Devotion: Fearless Mission
Please take a moment to read Luke 10:1-9
Like public figures before and after him, Jesus sends out his advance teams in Luke 10, when he commissions and empowers 70 of his followers to go to the places he himself will visit on his way to the cross. The 70 are the second wave: a chapter earlier, Jesus sent out his 12 disciples, with similar instructions, to heal and to proclaim the nearness of God’s kingdom to the Jews.
Now the 70 will travel in pairs throughout Judea, and to Perea – the area east of the Jordan River. Some scholars believe they also may have traveled to Samaria, north of Judea. Thus their mission is primarily to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish populations. Luke doesn’t tell us how long the 70 were gone. Jesus finishes commissioning them in Luke 10:16 and in verse 17, they’re back. Based on travel distances, they were likely gone a few days to a few weeks.
Jesus gave them very specific instructions: don’t take anything with you beyond what you’re wearing – travel light. Don’t greet strangers on the road and spend time in meaningless conversation – stay focused on your mission and be urgent about it. Say “Peace to this house” when you enter a home and stay if there is a peacemaker there. Accept the hospitality you’re offered and don’t look for better – focus on your work, not your comfort. Preach the Gospel – and reinforce it by doing miracles in Jesus’ name. Expect rejection – and then warn the community of their peril: “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (v. 16) But the 70 missionaries are still to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is near as they move on to where the harvest is ready.
Traveling to unknown places with few resources and many uncertainties doubtless caused some – many? – among the 70 to be fearful. Especially when Jesus says he’s sending them out like lambs among wolves. But they have traveled with Jesus for many months and they know He will be with them. They put aside their fears to become willing workers in the harvest of those who will call Jesus, “Lord.”
The 70 return with joy and amazement: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name,” they tell Jesus. And Jesus says, I know: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Through their work, the 70 have defeated Satan! Jesus reminds them not to get a big head about their accomplishments, but rather to rejoice that their names are written in heaven.
And then Luke tells us that Jesus is full of joy through the Holy Spirit. Jesus knows all along that he is heading to his death, and his moments of rejoicing are rare. But this is one of them: those he equipped and protected conquered their fears and defeated the Evil One. Jesus praises God and blesses the returned disciples.
We, too, as disciples of Jesus, are called to paths and perils unknown and to mission fields near and distant. Because we know and trust in Jesus, we also can be fearless in saying, “Yes, Lord, I’ll help with the harvest!” And we, too, can bring joy to the Lord!
Jesus, when you call, help me to say yes. Help me remember you are always with me. Help me to trust that you will provide what is needed, so that together we will bring glory to God. Amen.
Written by Cheryl Stubbendieck
Cheryl Stubbendieck is a member of Sheridan’s Devotion Writing Team and leads the Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study as well as Sheridan’s Cardmakers. She and her husband Jim have two sons: Aaron, his wife Chaitra and their sons Theo and Nathan live in Houston; Reed lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma.