Whenever I travel – near or far, I remember a theme one of the Churches I served years ago followed over the summer, “Looking for Jesus…everywhere we go” in recognition of the fact that in summer many of us travel and/or receive visitors who travel to see us.  The idea was that wherever we go and whomever we meet – whether friend or stranger – we are able to find Jesus there, to see Jesus at work in various places, people and circumstances.

It was a wonderful way for us to take our faith with us wherever we went and to share some of our experiences with each other when we were together at Church.  But my recent shopping experience made me realize that there’s another, critical aspect of this practice. Before we can look for Jesus in others, we have to be able to recognize Jesus in ourselves, which, admittedly, is not always easy to do.

I think we often get bogged down by the “as is” mentality – where it’s easier to let our value be determined by what’s broken, defective or incomplete about ourselves instead of seeing ourselves with God’s eyes, looking beyond any defect or flaw to recognize the great worth within us and the value Christ has placed on each of our lives.

If you were asked to write 2 lists: 1 detailing all the things that aren’t so great about you, all in your life that you think of as broken or incomplete and a second list describing all that’s great about you, all that you have to offer as a servant of Christ – which list would be easier for you to complete? Which list would be longer? (I know for me I’d have no trouble with the 1^st list and it would definitely be longer than the second.

I think the disciples struggled with this, too. They knew they weren’t perfect or even skilled in any outstanding way. They were just ordinary, “as is” people who probably found it easier to see their own flaws and shortcomings then the God-given value they had within themselves.

In our scripture today, Jesus sends the disciples out with their first mission tasks on their own. These are no small tasks, for the scripture says that he sends them to heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach repentance. Jesus was asking them go out and do things that were challenging, in new settings that probably felt risky and where they couldn’t be sure what to expect.

As if that wasn’t daunting enough, he sends them out “as is” – basically telling them to go with just the clothes on their backs. They were not even allowed to bring money or food. It’s funny, there is nothing written here that describes how the disciples reacted to this, but every time I read it I can almost see their jaws drop and hear their horrified gasps. “What do you mean we have to go “as is”? We aren’t ready for this. We can’t even take food with us? How will we survive, let alone do all the stuff you want us to do? …are you crazy?”

I wonder if Jesus was thinking that if they could just get past seeing all the reasons they weren’t ready or talented enough for the mission, they would start to see the gifts for ministry that Jesus saw in them.  If they would just get going and let themselves be guided by the Spirit, they would begin to understand that Jesus sent and trusted them with good reason.

Here in our Church, we are one month away from a new Interim period when Alex finishes his time here as your Senior Pastor.  This is in addition to the Interim period that began after your Associate Pastor retired in February. This will certainly be a time of great change and challenge, but also of great opportunity to reflect on how God has been at work in this congregation and how God might be calling you forward into ministry for the future. I can imagine that contemplating all that is ahead and all that we might be called to do, could be a bit overwhelming.  Especially in the context of so much change in our society and struggle for relevance of the Church-at-large – on top of the specific changes here.

There’s a chance we might be asked to take on some challenging tasks, to try some things that are new, that feel risky and where we can’t be sure what to expect. On top of that, whatever God calls us to do it will be “as is,” as we are right now – with all of our various imperfections and limited resources. This is where today’s passage has something vital to say to us individually and especially as a Church.  For all the things Jesus did not send with the disciples on their ministry journeys, there are two things he did send which turned out to be the two that made everything they were called to do possible.

These disciples were far from perfect, each one had his own defects, his own kind of brokenness, but now they all had something they never had before – Jesus. Verse 7 says, “He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority…”  He gave them authority. Specifically, he gave them His authority; he gave them the ability to carry out their mission in His name, with the strength of his love and grace.

The same verse also says that Jesus sent them “two by two.” He did not send them alone. Jesus first gave them himself and then he gave them each other. What one disciple lacked, the other could make up for and vice versa.  When one would grow weary and doubtful, the other could give encouragement and support.  Whatever each one had or didn’t have they were stronger because of Christ and because of one another.

The end of the passage says that the disciples “went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” (Mark 6:12-13) In other words, they accomplished exactly what Jesus had sent them to do – with no extra-ordinary talents and with no special resources – but just as they were.

In our world, “as is” means that something is broken, defective or incomplete and therefore valueless. For Jesus, “as is” means seeing us for what we are and what we are not and placing the greatest value on our lives which he considered worthy of his own.

As we continue to look to what’s ahead and all that Jesus might be calling us to do individually and as a Church, we must resist the temptation to shy away and see only the reasons we can’t do it or focus on all the ways we aren’t equipped, aren’t ready or able.

Instead we are encouraged and challenged by God’s Word to us in scripture, to trust Jesus, to trust the great value He sees in us – as we are – flaws and all. And like the disciples, Jesus will send us “as is” to do exactly what He knows we can and he will send us with the two most important resources needed for the journey – the strength of His love for us and the gift of one another.

In the name of Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. Amen.