastors. The church needs men, even sinful men, to speak Christ’s saving word to us; to be his hands, feet, and voice in our world. This is why Christ sends out the seventy-two. This is why he also tells us today to:

PRAY TO THE LORD OF THE HARVEST FOR LABORERS IN HIS FIELD!

I.

            There’s really no way around it. If the Church seeks to function the way Christ intended, then the Church needs pastors. It needs faithful men who have been well-trained in the history and theology of the Church, in the very teachings of Christ. Anything less is an insult to Christ and his work among us. For that is no small work. The harvest is indeed plentiful. There are many people outside these four walls that don’t know Christ, have never heard about Christ, and desperately need Christ to bring hope back to their lives. The reality has always been that there aren’t enough pastors, or laborers in the field. This is exactly what we heard Jesus say, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest,” Luke 10:2. The Church should earnestly desire laborers to serve her. She should desire and pray that Christ might be present through the mouths of pastors and church workers that she may hear his holy word.

            For so, think about those seventy-two men whom Christ sent out in our Gospel reading. They weren’t anyone special. They had no true qualifications that made Jesus choose them. They were sinners just like everyone else. This is perhaps the greatest barrier to men becoming pastors; this false notion that every pastor faces. That pastors are somehow holier than you are and don’t sin, and thus are more deserving of the holy task. But I have news for you. We’re all sinners. This is why Jesus had to give them guidance in their task, as he said, “Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road,” Luke 10:3-4. There would be temptations for these men to think they needed their own provisions, thinking God wouldn’t take care of them in this holy task. There would be temptations for them to pick favorites or seek out the wealthiest in a town to earn the most money. There would be temptations to think they were more special than anyone else. For this is why the Church always needs more pastors… because we’re all sinners in need of Christ’s grace and constantly need to be reminded of such.

II.

            Yet, this is the amazing thing also. Jesus didn’t send angels to preach the gospel. He didn’t find the most perfect men to preach… He chose sinners. He chose men who were unworthy of the position… because no one was truly worthy. It’s by God’s grace alone that a pastor is given such a holy task. For that task… is to tell sinners the same thing… that Jesus chose them too. That Jesus chose you… a sinner to have mercy on you. Isn’t that the entire gospel? That God in Christ chose sinners to dwell with them, to speak to them, to use them to show his love to a world lost in sin. This was the message by which the seventy-two were sent out, “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you,” Luke 10:9. Jesus chose to come near to you and speak his forgiveness, and win for you salvation. Jesus chose to die for you that he may have a rich harvest of saints! By Christ’s blood, he has washed you clean and given you his white robe of righteousness in baptism. He has fed you with his body and blood that the seed of faith may grow and bear fruit. For hear what Christ said to the seventy-two, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven,” Luke 10:20. Rejoice, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, that Jesus chose you and wrote your name in heaven, in the Lambs book of life. 

            Let us pray… let us pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. We need yet more laborers in the field to speak to those who haven’t yet heard. Let us then, desire for the Lord to provide pastors and other church workers to speak his words of grace and mercy to us and throughout the world. We know that Christ has chosen to work in and through them. For Christ said, “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me,” Luke 10:16. This is our Lord’s desire for his Church. This is our Lord’s desire for you… that you hear the words of pastors whom he has sent as his own words. For when we know of Christ’s promise to speak through their mouths, to nourish us with their hands… then we can certainly believe that Christ is also working through them to bring you eternal salvation! 

             When we pray, we can be sure and certain that our Lord hears us and answers. For he continues to send even more laborers into his field. Our Lord is working through their hands and feet to make you into a rich harvest of saints by giving you grace and life everlasting! In Jesus’ name! Amen!