Sometimes the assignment we’re given at work or at school is something that they want us to work steadily at, but there is no rush. Other times they want it done right away. Put everything else aside and get to it! A friend may invite us to come over, today, tomorrow, or the weekend, whenever it is convenient. At another time they may call us with an urgent need, to please come over, right away! Ambulances, police, and fire trucks have sirens. Pull aside, we’re in a hurry! Today’s Scripture from the Gospel of Luke also has a sense of urgency. The time was short, it was running out. Let’s look into our Gospel passage.
As we begin reading, Jesus was sending out seventy of His followers to go into some of the villages that He would soon be visiting, to help prepare them for the message that He would bring (vs. 1). Jesus had many more followers than just the twelve apostles He had selected for close and personal companions. These 70 disciples were commissioned to go on a brief mission trip around Israel to bring Jesus’ message. Their instructions were to travel lightly, and not carry a lot of extra belongings (vs. 4). When they arrived in a village, in whoever’s house they were invited to stay at, they were to remain there, not wasting time hopping from place to place, looking for a better meal or more comfortable accommodations (vs. 7-8).
One instruction might seem a little odd, and that was to not greet anyone along the road (vs. 4). The customs of the day and that part of the world, social greetings could often be elaborate and time-consuming. Jesus didn’t want them, at this time, taking valuable time with social niceties. He didn’t want them to be deterred from the mission at hand. Everything in Jesus’ instructions spoke of the shortness of time and the great urgency of the task. He only had a limited time here on earth, and a great mission to accomplish. Time was running short, and they had souls to save. That is the same today. Time is running short for us, as well. Jesus’ return is getting closer and closer with each passing day. People are dying each day, going into eternity. We need to get His message out, too, just as these disciples did, and we can’t be spending time on things that ultimately will not matter.
As Jesus sent these disciples out, He warned them that they would face hostility and spiritual danger (vs 3). As we read through the Gospels, we see that though some people loved Jesus and accepted His message, there were plenty who didn’t accept Him, and were actually quite hostile to Him. If they treated Jesus that way, they would certainly not treat His disciples any better (John 15:20). We see the same thing today. When we share the Gospel with others, there are a few who eagerly accept our message. Many are indifferent, but polite, and then there are many who will be openly hostile to us, even to the point of persecution. All have the opportunity to hear, but as Jesus warned, woe to those who reject Him (vs. 10-12). Those who reject Jesus and His message will suffer on Judgment Day.
When the disciples returned to Jesus a short while later, they joyfully shared with Him the results of their mission (vs. 17). Jesus told them that there was something even more important than all that happened on their journeys. Rather than being enthralled over having power over demons, and working miracles, Jesus wants us to realize the greatest wonder of all is the reality of salvation (vs. 20). As we see God’s wonders at work in and through us, we should not lose sight of the greatest wonder of all, and that is salvation, our own and that of others.
Jesus told His followers, and He tells us today, that we need to pray for more people to go out and spread the Gospel message (vs. 2). Jesus said that the harvest was great then. It is great today as well. There are millions of people who are dying and heading into an eternity separated from God in hell. And when we look around, there are precious few people who are bringing the message of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ to others. The salvation of souls is a priority with Jesus. He wants us to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). Many are engaged in the fishing business, but very few are actually fishing! Will you go work in the harvest, telling others about Jesus?
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