Are you ready for your big assignment? Our boss or teacher may ask this, and some of our classmates or co-workers may answer with a hearty “Yes!”. They can’t wait to get started. Others may be a bit more hesitant. However, if our leader has properly trained us, and we’ve been willing, attentive learners, and if they give us all the equipment and instructions necessary, we should not have to fear. Our Scripture today from the Gospel of Luke tells of a big assignment that Jesus gave a group of His disciples. Let’s take a look at what that assignment was, His instructions, and what the results were.
Many people think that Jesus just had His twelve disciples, and that was it, that the rest of the people were just an occasional audience for His parables, or witnesses to His miracles. That is not the case. Jesus did have His close inner circle of twelve disciples, who are named in the Gospels. However, He also had a large number of other disciples, many of whom followed Him almost daily throughout the duration of His ministry. It was from this larger group that Jesus picked out seventy who He gave a big assignment to do for Him. This assignment was to go out through Galilee and Judah into the various villages that Jesus intended to eventually visit, and bring His message ahead of His visit (vs. 1).
Jesus had some very specific instructions for these disciples which He gave them before they set out. One was that they were to go out in pairs. There are several practical reasons for this. One would naturally be for safety. Another would be for companionship and moral support for each other. Not every place would be so welcoming, and a companion would help keep discouragement at bay, and also keep them accountable to following the true message of Jesus. They were also to travel light, not carrying a lot of extra baggage (vs. 4). No extra clothing, or a lot of money. They were to be totally dependent on God for His provisions, along with the hospitality of those they visited.
The instruction to not greet anyone on the road (vs. 4) might seem a bit rude, but one must understand the culture of the day and location. A “greeting” in Biblical times could take a long time. It wasn’t just a quick “hello”, but would often include offers of hospitality and refreshment, which could take hours. If a disciple stopped with every greeting it could easily take days to get to their destination. Jesus’ message of salvation is urgent, and there is no time to waste.
When they arrived at the village they were going to minister in, the disciples were to stay in the house that offered them hospitality and offer a blessing upon it (vs. 5-6). They were not seek out a better place, better accommodations that might have a comfier bed or better food (vs. 7-8). They were to be content and grateful for what they received.. While there the disciples were to bring Jesus’ message of salvation to the people, along with healing the sick and casting out demons (vs. 9).
Jesus warned that not everyone would be receptive. There would be some places that would not receive them, but would instead cast them out (vs. 11-12). To such people, Jesus instructed His disciples to shake the dust off their feet as a symbolic gesture against them. This was a symbolic act of judgment, declaring that even the dust of a rejecting city is defiled. Sodom’s sin was grievous, yet rejecting Jesus’ messengers is worse. This underscores the gravity of rejecting the Gospel truth. As we read in verse 16, Jesus equates the disciples' message with His own. To insult believers is to insult God. To reject the disciples is to reject Jesus, and rejecting Jesus is rejecting God!
When the disciples returned, they excitedly told Jesus that even the demons obeyed when they used the Name of Jesus (vs. 17). When the Lord rebuked demonic forces, they were forced to obey. Jesus gave His disciples authority over these spirits, and to us as well. Jesus repeated that believers do, indeed, have authority over the enemy in His Name (vs. 19), but what is more important is that they have eternal security, their names are written in heaven (vs. 20).
Christians today are also given this assignment, to go forth and bring the Gospel to the lost, to those who have never heard, or never paid attention to the message of Jesus. We, too, have the power to invoke the Name of Jesus to overcome evil that may come against us. When we pray, we draw upon the strength of the Lord to claim victory over the evil one.
This was a large and tough assignment that the disciples, and us, too, have been given. Jesus told us to pray for more help (vs. 2). There is more work than workers who are willing to go. We need to pray for more Christians to be willing to go out with us to bring His message. This is a very urgent message, and we need to remember that we are like lambs being sent among wolves. The world does not like believers who are serious about their faith, and they certainly do not like our message. But remember, Jesus is with us, and we can rejoice because our reward will be great!
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