Our Scripture meditation is based on Luke 10:17–20, part of next week’s Gospel Reading.
[17] The seventy-two 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 on 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.”
We can take encouragement from how Jesus anchors the faith of the seventy-two disciples.
The seventy-two were disciples of Jesus who were sent out to prepare communities to receive Jesus. In equipping the seventy-two, he told them they were being sent because, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” (Luke 10:2) Jesus also made it clear the seventy-two would face opposition in this mission work.
All of this must have contributed to the seventy-two returning with joy. As residents were being prepared to receive Jesus, the seventy-two were casting out demons in Jesus’ name. To top it off, Jesus said to them: “I saw Satan fall like lightening from the sky.”
But notice how Jesus anchors the faith of the seventy-two. In verse 20 Jesus encourages them to rejoice not in the miracles, that their names are written in heaven.
I dare say this instruction is an encouragement to us. It’s wonderful to celebrate multiple baptisms at church, to have numerous members removed from the prayer list because they were healed from their ailments and illnesses However, the foundation of our faith in not based in seeing God work in power in our midst. Instead, we are anchored in the faith that God created in us in baptism. Our names are “written in heaven” because of this God-given faith. This is why we rejoice.
Until next week, the Lord bless and guide.
Kevin Wilson 360 