Hey everyone, I’m back from my brief sabbatical! I had a really good time getting away and praying (the picture here is the view from the place where I was staying in Kentucky)…also went down to Merrit Island to a Calvary Chapel Pastor’s day…which was cool to meet up with other guys in the CC network. I’m rested up and refreshed, and ready to hit it! I really appreciate the guys who filled in to teach while I was gone…I got to hear them, and they all did a great job!
This Sunday we’ll be returning to our study in Luke, and we’ll be reading chapter 10:1-16.
Once again Jesus sends out an advance team to prepare the way for His coming. He did this with the 12 apostles back at the beginning of chapter 9, but here He sends 72 (or 70, depending on which translation you read…it doesn’t really matter that much which number is right…it was obviously more than 12). The other big difference between the sending of the 12 in ch 9 and this sending is the fact that He is sending the 72 to villages in Samaria, since that’s where He’s traveling in this part of the narrative. It sort of gives us a picture of the future mission of the church, when Jesus sends us into “all nations”…meaning the gospel message isn’t confined to Israel alone.
As you read through Jesus’ instructions, what message do you get concerning our mission as the church. What is our purpose as a community? What do you suppose Jesus is meaning by asking us to “pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest”?
When Jesus starts in on the “woe” section, He starts naming names when it comes to the places who are going to be judged more severely for rejecting Jesus. What villages does He name…and do you find anything interesting about the places He mentions considering where He is when He says this? As you read what Hes says, do you think there’s a difference between “never hearing” Jesus and “rejecting” Jesus?
WONDERWHAT 
This sounds really stupid, but when Jesus sent out his disciples, what did they preach? Did they preach John’s message, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” or “the Messiah is here” (Jesus didn’t usually say this.) I think maybe he preached, “Repent and turn to Jehovah with your whole heart.”
Not stupid at all…I think it’s a reasonable question. Here’s what I find really interesting: Jesus actually sent the 12/72 out with something to DO, and then something to say ABOUT what they did.
There’s a quote attributed to Francis of Assisi that says something like, “Go and preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.”
The message they were given was a demonstration and and explanation. Quite a different approach from handing out a tract with the 4 spiritual laws printed on it, huh?
What really caught my attention in this was the “heal the sick” directive He gave. I have always been kind of perplexed with this one. I know God still heals today although it seemed so much more prevalent when he was starting the church. Maybe that’s why a stronger judgement on those who saw such an outpouring of His power and yet rejected Him still. Sometimes with non-believers I have been reluctant to offer to ask them if I could pray for them because I didn’t want them to reject God if it “didn’t work”. Today I got out the concordance and looked up the word heal. It was awesome because the definition included much more than my limited interpretation of actual physical healing, it said, heal : to wait upon menially, to adore, to relieve: a menial attendant as if cherishing- servant. This I can do, we all can!! We can serve others with Christ’s love. Absolutely we can pray and ask God for His healing too but along with it we can reach out with an act of service, mow a lawn, provide a meal, give a phone call or an encouraging word. With any effort of love we put forth we can be laborers with Him in His harvest. These efforts could be the very catalyst God uses to heal their hearts and draw them to Him, thus the ultimate healing of the sick !
Excellent insight there Julie! The Kingdom of God draws near when we do good in His name!