CALLED TO DIE FOR THE GOSPEL OF LIFE

(A sermon preached by Nelson Were at the FEBC homiletics class, November 1, 2006)

One of the most well-known martyrdoms in the history of Christianity in China occurred in December 1934 when a young American missionary couple, John and Betty Stam, were beheaded in Anhui Province along with a Chinese Christian named Zhang Shuisheng, who had pleaded for the Stams’ release.

John Stam was of Dutch immigrant ancestry. At that time in China the rise of the Communist threat was seriously disrupting missionary work. The Red Army seemed to be growing in size and scope daily. Stam saw these events as mere challenges to God’s kingdom, but nothing that could force him to alter his commitment to Christ and to China. When he was chosen to give the speech to the Moody Bible Institute’s Class of 1932, Stam gave the following stirring challenge:

 
Betty was the daughter of missionary parents in China, and so was brought up with Oriental language and culture. Although she was attending school in America, everyone expected her to return to China to start her own career as a missionary. Before she was appointed for service, Betty wrote:

My topic this morning is “Called to Die Bearing the Gospel of Christ.”

Matthew presents Christ as the King. He brings out the kingly line – the son of David, he cites the visit of the wise men from the East asking “Where is he that is born king of the Jews?”, he then presents the herald of the king, the baptism of the king, the axioms of the king, and here in chapter 10 the ambassadors of the king. This chapter pictures a commissioning service and in it we find (1) the ambassadors identified (10:1-4), (2) the mission indicated (10:5-8), and (3) the conduct impressed (10:9-15).

From verse 16 to 23, Christ gives them instruction concerning their witness in the face of adversity, and it is in this section that we find the command we will be looking at this morning. The scope of Matthew 10:16-23 reaches beyond the personal ministry of the twelve, covering in a general sense the sphere of service during the present age. In this command, Christ is addressing His disciples before He sends them out. He who knows all things prepares His ambassadors. How does He prepare them? Does He give them every single detail of every thing that will happen to them? He gives them what is enough and sufficient for them. What is it that the LORD tells them before they go out? He tells them three things:

Know Your Commission

“Behold I send you forth.” “Behold” is a call to attention. “Behold” draws the attention of the disciples from what has been said before to what is about to be said. In the previous verses they have been: (1) Commissioned to a specific people – like most of us they were sent to their own people (vv 5-6). (2) Commissioned with a specific message – “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (v 7). (3) Commissioned to go with compassion – “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers … freely you have received freely give” (v 8). (4) Commissioned to go in faith (vv 9-15).

We see the continuous issuance of commands which are to govern our ministry and service. Christ says, “Behold, I send you forth.” The “I” here is emphatic, holding up Himself as the Fountain of the Gospel ministry, and the Commissioner of the Gospel burden.

What do we need to know about our commission? We need to know who it is that calls and sends – “Behold I.” We need to know our LORD for as we go it is Him that we proclaim, it is Him that we obey, it is Him that we seek to honour. By this Christ calls their attention first, before they go out, to look at Him, to know Him, so that they might obey and please Him.

Know Your Condition

“As sheep in the midst of wolves.” Having called His disciples to know and understand their commission, Christ now turns them inward; He calls them to know and understand their condition. What do they need to know concerning themselves? When we go out to the ministry, what should we look for in ourselves? Christ does not point to them their strengths, but their weaknesses. To highlight this, Christ compares them to “sheep.” They are meek and humble in spirit, harmless, and inoffensive in their conduct; they are weak and unable to protect themselves; they are sent out by Him unarmed and defenceless. Their oppressors and persecutors on the other hand are “wolves,” fierce and furious, voracious and ravenous, cruel and hurtful.

Wherefore Christ gives them this wholesome advice: (1) Know your deficiencies – beware that you are not selfsufficient. You are as sheep and as you go, remember your condition. Within yourself there is no strength or defence, do not trust in the arm of flesh for it will fail you. (2) Know your adversary and the danger out there – beware for the enemies out there are like wolves. As wolves they are not the giving-up kind, they will pursue you to the end.

Know Your Conduct

“Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

In view of our commission and our condition, how should we conduct ourselves? Christ brings this into focus in the command He issues to the disciples. What is the advice?

(1) Exercise Prudence – in this the example is the serpent. Though you are as sheep, like the serpents you are to be sharp sighted. You as followers of Christ, are to make use of all proper methods to preserve yourselves from the insults and rage of men, and not expose yourselves to unnecessary dangers. And as much as in you lies, you should be careful to give no just occasion of offence, or irritation, or provocation, and to avoid all snares and traps that are laid for you.

(2) Maintain innocence and harmlessness of the dove – be free from all wicked cunning and craftiness, malice, and wrath; not meditating and seeking revenge, but meek and humble leading inoffensive lives, and proceeding in the course of your calling, though liable to many insults, and much oppression. Remember unlike the raven, the dove when sent out by Noah stuck to its calling, finished and returned with a report.

The Stam’s story is remarkable. On the same day Rev Peter Stam received news that his son and daughter-in-law— John and Betty Stam—had been killed, he also received a letter his son had written and mailed to him from China many weeks before. In his letter he told about the threat of the Communists, but reiterated his faith and commitment to serve God in China regardless of the cost. John Stam quoted a poem written by another missionary to China, J W Vinson, who had himself been captured by bandits. The bandits asked Vinson if he was afraid to die. Vinson replied, “No! If you shoot straight, I shall go straight to heaven!” His captors did shoot straight, and Vinson entered heaven as one who “loved not his life unto death.” Following the good example of J W Winson, John Stam was not afraid to die for the sake of Christ. Vinson’s poem described his heart well:

AFRAID?
Afraid? Of what?
To feel the spirit’s glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace?
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid? — of that?
Afraid? Of what?
Afraid to see the Saviour’s face?
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid? — of that?
Afraid? Of what?
A flash — a crash— a pierced heart;
Darkness — light— O heaven’s art!
A wound of his counterpart!
Afraid? — of that?
Afraid? Of what?
To do by death what life could not—
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid? — of that?
*****