Read Luke 10:1-2
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
The disciples were Jesus’ inner circle. They went everywhere with him – eating, sleeping, learning, teaching. So maybe it wasn’t a complete surprise that when the time came, Jesus asked them to go out in his name, tell others what they had learned, and offer healing through his power. We spent the first few days this week exploring just that. But just one chapter later in Luke, we see Jesus at it again. But this time it isn’t his 12 closest friends. He sends out 72 others – two by two – to the places he plans to visit.
I love these verses for two reasons.
- Jesus sends the 72 to the places he intends to visit. They are sent in preparation. Their goal is to introduce Jesus and to proclaim in power who he is wherever they go. They are essentially preparing the way – getting people ready – to have their own life-changing encounter with Jesus. I love this because it takes a big weight off my shoulders. I only need to be obedient and bold enough to go and show people Jesus. …to talk about how he has changed my life by the power of his love. …to prepare the way and introduce Jesus, so that my friends, my family, and my neighbors can experience him for themselves. It is not my job to change their hearts. Only Jesus can do that.
- 72 is not a small number! It isn’t just the inner circle that Jesus calls off the bench and into the action! I think this is exciting because it means that sharing about Jesus isn’t just left to the professionals – the pastors and leaders in our churches. It is a call to all of Jesus’ followers! He says that “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,” and that they should pray for even more to be willing to go out and share the love of God. I think he’s talking about us. Across generations of followers – Jesus is calling you and me to step out and into his power, proclaiming who Jesus is everywhere we go, with our words and with our actions.
Where do you feel God has sent you to prepare the way for his love to abound? Are you willing to be sent? Who can you pray for that God would call to join you in sharing about his love?
