The Sending Out of the Seventy (Luke 10:1-20)
1
Jesus had twelve apostles and additional seventy disciples.
The eleven apostles except Judas Iscariot and the seventy disciples were included in the number of 120 people who gathered in Maria's house after Jesus' ascension.
Among the 120 people in the house of Maria, Mark's mother, the remaining 39 people were Jesus' brothers-James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, and Jesus' mother Maria and the other women who sincerely followed Jesus Christ all the time.
Jesus' twelve apostles replaced Israel's twelve tribes in the Old Testament.
And the seventy disciples who were appointed by Jesus, the figure of the New Covenant, replaced Israel's seventy elders who were appointed by Moses, the figure of the Old Covenant.
In the time of Jesus, there were believed to be 70 nations in the world, so there is one disciple for each nation. This shows the universality of the call of Jesus.
Among the seventy disciples, some are known to us by their names:
According to a church historian, Eusebius, Barnabas, Paul's mentor and companion, was "one of the seventy" original disciples of Jesus.
According to a tradition, Barnabas later preached throughout Italy, Alexandria, and Cyprus. He is said to be stoned to death at Salonica or at Cyprus for the Gospel of Christ.
Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark and a companion of Paul, Barnabas and Peter, is also said to be one of Jesus' seventy disciples.
He was once rejected by Paul because of his laziness. But, later, he became a diligent servant of Jesus. In his later years he also preached on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. And he was martyred in Alexandria by being dragged behind a chariot along the stones in the city streets.
Matthias was originally one of Jesus' seventy disciples. When Judas Iscariot was fallen and killed himself, he became the twelfth Apostle of Jesus in place of Judas Isacariot. According to a tradition, Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem by the Jews, and then beheaded.
Christianity was received in Edessa, a Northern Mesopotamia province, during the time of the Apostles.
A legend tells that Abgar, king of Edessa, afflicted with an incurable sickness, has heard the fame of the power and miracles of Jesus and writes to him, acknowledging his divinity, craving his help and offering him asylum in his own residence; the tradition states that Jesus wrote a letter declining to go, promising, however, that after his ascension he would send one of his seventy disciples, endowed with his power. That was Thaddeus (or called Addai in Syriac).
Luke, Paul's beloved companion and doctor, was also claimed to be one of Jesus' seventy disciples. He later preached in Egypt and ended his spiritual feat with a martyr's death by hanging.
The eleven apostles except Judas Iscariot and the seventy disciples were included in the number of 120 people who gathered in Maria's house after Jesus' ascension.
Among the 120 people in the house of Maria, Mark's mother, the remaining 39 people were Jesus' brothers-James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, and Jesus' mother Maria and the other women who sincerely followed Jesus Christ all the time.
Jesus' twelve apostles replaced Israel's twelve tribes in the Old Testament.
And the seventy disciples who were appointed by Jesus, the figure of the New Covenant, replaced Israel's seventy elders who were appointed by Moses, the figure of the Old Covenant.
In the time of Jesus, there were believed to be 70 nations in the world, so there is one disciple for each nation. This shows the universality of the call of Jesus.
Among the seventy disciples, some are known to us by their names:
According to a church historian, Eusebius, Barnabas, Paul's mentor and companion, was "one of the seventy" original disciples of Jesus.
According to a tradition, Barnabas later preached throughout Italy, Alexandria, and Cyprus. He is said to be stoned to death at Salonica or at Cyprus for the Gospel of Christ.
Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark and a companion of Paul, Barnabas and Peter, is also said to be one of Jesus' seventy disciples.
He was once rejected by Paul because of his laziness. But, later, he became a diligent servant of Jesus. In his later years he also preached on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. And he was martyred in Alexandria by being dragged behind a chariot along the stones in the city streets.
Matthias was originally one of Jesus' seventy disciples. When Judas Iscariot was fallen and killed himself, he became the twelfth Apostle of Jesus in place of Judas Isacariot. According to a tradition, Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem by the Jews, and then beheaded.
Christianity was received in Edessa, a Northern Mesopotamia province, during the time of the Apostles.
A legend tells that Abgar, king of Edessa, afflicted with an incurable sickness, has heard the fame of the power and miracles of Jesus and writes to him, acknowledging his divinity, craving his help and offering him asylum in his own residence; the tradition states that Jesus wrote a letter declining to go, promising, however, that after his ascension he would send one of his seventy disciples, endowed with his power. That was Thaddeus (or called Addai in Syriac).
Luke, Paul's beloved companion and doctor, was also claimed to be one of Jesus' seventy disciples. He later preached in Egypt and ended his spiritual feat with a martyr's death by hanging.
2
In today's passage, Jesus sent out the seventy or seventy-two disciples in pairs ahead of him to all the towns and villages that he planned to visit.
Why did Jesus send them out "in pairs"?
The work of ministry for Christ is not a one-person show; rather it should be done in companion or in fellowship.
The word, companion, is a Latin origin combined word, com (with) plus panion (bread) meaning "with bread." The Christian co-workers are fellow persons who share their bread, that is, their lives.
In pairs, they may become more brave and less dismayed. Even though they are rejected, they may be less disappointed. They can make the most use of their talents by complementing each other.
They were sent out as "heralds" to let the people in towns and villages know Jesus' coming to them.
Jesus sent them out because "the harvest is so great."
Jesus wants to send us out too as "the harvest is still so great."
Jesus sent out his seventy disciples to be his ambassadors, and he sends us out too.
Jesus couldn't be at all places and at all times, so he appointed the seventy disciples to represent him. Jesus also appoints us to represent him.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, 'Be reconciled to God.'"
Some people know nothing of Jesus, but they know who you are. You have been called and appointed by the Lord of Life to be his ambassador!
When Jesus sends out his seventy disciples, he warns them that he is sending out into a world that is often hostile:
"Go now, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves."(v. 3)
People whom you meet may be disinterested in you and the Gospel of Christ at all. So, you may be easily disappointed or discouraged if you try to do all things all by yourself and if you expect great fruit at your first attempt.
Jesus tells them some important instructions for their mission trip:
"Don't take along any money, or a traveler's bag, or even an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to stop to greet anyone on the road."(v. 4)
Jesus says to those ministering in his name that they have to keep their attention on the mission of spreading the Gospel--the Gospel of peace and love.
This must have been a big challenge to them; certainly it is to us.
How do we simplify our lives so that the worldly things do not distract us from our Christian mission for the Gospel of Christ?
Our absolute trust in God's power and help makes it possible.
What does Jesus want his seventy disciples to proclaim?
What is their main message?
"The Kingdom of God is near you now" whether the people of the towns and villages would accept them or not.
What is the message that we Christians should proclaim?
"Believe in Jesus. Then, you and your household will be saved. Jesus Christ will surely come again."
There may be strong resistance and miserable failures, but that is no excuse for not persevering and proclaiming the message of God's love.
The seventy disciples returned with tremendous success.
They joyfully reported to Jesus, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"(v. 17)
Jesus responds to them, "I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning. And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don't rejoice just because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven."
There are two traps that we may fall into when we have taken on a great mission. We may fail and think of ourselves as fundamentally failures or we may experience success and believe it all comes at our own effort.
The first course leads to depression and lack of healthy self-esteem;
the second leads to pride. Both turn us in on ourselves and away from God.
Why do you take on a mission to spread the Gospel?
Is it for your glory or for the glory of God?
Taking on a mission to spread the Gospel, we should remember what Jesus says to us: "Rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven."
Why did Jesus send them out "in pairs"?
The work of ministry for Christ is not a one-person show; rather it should be done in companion or in fellowship.
The word, companion, is a Latin origin combined word, com (with) plus panion (bread) meaning "with bread." The Christian co-workers are fellow persons who share their bread, that is, their lives.
In pairs, they may become more brave and less dismayed. Even though they are rejected, they may be less disappointed. They can make the most use of their talents by complementing each other.
They were sent out as "heralds" to let the people in towns and villages know Jesus' coming to them.
Jesus sent them out because "the harvest is so great."
Jesus wants to send us out too as "the harvest is still so great."
Jesus sent out his seventy disciples to be his ambassadors, and he sends us out too.
Jesus couldn't be at all places and at all times, so he appointed the seventy disciples to represent him. Jesus also appoints us to represent him.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, 'Be reconciled to God.'"
Some people know nothing of Jesus, but they know who you are. You have been called and appointed by the Lord of Life to be his ambassador!
When Jesus sends out his seventy disciples, he warns them that he is sending out into a world that is often hostile:
"Go now, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves."(v. 3)
People whom you meet may be disinterested in you and the Gospel of Christ at all. So, you may be easily disappointed or discouraged if you try to do all things all by yourself and if you expect great fruit at your first attempt.
Jesus tells them some important instructions for their mission trip:
"Don't take along any money, or a traveler's bag, or even an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to stop to greet anyone on the road."(v. 4)
Jesus says to those ministering in his name that they have to keep their attention on the mission of spreading the Gospel--the Gospel of peace and love.
This must have been a big challenge to them; certainly it is to us.
How do we simplify our lives so that the worldly things do not distract us from our Christian mission for the Gospel of Christ?
Our absolute trust in God's power and help makes it possible.
What does Jesus want his seventy disciples to proclaim?
What is their main message?
"The Kingdom of God is near you now" whether the people of the towns and villages would accept them or not.
What is the message that we Christians should proclaim?
"Believe in Jesus. Then, you and your household will be saved. Jesus Christ will surely come again."
There may be strong resistance and miserable failures, but that is no excuse for not persevering and proclaiming the message of God's love.
The seventy disciples returned with tremendous success.
They joyfully reported to Jesus, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"(v. 17)
Jesus responds to them, "I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lightning. And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don't rejoice just because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven."
There are two traps that we may fall into when we have taken on a great mission. We may fail and think of ourselves as fundamentally failures or we may experience success and believe it all comes at our own effort.
The first course leads to depression and lack of healthy self-esteem;
the second leads to pride. Both turn us in on ourselves and away from God.
Why do you take on a mission to spread the Gospel?
Is it for your glory or for the glory of God?
Taking on a mission to spread the Gospel, we should remember what Jesus says to us: "Rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven."
3
Jesus tells his disciples and us: "You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth."(Acts 1:8b)
This is not a simple request to his disciples by Jesus.
We call this prophetic command that is our essential requirement as the followers of Jesus.
The Greek word corresponding to "witnesses" is μάρτυρες, meaning "martyrs."
As a "witnesses" of Jesus, you should be ready to be killed, or in other words, you should be ready to give up your life."
You and I should be ready to be used as the workers for the mission of spreading the Gospel as the harvest is so great and so near.
This is not a simple request to his disciples by Jesus.
We call this prophetic command that is our essential requirement as the followers of Jesus.
The Greek word corresponding to "witnesses" is μάρτυρες, meaning "martyrs."
As a "witnesses" of Jesus, you should be ready to be killed, or in other words, you should be ready to give up your life."
You and I should be ready to be used as the workers for the mission of spreading the Gospel as the harvest is so great and so near.
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