Saturday

The Seventy Return and Jesus Rejoices

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" ¹⁸ He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. ¹⁹ See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." ²¹ At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²² All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." ²³ Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."
            –Luke 10:17-24 (NRSV)

The seventy disciples that Jesus sent out to do “Jesusworks” return with the rewards of taking the risk of trusting him.  They seem a bit surprised that when they trust Jesus and follow his word...it works!

Jesus joins them in a moment of rejoicing, noting that the adversary of God’s love and grace fell from power.  In graphic images Jesus assures all his laborers that they need not fear harm.  God will take care of them.

But Jesus warns them not to get cocky or proud or misplace their focus.  The point is not to get caught up with power...but to rejoice in the fact that they belong to God’s family.

All of Jesus’ followers (then and now) get to see and experience things that others long for, but have missed.

It begs the question:  Am I taking for granted what Jesus has given me?  Am I fully appreciating the message, the power, and the presence that are God’s gifts of grace to me? --P/T

Lord Jesus, open my eyes...my mind...and my heart to the fullness of what you have given me.  Help me to fully appreciate your grace...and your calling for me to join you in your continuing mission.  Help me to keep a humble perspective, knowing that what I do in your name is not with my power...but yours.