Anchor My Faith

Return of the 72 With Joy

Scripture: Luke 10:17-20

Having delivered a warning to the unrepentant, Jesus now prepares to receive the seventy-two who are returning from their short-term mission trip.

^{Lk 10:17} “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”’ Earlier in the ministry of Jesus, the disciples were sent out by twos on a mission trip like the seventy-two were. Mark 6:30 says, “The apostles (disciples) returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught.” There was no expression of emotion when the disciples returned like the seventy-two displayed. There was a sense of excitement over what the seventy-two saw happen, especially when invoking the name of Jesus in casting out demons. It was always with joy and excitement when I returned from my mission trips to China because of what I experienced seeing the Lord accomplish in and through me.

L^{k 10:18} “And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”’ “I saw Satan fall” could also be translated “I was watching Satan fall.” How did Jesus see this? Was it a vision by which he saw something in the spiritual realm or was it simply a graphic declaration of what has been happening? In either case Jesus is indicating that Satan’s authority and power over people has been decisively broken. The fact that the fall was like lightening describes how suddenly it happened. This event is referenced in Isaiah 14:12 ESV: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!”

^{Lk 10:19} “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” These “serpents and scorpions” that Jesus was talking about to the seventy-two would be physical dangers that are faced in the process of sharing the gospel and are also symbols of demonic opposition. Authority over these dangers and powers of darkness were first given to the twelve disciples and then to the seventy-two and then to us in Matthew 28:19 – 20 and Mark 16:15.

How is it that “nothing shall hurt you” when we know that a great multitude of believers are suffering and even dying under persecution? Consider Luke 21:12 – 18 ESV: ¹² “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³ This will be your opportunity to bear witness. ¹⁴ Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish.”

This still doesn’t fully answer our question, so consider Matthew 10:28 ESV: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” The implication is that the enemy can hurt the physical body but not the soul. We may have to give our “bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1), but our souls are protected.

As the seventy-two returned, rejoicing over their experience, Jesus reminds them of something even greater to rejoice over and that is the fact that their “names are written in heaven.” We may suffer greatly and even give our lives, but we know our final destination.

Conclusion

³ “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:3 – 6 ESV).