Their assignment, our challenge: sheep, wolves, serpents, doves
By Dean Collins
Sheep. Wolves. Serpents. Doves.
I am not a zoologist, but I know these four types of animals don’t seem to have much in common. In fact, I would think that both sheep and doves need to avoid being in close proximity to wolves and serpents. Wolves and serpents are predators, while sheep and doves are not.
Knowing just the basics about sheep and wolves leaves us wondering why a loving servant king would describe us as sheep and send us out in the middle of the wolves. Since when does a shepherd ever choose to put his flock in the middle of danger? Yet in Matthew, Jesus sent the 12 apostles out by themselves. He didn't let them take much with them and he gave them an assignment they surely thought was way above their pay grade!
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.”
These guys might have felt better hearing, “Push out the boat, cast the nets, gather the fish, cook them for dinner.” It might have been a normal day in the life of Jesus to heal the sick and raise the dead, but the 12 had only seen these things a few times and they didn't have an apostles manual to check during their service out in the field. All they had was what Jesus told them.
An aggressive mission
They were not loaded down with supplies. They had an aggressive mission. I can imagine them trying to process these instructions and not panic when they heard Jesus say, “Look guys, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves!” It would make a lot more sense for him to say, “Stay away from the wolves and keep some weapons handy in case you see a wolf!”
As the 12 tried to get comfortable with the animal analogy, Jesus began to describe how the humans would react to their message and ministry attempts. And there is no comfort in what Jesus said would happen to them. They would be dragged before courts, for example. Flogged. Left for dead. But have no fear of others, he said, because I will tell you what to say and what to do. Remember, however, they treat me just as they will treat you.
Accepting the adventure
The 12 apostles found every one of these words of Jesus to be true. We don’t have many details in Matthew, but we have many examples of what happened to the apostles in Acts of the Apostles. The life of a disciple is an adventure to be sure. It makes me wonder about our experiences as Christ-followers. Is it possible that if we aren’t experiencing some challenge and excitement on our journey, then maybe we are hiding in the flock and not accepting the opportunity of kingdom influence and adventure that Jesus calls us toward?
This trial run of ministry Jesus gave the 12 was preparation for the big adventures later on. They had to get used to not physically seeing Jesus by their side but experiencing that he was, in fact, still with them. Later, when the Holy Spirit came, we see new courage and less caution as the apostles responded to their call to extend the kingdom of God.
Remembering our assignment
As followers of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit in us and with us at every turn. He equips us, guides us, empowers us, and uses us to do the work of Jesus. Knowing that he is with us should give us confidence to move forward even in the midst of the wolves of this world.
But we must never forget our assignment. We are not to be the wolves or act like the wolves. We are to use wisdom and kindness in all that we do. If we start acting like wolves, then the world will never see the beauty and the power of a life changed by the gospel of Jesus.
Don’t hide from your assignment. Trust that Jesus will be with you every step of the way!
Your time with God’s Word
Matthew 10:16; 5-33 ESV
Sheep photo by Peter Lloyd ; wolf photo by Jeroen Bosch ; snake photo by Jeroen Bosch; dove photo by Douglas Bagg , all on Unsplash
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