Reading through the Gospels #122

JESUS SENDS OUT THE SEVENTY-TWO

Luke 10:1-20, Matthew 11:20-24

After instructing His followers on the cost of discipleship and facing rejections or excuses Luke 9, Jesus sends out disciples on a ministry mission. Jesus was on his journey to Jerusalem, passing through Samaria or nearby areas when He appointed 72 people (disciples or witnesses) and sent them out in 36 groups of 2 to go into every place where Jesus would be going. There are no longer just 12 disciples. Thirty-six places is a lot of places! Jesus was busy! Why did He send them in pairs? Maybe two voices are better than one, or maybe so they could comfort and protect each other, or maybe merely as companionship. It also must have given them courage to know that Jesus would be along later. It reminds me of the way we are to sow seeds and Jesus waters them.

There is a lot of red text now as Jesus speaks. He tells them some well-known words, "The harvest if plentiful, but the laborers are few." There are a lot of people (a harvest field of all of humanity) that need to hear about Jesus, but few people willing to work to tell others about Jesus and salvation. Jesus tells them to pray for workers to go into His harvest to "the Lord of the harvest." I can feel the stress of a farmer who has a field ready to harvest, but no team to help bring in the harvest. All of that food would go to waste. Plus, the more people that do the work, the less work each person has to do. I am reminded by this Bible verse that we are commanded to pray for evangelism.

___

CATECHISM: Luke 10:2. The Apostles' Creed, Third Article (Part 2) The Holy Spirit. What are some of the privileges and responsibilities of members of the Church? D. We should tell others about Jesus, participate in works of mercy and service, and support the ministry of the church with prayer and financial gifts.

___

Jesus tells them to go (which reminds me that Jesus calls us to different vocations), and warns them that He is sending them out as lambs in the midst of wolves. If a wolf were to attack a lamb, it would be the lamb who suffers. Wolves are vicious and lambs are gentle.

Jesus tells them to go empty-handed with no money or bag or sandals, and to greet no one on the road. First, this would teach them to trust God and rely on Him. I imagine this is for their safety so that no one will injure them while stealing their belongings. Material possessions can also be distracting. Not speaking would prevent them from unknowingly antagonizing a stranger whose wolf-ness is not known.

They are to proclaim "Peace be to this house!" as they enter, and if peaceful people are in the house, peace will be returned, and if no peace is in the house, it too will be returned. Jesus does not say they are to leave if no peace is returned, but I would think this is a cue to peaceably leave for protection of self.

They are to remain in the house, and the people of the house will provide food and drink as payment for their working the harvest. A place to sleep, food, and drink is enough payment for doing God's work. I note that it is not referenced as charity for volunteering, but payment for work. Jesus repeats that they are not to go house to house. Going around begging for food is not trusting God to provide.

Those towns that receive them, they may eat and drink what is provided to them, and heal the sick, giving credit to the kingdom of God as coming near them. It seems these disciples had a special gift from God to heal the sick that I do not have nowadays. Of course, I could help heal by bringing a doctor along, or providing food or medicine to the sick. But it's not like I can just lay a hand on someone and, poof, they are healed. Only Jesus can do that. Healing the sick and helping the needy provides an opportunity to get to know someone. It is better to get to know someone first before dropping the Good News on them.

But if a town does not receive them well, they are to go into the streets and still proclaim that the kingdom of God is near, first telling that that the dust (sin & rejection) clinging to their feet is wiped off against them. Either way, they are sharing the good news of Jesus and salvation. Wiping dust from feet was a familiar act in Jewish culture used when leaving a Gentile (pagan) place to symbolize leaving behind impurities. It shows that the city is being treated as if it were a pagan place for rejecting the Gospel.

Jesus mentions some towns which I wonder if these were places he sent the 72. For those towns who do not repent after being told about salvation, Jesus warns how unbearable the judgment will be. The cities of Sodom, Tyre and Sidon were notoriously sinful. Believers will be exalted in heaven and the unrepentant will be brought down to Hades. Jesus specifically denounces the people of Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida who had many mighty works done in them, and yet they still did not repent. Many might works would be the Holy Spirit working in their hearts. Jesus separates the two groups in that it will be more bearable (easier) in Hades for Sodom, Tyre, and Sidon than Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida. Some will suffer more for eternity than others. Ouch! It is worse for someone who hears the Gospel and rejects it than for the sinful who have not heard.

Luke 10:16 "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Jesus tells them that if the people hear what they say, the hear Him, and the ones that reject them, reject Him. Disciples should not take rejection or acceptance personally.

___

CATECHISM: Luke 10:16 is in the Catechism 5 times!

Introduction to Catechism: Why can we be confident that the Bible is the authorities and inherent Word of God? C. Just as God called an authorized prophets in the Old Testament, put His words in their mouths, and fulfilled their prophecies, so also Jesus called an authorized His apostolic witnesses to speak His Word, guided by His Spirit.

Third Commandment: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. How do we fear and love God in keeping the Third Commandment? We fear God and love God by not despising or neglecting His Word. We despise and neglect God's Word by: B. rejecting or disregarding God's Word.

Third Commandment: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Why is it vital for us to gather together with fellow Christians in public worship? B. We hear God's Word as a set place and time. Though it is delivered through fallible men and simple means, the Word that is read, preached, and spoken over water, bread, and wine is not to be scorned.

The Apostles' Creed, Second Article (Part 3) Jesus. What does it mean for us to speak of Jesus as our Prophet? As our Prophet, Jesus proclaims the Word of God to us. A prophet speaks for God by divine inspiration and foretells of what is to come. Jesus revealed Himself by Word an deed. He preached the Gospel, and still reveals Himself as Son of God & redeemer. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim the Good News.

Confession. How should we regard the Absolution spoken by the pastor? When the pastor absolves us--that is, says, "I forgive you all our sins"-- he speaks with Christ's authority and on His behalf. Therefore, we can firmly believe that God Himself has completely forgiven our sins.

___

All 72 returned, so none of them were devoured by the wolves. The 72 are done with their mission and return with JOY because even the demons submitted to His name. Jesus did not tell them to cast out demons, and yet they experienced the submission of them nonetheless. Jesus was with the people when they were on their mission. Those they told about salvation were not subject to the 72, but rather to the power of Jesus.

Jesus tells them that He saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. When the people spoke in Jesus's name, people believed and Satan lost, and Jesus saw him falling from heaven. The fall of Satan was quick like a bolt of lightning.

Jesus tells them that He has given the witnesses authority to tread on the serpents, scorpions, enemy, and I think to add wolves to that list. Jesus tells them that nothing will hurt the disciples, and to not rejoice in the spiritual power they have over the enemy. Instead, rejoice that your name is written in heaven. We need to be careful not to get haughty or prideful when Jesus's power is successful over the enemy, but instead to stay focused on and be thankful for that we will be in heaven with Jesus. The joy the disciples initially had was real and visible in the success of the ministry, having victory. It is hard to push away our humanness at times. When it happens, we repent, and grow from it. Instead we focus on the invisible that is held in faith.

Concordance G5479 chara: χαρά, Pronounced khar-ah' (khar-ah') Meaning joy, gladness, delight, greatly joyful, from the root word G5463 (χαίρω - rejoice); Found 59 times in the Greek New Testament.

---