Luke 10:1-20 | Genesis 12:1-3
Luke 10 isn’t exactly the best known chapter of the gospels. And when you read it, you might see why.
It’s well known that Jesus sent his disciples in pairs to different cities. In doing so, he gave them many pretty specific instructions. What this means for today isn’t immediately clear. Do these instructions hold for today’s disciples? Pastors? Church leaders? Missionaries?
Some of these instructions seem reasonable for today: Bring peace into the homes you visit. Heal the sick. But others maybe not so much: Carry no wallet. Shake the dust off of your feet.
But even if the specifics are not tangible, the general notion is clear:
Jesus’ disciples are a sent people.
Luke 10:1-20
After these things, the Lord commissioned seventy-two others and sent them on ahead in pairs to every city and place he was about to go. He said to them, “The harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest. Go! Be warned, though, that I’m sending you out as lambs among wolves. Carry no wallet, no bag, and no sandals. Don’t even greet anyone along the way. Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘May peace be on this house.’ If anyone there shares God’s peace, then your peace will rest on that person. If not, your blessing will return to you. Remain in this house, eating and drinking whatever they set before you, for workers deserve their pay. Don’t move from house to house. Whenever you enter a city and its people welcome you, eat what they set before you. Heal the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘God’s kingdom has come upon you.’ Whenever you enter a city and the people don’t welcome you, go out into the streets and say, ‘As a complaint against you, we brush off the dust of your city that has collected on our feet. But know this: God’s kingdom has come to you.’ I assure you that Sodom will be better off on Judgment Day than that city.
“How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin. How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida. If the miracles done among you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have changed their hearts and lives long ago. They would have sat around in funeral clothes and ashes. But Tyre and Sidon will be better off at the judgment than you. And you, Capernaum, will you be honored by being raised up to heaven? No, you will be cast down to the place of the dead. Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
The seventy-two returned joyously, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit themselves to us in your name.”
Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Look, I have given you authority to crush snakes and scorpions underfoot. I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the spirits submit to you. Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven.”
Genesis 12:1-3
The Lord said to Abram, “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
those who curse you I will curse;
all the families of the earth
will be blessed because of you.”
Prayer
God,
Help me know your direction. It’s clear to me that you have sent me. But I’m not always clear on where to go. So help me to move with wisdom and compassion. May the people I greet see and know your love in me even if they don’t know who you are or who I am. May all I do be constructive toward your creation and within your Kingdom.
And when I do find myself lost, remind me of those bearings that are always true.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.