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In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ. The Sending Out Of The Seventy August 7, 2011. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info. The Sending of the Twelve. Luke 9:1-4
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In The Footsteps Of The Master:The Life and Times of Jesus Christ The Sending Out Of The Seventy August 7, 2011 www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
The Sending of the Twelve • Luke 9:1-4 • 1And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. 3And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece. 4Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
The Sending of the Twelve • Luke 9:5-6 • 5“And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • This sending of a the Twelve is a precursor to the sending of the Seventy • These two pericopes are very similar • In fact, each helps the understanding of the other • There is another important part of the context www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Just Prior ... • Luke 9:57-59 • 57As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”59And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Just Prior ... • Luke 9:60-62 • 60But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”61Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
The Sending of the Seventy • Luke 10:1-2 • 1Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. 2And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” • These disciples were to prepare the way for Jesus www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • Why did He send them in pairs? • Why the reference to harvest workers here? • When the harvest came, there was a very narrow window in which to remove the harvest from the field before it spoiled • Extra workers were needed to accomplish the task in the allotted time • What does this imagery convey? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Stay Put ... • Luke 10:3-7 • 3“Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4Carryno money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. 5Whateverhouse you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6Ifa man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7Stayin that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • What instructions does Jesus give to His disciples? • Why this ascetic approach? • What is the “peace” that is given? • What is a “man of peace” in this context? • Why would Jesus want His disciples to stay put? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
The Kingdom Has Come Near • Luke 10:8-9 • 8“Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ • Sounds a lot like John the Baptist, doesn’t it? • These disciples are paving the way for Jesus – and the Kingdom – to come • Why the focus on “eating what is before you”? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
The Unaccepting City • Luke 10:10-12 • 10But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.” • The Kingdom has come, whether accepted or not www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • What is the practice referred to here? • Paul and Barnabas did the same thing in Pisidian Antioch • Why the reference to Sodom? • Jewish teaching stressed that one of the sins of Sodom was lack of hospitality • Sodom may have turned away some folks in its day, but these cities will be turning away the Kingdom of God • That is an intolerable place to be! www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Three Woes • Luke 10:13-15 • 13“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14Butit will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • We don’t have specific narrative that describes disbelief in these particular cities, but Jesus is pointed in his comments • Isaiah had prophesied against Tyre and Sidon in Isaiah 23 • But Jesus says that they would have eagerly repented, if given the same opportunity as these cities • This response is representative of the opposition that is growing www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Jesus and The Father • Luke 10:16 • 16“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” • Jesus again links Himself with the Father • Those who reject Him reject the Father www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
The Joy of the Seventy • Luke 10:17 • 17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” • Note that there was no specific authority or power or instruction to cast out demons given, but these disciples were able to drive them out – as were the Twelve • Note also their joy in the experience www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • Note the emphasis on the demons subjection to Jesus Name • Reminiscent of the Seven Sons of Sceva in Acts • God’s Name has always held a special place of honor • Was written on His temple • Was to be held in greatest respect • Jesus’ Name holds power over everything www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Satan’s Fall • Luke 10:18-20 • 18AndHe said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20Neverthelessdo not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • How is this passage to be interpreted? • Some see it as a past event • Some as a current event • Some as an “end times” event • The bottom line is that Jesus has power over Satan and has extended it to these disciples • But the really important thing is that their names are recorded in Heaven www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Jesus in the Spirit • Luke 10:21-22 • 21At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • We must not forget that Jesus and the Spirit and the Father are One • Luke again references Jesus’ pattern of reversal • Those who are first will be last, the last will be first, the weak will be strong, etc. • This is God’s topsy-turvy way of things • Here, the Kingdom is revealed not to the wise, but to infants • In what way(s)? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
The Son Has All Things • Luke 10:22 • 22All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” • Jesus again stresses that He is the only route to the Father www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Blessed • Luke 10:23-34 • 23Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, 24for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.” • The disciples are blessed to have seen and heard the things they’ve experienced • Many have wanted to over the centuries www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
In Closing • What should we take away from this? • We should be going before Jesus • We should be proclaiming the Kingdom • We should be ministering to the sick and needy • These are the things that caused these disciples’ names to be written in Heaven • This is the only way to experience true joy www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Next Week • The Parable of the Good Samaritan • Luke 10:25:37 Questions? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info