Written in Heaven
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Luke 10:1, 17-20
After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. 17. The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" 18. And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon 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."
After Jesus had chosen the apostles, he traveled with them, performing miracles, and “establishing himself” in the geographic regions around Capernaum, which served as his “home base.” His ministry grew, though, and so he selected others (70, here, some translations indicate 72) to go on ahead of him to prepare the way. They were apparently given the power to heal and to perform some miracles, which would have gotten the attention of the town’s people witnessing them! Jesus instructs them to find a home in which to stay and establish it as their home base – so they’ll be easy to find when the people come looking for them.
He sent them out two by two into the countryside. I imagine some of the reasoning was practical – a lone person on the road was vulnerable to robbery, etc. Also traveling together and working together made a lighter load. They had companionship and support and encouragement in their work by working together. Also, in this time, the testimony of one man may not be believed, but that of two was generally required for the statements to be considered valid. So two men, testifying to the same thing provided more validity to what they were saying and doing.
By the time Jesus entered a town, some of these 70/72 had already performed miracles, and preached about Jesus, and let folks know he was on the way. No wonder as soon as word got out that he had arrived in town, throngs of people ran to him, and ran after him. And once they saw him, touched him, listened to his words, they must have been forever changed. Their whole lives must have started swirling around them as they cast off their old life and opened themselves to the healing love of this savior/man. He must have emanated electricity just standing still! Imagine how it must have felt to have him touch you!
Naturally, this original “army of God” was ecstatic when they returned to give Jesus a status report. Probably as they traveled back from various towns and villages, they passed through others that had been visited by their fellow disciples. They must have heard the “buzz” about healings and driving out of demons, and the excited anticipation of the one who had even more powers than these odd men from far away. And the disciples felt elated to have generated such excitement! And to have been given such power—to drive out demons!
And Jesus tells them they did a great job! They were obedient and their mission had been successfully completed. He told them not to be excited about the power to drive out demons, though. Be excited that your name is written in heaven. Jesus declares that He was their as/with God when Satan fell from grace. And to have power over him is certainly an honor. A greater honor, though, is to be recognized as a child of God. To know that your place in heaven is guaranteed. Wow! That is reason to rejoice!
We are not saved because of our good deeds. We do good deeds because we are saved. And we rejoice in our labor, because of our certain reward.
My prayer today is that you declare the good news to everyone you meet. And that you rejoice in that commission because you are certain of the future in heaven.
Mary
