Jesus sends out the 70 (or 72) in pairs to spread the gospel and instructs them along the lines of ‘Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, stay at the first house you are welcome’.
Not my idea of travel instructions; is it a place where I will get a decent sleep, food that I can eat, people that I get along with?
Seems a fairly half-baked plan to me.
Perhaps there was a more detailed set of papyrus instructions, maybe not!
One of the rituals in entering a home was take off your sandals, to tread softly and respectfully in another’s place.
Not having control of the situation, having to respond to people, where they are, how they are, not being able to just do my own thing seems very risky and uncomfortable.
Reminds me of the story in Exodus 3 of Moses encountering God in the burning bush; and God instructing Moses; “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground”.
Seriously, bare feet, with burning vegetation, rocks and thorns, (I got a nail in my foot once), I’d be wearing Blundstone boots in that place for sure!
When we encounter new places or people, do we take off our shoes and tread carefully and respectfully, sensitive to that situation, or do we put on our Blundstone boots and charge on obliviously on our own well trodden paths?
Bare feet or Blundstones?
Ricky Beswick
Lay Preacher