December 27, 2021 — Luke 10:1-12 – “Riding Shotgun”

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” Luke 10:1-12 

“Riding shotgun:” Back when stagecoaches existed as the “Uber” and “Taxi” mode of transportation of its day, the seat immediately next to the driver was reserved for individuals holding (of course) a shotgun. Such a strategic spot allowed the “shotgun toting protector” to better ward off any bandits attempting to loot passengers. As engineering marched on into motor vehicles, the vernacular designation for the coveted spot stayed the same. 

Of course, Jesus was the first to send out his disciples with a “shotgun” position. He did not send them out individually — he sent them out in pairs, in the original “Buddy System” role — either could be in the “shotgun” position depending on the situation. We still teach this role today — even when we go out to evangelize for the church, we go out in pairs — like Jesus’ disciples entering the darkness of the role of evangelizing prophet — one was there to support the other.  

We never need to go out in this world alone to preach the word — in fact Jesus encourages we take someone with us. When one is tired, the other is there to pick them up. When one does not know what to say, the other is there to speak the word. There is no need to go it alone when speaking G-d’s word, and why would we want to anyway.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, give us the words to speak – and today, give us the people to share in this calling. Amen.

Pastor Dave