Luke 10:1-24
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy Two
1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus saw and sees the need that His followers and Disciples must do the work of fishermen...They must not wait for souls to come to them, but they must go after souls and teach them to come and follow Him...So when Jesus gave the command to His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) is a clear directive to actively seek and share the Gospel...This mandate requires a proactive approach, rather than a passive one...So Jesus' command to His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) is a call to action...
The analogy of fishermen is very fitting...Fishermen don't simply wait for fish to swim to them to their nets or their bait; they cast their nets and lines into the water to catch the fish...Similarly, Christians are called to actively seek out and engage with people, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ...
When Jesus commissioned the seventy-two disciples (Luke 10:1-24) He provides a powerful example of His proactive ministry and His evangelism...This event, along with Jesus' later commission to the Twelve Apostles in His Great Commission, underscores the importance of actively seeking and sharing the Gospel...Again, we see His Call to Action...
The concept of "compelling" people to come to Christ is often misunderstood...It does not mean forcing or coercing people, but rather using persuasive methods to convince them of the Truth of Jesus and the Truth of the Gospel...This involves sharing the Gospel message with love, kindness, compassion, and understanding, and using logical arguments and personal testimonies to persuade others...
Jesus' followers are to share their own personal testimonies of how He has transformed their lives...This is a powerful tool for missionary work and evangelism...Training and equipping others to share the Gospel is essential for the growth of those who will follow Jesus in the future...Engaging with the community through acts of service and love can build relationships and open doors for spiritual conversations...And prayer is a vital component of evangelism, as it enables believers to seek God's guidance and power in their efforts to reach others...
By embracing this proactive approach to evangelism, Christians can fulfill the Great Commission and make a significant impact on the world...It requires courage, commitment, and a willingness to step outside of one's comfort zone of one's life...Ultimately, the goal is to bring people to Jesus and help them grow in their faith...
In Jesus we see this proactive approach in His ministry and teachings...Both the seventy-two and the Twelve were sent out with a specific mission: to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick...This proactive approach contrasts with a passive one, where individuals simply wait for people to come to them...
Jesus gave the seventy-two and disciples an empowerment and authority...Jesus empowered both groups with authority to cast out demons and heal the sick...This authority was not merely a privilege but a responsibility to use their gifts to serve others and advance the Gospel...
Jesus uses the harvest metaphor...Jesus likens the world to a vast harvest field, ripe for reaping for the saving of souls...This imagery emphasizes the urgency of the mission and the need for dedicated workers and followers...
Jesus teaches us the importance of prayer...Both groups were encouraged to pray for laborers to be sent into the harvest field...This highlights the role of prayer to God in supporting evangelistic efforts...
By sending out His apostles and disciples, Jesus demonstrated the importance of taking the Gospel to the people...This proactive approach is still relevant today, as Christians are called to share the good news of salvation with others...For salvation is found in no else but Jesus...Whether through personal evangelism, community outreach, or supporting missionary work, Christians are encouraged to be active participants in God's mission to reach the world....