Going on a Mission Trip
(The Sending of the Seventy)
#93 in Series: “The Life of Christ – in a H armony of The Gospels”
Have you ever been on a mission trip?... Some in this room have been to the
other side of the world – more than once...
Mission trips are life changing. They are designed to purposefully get the
gospel to a people who may otherwise not have the opportunity to hear.
Mission trips are not only designed to affect the people who receive those
coming – they also change the lives of those who are going!...
My worldview was greatly affected as a result of my first mission trip. It was
my first experience in worshipping the Lord with brothers and sisters who
have a totally different language, music, and culture – but know and love the
One True Lord, because they too have the one true gospel!... Though I knew
it in theory, the experience made me realize that God’s Kingdom was much
bigger than I had really envisioned...
In our study of the life and ministry of Jesus, we come today to yet another
“mission trip”, where the Lord sends disciples out to take the gospel to
peoples who would otherwise never hear... The last time, He sent “the
twelve”. This time, He sends seventy!
Luke is the only gospel writer that tells us of the event we study today...
In our ongoing study of the life of Christ we are trying to harmonize the four
gospels of the NT and follow the chronological unfolding of Jesus’ life and
ministry. We just spent the last several weeks John 7 and 8, and considered
details that only John wrote about, which occurred in and around the Feast of
Tabernacles...
You recall that before Jesus left for Jerusalem, that He sent disciples ahead...
Luke 9:51-55
51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to
go to Jerusalem; 52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went
and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.
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What we read today, is that Jesus will follow this pattern again in sending
“messengers” to go ahead of Him as He plans to spend the next few months
going to the Gentiles with the message of the Kingdom!
Luke wrote his gospel for Theophilus, a Greek believer, so the Jewish
symbolism in the Feast of Tabernacles would not have been as important for
him to have written about... Luke skips Jesus’ ministry during the Feast and
connects a dialogue that occurred before the Feast to Jesus’ instructions to His
disciples about ministry which happened after the Feast...
That dialogue with what we called “would-be-disciples” is found in Luke
9:57-62 which we considered several weeks ago...
Now before we get into our text today, we need to address a textual issue in
verse :1, and :17. Several translations, including the KJV, NKJV, NASB-95,
Darby and Young’s – all translate the number 70... Several other translations,
including the ESV, and NIV state it was 72 disciples... So, which is it – 70,
or 72?... While the answer does not have an effect on the meaning of this
passage, it is a good opportunity to discuss briefly how textual variances /
problems are resolved.
Manuscripts were all copied by hand in ancient times. There were times when
minor difference developed when a scribe made an error, and it got passes
along in following copies... . Based on these differences, scholars can
separate manuscripts into “families” which mark their descent from an earlier
copy. The variation that occurs in the most families of manuscripts is more
likely to be true. In this case, both variations occur in multiple manuscript
families...
Variations that occur in the earliest manuscripts are more likely to be true,
while those occurring in only later ones are more likely to be in error. In this
case, both occur in early manuscripts...
We do not need to be afraid of things in the Bible that are difficult to explain
or understand. Most are completely insignificant and none affect the meaning
of any important doctrine. Most are easily explained, and those that are more
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difficult are not impossible to resolve, though it may take someone wiser
scholars than you or me to do so...
The things in the Bible I do not understand do not shake my confidence in
God’s Word at all... When you come to know and understand clarity about
truths revealed by God in His Word, it enables you to trust Him completely
for those things you do not yet understand...
Ask the Lord to help you clearly grasp and apply what He has given us in His
Word.
Let’s begin our study with –
1. The Commission and Instructions to the Disciples
This is found in the first 12 verses, and as we read the passage, let’s makes
some observations and glean timeless principles that apply to us today.
We begin with the principle of –
➢ Teamwork
Luke 10:1
Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs
ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come.
Whether there is any particular meaning to the number of disciples than just
the count of how many is left up to speculation, I’m not sure... However, it
should be noted that Jesus has many more disciples that do want to serve Him
than just the twelve whom Jesus had instructed and sent out earlier – as
recorded in Luke 9:1-6... Jesus assigns these disciples the particular task of
going ahead of Him to prepare the way in the cities and villages Jesus was still
going to visit... Even though Jesus would go to Jerusalem in less than six
months to be crucified, buried and rise again, that was plenty of time to visit a
multitude of places as He traveled. By sending out these disciples in groups
of two, there would be at least 35 advance teams to enable His time in each
place to be spent more efficiently...
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Why send them out in pairs? There are many practical reasons such as safety
(Ecclesiastes 4:12) – but a more practical purpose is certainly for effectiveness
and companionship...
Solomon said –
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their
labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But
woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
There are many multi-talented people, but no one has all gifts or abilities...
By having at least two on a team, each member can contribute their particular
strengths to compensate for the other person’s weakness. The companionship
they share is also important because it is easy to become overwhelmed and
discouraged when you are trying to do things alone...
A partner can help keep you encouraged and help you maintain the focus...
Throughout the Scriptures this principle of going out as a team of two or more
is constantly seen. Even the prophets usually had a servant with them. This is
a timeless principle we would do well to remember ourselves going out to
minister in our own day.
The next principle of instruction is –
➢ Prayer
Luke 10:2
And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are
few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest.
This second principle is vital! Jesus instructs disciples about the importance
of prayer in preparing for ministry... He makes this point before telling them
what He wanted them to do!
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The task before them would be much greater than the ability of the few of
them to accomplish, so they would need to bring that need before the Lord...
It certainly is not any different today... Do you pray for “laborers”?...
The gifts and abilities of each person within the church vary greatly, but every
gift is needed. We pray for the Lord to raise up and send people to join us in
ministry both here and around the world...
None of us can do it all, but all of us can pray for the Lord to send the workers
needed to carry out the ministry He wants done.
Next, we see the principle of –
➢ Awareness
There may be a better word to describe this, but Jesus is certainly alerting
these disciples to the potential dangers that may await them.
Luke 10:3
Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Despite potential danger, disciples know that the Lord enables them to go
where He sends, and He is responsible for what happens when they are in His
will!
Persecution is a reality for Christians. Much more so in other parts of the
world, but we are not immune from its potential here...
Regardless of what Christians may face, keep in mind what Jesus says –
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the
world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
I believe verse :4 will illustrate the principle of –
➢ Focus
Luke 10:4
Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way.
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Their focus was to be fixed on the ministry to which God called them!... They
would have to rely on Jesus’ promise to provide them the necessities of life as
they sought first His kingdom and righteousness for they were not to bring a
money belt, a traveler’s bag or even an extra pair of sandals... They were also
to be so focused on ministry that they were “to greet no one on the way.” That
sounds rude to us, but there was a reason for it.
This may sound a bit rude to us, but the term translated “greet” was a specific
term that has the idea of spending a lot of time, and could include “gestures
such as embracing, kissing, offering the hand or even bowing down” (TDNT).
The principle here for us is to be careful to keep a proper focus on what God
wants us to do, and don’t get bogged down – spending a lot of time
“establishing relationship”... (It’s one thing to build report for sharing the
gospel. It’s another to become ... distracted and end up talking about
everything but the gospel. Jesus’ instructions will help them with this.)
Notice what Jesus says about –
➢ Lodging
Luke 10:5-6
5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6
If a man of
peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
Motels, as we know them, were not in existence in that culture... The practice
was more like a BNB. People would host travelers in their homes...
Jesus’ instructions to these disciples is for them to offer a greeting of peace to
those who offer lodging... The common Jewish greeting of shalom means
peace. If the potential host was receptive to them and their message of peace,
then they were to stay with them. But, if the peace they offer was not received
– take it somewhere else...
Next, Jesus gives a word about –
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➢ Contentment
This is an important word whether or not you go on a mission trip!
Luke 10:7-8
7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is
worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. 8 Whatever
city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you;
They were not to go from house to house trying to find better food and
lodging. They were to stay where they were first welcomed, and eat what was
given to them. They were to also recognize that this was not charity for which
they would be indebted to their host, but part of the wages of their labor in
ministry... God is the one that provides for all.
That is a principle that still applies today... Too often people move from
place to place because they are not content with what they have. I am not
saying it is wrong to better yourself or your circumstances, but I am saying
that the motive for such moves should not merely be because of
discontentment!
Seek the Lord for “going to something” – not merely “going away from
something”!...
It is better to make changes in your life because you have a godly vision for
the future and not because you cannot tolerate the present... A good example
of this is in –
1 Corinthians 7:21-24
21 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able
also to become free, rather do that. 22 For he who was called in the Lord
while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free,
is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves
of men. 24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in
which he was called.
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Contentment is more important in having a successful life than a promonent
position!...
Paul states in Phil. 4:11 that he learned to be content in whatever
circumstances he was in. That kind of contentment does not come
automatically – it comes from ... surrender to the Lord Jesus...
Verse :9, Jesus gives us a word about –
➢ Ministry
Luke 10:9
and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has
come near to you.’
Whatever ministry the Lord calls His disciples to, He enables them with the
giftedness needed to perform that ministry... This is ministry was a
supernatural medical clinic! And the purpose was not only to provided
physical healing – but it was to preparation for Jesus to come to that place
Himself (:1).
There are a couple of principles to think about... The first is the simplicity of
their message. They did not do surveys and develop a marketing plan. They
did not carefully nuance their message to maximize its effectiveness for a
targeted audience. They only had to proclaim what Jesus had said. Jesus
would take care of the rest when He arrived... We would do well to
remember that when we share the gospel.
We tell people the good news of salvation from sin through faith in the person
and work of the Lord Jesus Christ and leave the results up to the Holy Spirit.
Conversion is a work of God in the soul of an individual. You will never
argue someone into the kingdom, and if you try to tweak the gospel to
increase the response of people you will end up of changing the gospel and
gain false converts who remain under God’s just condemnation but who think
they are going to heaven... That is one of the great tragedies of modern
“evangelism.”
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Another principle is recognizing that the ministry God gives you will be
different from what Jesus gave these disciples... According to 1 Corinthians
12, God gives every Christian a particular gift or gifts in order to function
within the particular ministry He gives them according to His empowerment
of them. Your gift, ministry and ability will be different from other believers,
but all those things are to work together to the building up of the body of
believers and carrying out ministry to the world.
Next comes a words about –
➢ Rejection
Luke 10:10-12
10But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its
streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we
wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God
has come near.’ 12 I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day
for Sodom than for that city.
We don’t presume that people will always respond positively to our
ministry... Jesus prepared these disciples for rejection...
Jesus gave them specific actions to take if the city would not receive them.
They were to make a public protest against them and warn them of the
judgment they had brought upon themselves. This was not done if they would
listen to their message, for God is patient even with those that are slow to
understand and believe. This was done against those who heard a clear
presentation of the gospel and rejected it or those who refused to listen to
them at all. Their condemnation would be greater than that of Sodom because
they refused the message of salvation.
What follows is a word of –
➢ Warning
This should sound familiar... This is a word of warning to those who ...
reject!
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Luke 10:13-15
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had
been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have
repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But it will be more
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15 And
you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be
brought down to Hades!
This is almost the same as Jesus’ earlier pronouncement of woe on these cities
in Matt. 11:21-24...
Capernaum was located on the North-West shore of the Sea of Galilee and is
where Jesus had settled during the period of His Galilean ministry.
Capernaum was also the home of Simon Peter and Andrew (Mark 1:21, 29),
and James and John may have also lived there or close by (Matt. 4:18, 21) as
did Matthew for that was the area in which he was a tax-collector (Matt.
9:9)...
Chorazin was a small town in the hills about 2 1/2 miles north of Capernaum.
Bethsaida was located farther north and to the east in the plains of Gennesaret
and was the original home town of Philip, Andrew, and Peter (John 1:44).
These cities would have seen as many or more miracles by Jesus than any
other... They would have heard as much or more of Jesus’ teaching than any
other. Yet they were fickle... They rejoiced in Jesus’ miracles, but they
quickly returned to their normal way of life. They were hard-hearted to the
gospel.
Tyre, and Sidon on the other hand were pagan Gentile cities that Jesus said
would have repented if they had received similar ministry.
Now, beginning with verse :16, we see another major point, so let’s make it
one... Jesus reveals –
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2. The Core of the Message and Ministry
We learn what true ministry is all about!
Luke 10:16
“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects
Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
What Jesus says in verse :16 applies to all who proclaim the gospel and teach
His word. You must be faithful to what He has said without altering it... If
you are, then those who hear you are hearing Him to accept or reject Him and
God the Father who sent Jesus.
That is a privilege and an awesome responsibility. It also means that you are
to remain humble if people accept you because the focus is actually Christ. It
also means that you do not have to take it personally if people reject you, for it
is actually Jesus they are rejecting – which is actually worse than rejecting
you...
➢ The Reason for Disciples to Rejoice
Luke 10:17-20
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 was watching Satan fall
from heaven like lightning. 19Behold, I have given you authority to tread
on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing
will injure you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are
subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
We do not know how long these disciples were out traveling in ministry, but
Luke records their response when they came back and Jesus’ cautions to them.
Jesus begins by cautioning them on the danger of becoming proud... Notice
that their stated cause of rejoicing was that the demons were in subjection to
them. From what we have seen in Jesus’ healing people, casting out demons
would have been a necessary part of healing some people. That resulted in
their state of gladness and great happiness (carav / chara).
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What Jesus says about Satan here, should serve as a warning... Satan’s fall
was due to his pride, and the disciples need to be careful in not becoming
proudful... Always beware of pride...
Jesus then points out that their ability to do the miraculous things they did
while performing their ministry came directly from the authority they received
from Jesus. In other words, the power they had came from, and was
dependent upon Christ... Jesus then makes sure they understand that as
marvelous as it was that the spirits were subject to them, the real cause of
rejoicing was being saved and knowing their destination was heaven...
➢ The Demonstration of the Lord’s Joy
Luke 10:21-22
21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said,
“I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden
these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to
infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 22 All
things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who
the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and
anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
Luke records Jesus’ own response. He rejoiced greatly about God’s working
in and through these disciples!
Notice as well the interaction of the Trinity in verse 21. God the Son, Jesus,
rejoices greatly through God the Holy Spirit over what God the Father was
doing. Verse 22 is very strong on the deity of Jesus... The Father has handed
all authority to Jesus including knowledge of Himself. If you want to know
God the Father, then God the Son will have to reveal Him to you. This is
another Scripture passage that those who deny the Trinity or the deity of Jesus
must either ignore or pervert.
➢ The Blessing of the Revelation of the Gospel
Jesus points out a great blessing these disciples had received, and one we have
received as well.
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Luke 10:23-24
23 Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see
the things you see, 24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings
wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the
things which you hear, and did not hear them.”
Peter later elaborated on this blessing –
1 Peter 1:10-12
10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would
come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what
person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as
He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was
revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these
things which now have been announced to you through those
who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things
into which angels long to look.
What had been promised from of old was transpiring before their very eyes.
We who live now can look back on the multiple prophesies concerning Jesus,
His ministry, and the salvation He brings through His atonement and
resurrection...
...
Every true Christian is equipped and called by God to serve Him. This
passage reviews some important principles of ministry:
• Successful ministry takes team-work.
• Successful ministry begins with prayer.
• The work God calls us to can be dangerous, but our safety is in His hands.
• Successful ministry keeps its focus.
• Contentment is crucial to Successful ministry.
• Successful ministry is faithful to the gospel and the doctrines Jesus teaches.
• Ministry can be successful in God’s eyes even when it is rejected.
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• Be humble even when ministry is successful.
• Be happy about successful ministry, but rejoice even more over your
salvation.
• Rejoice over being able to see God’s hand at work and His grace granted to
you.
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Questions to Consider in Community Group:
➢ Why do you suppose the Lord had John to include Jesus’ ministry during the
Feast of Tabernacles and not Luke?
➢ What are some of the basic rules for determining which textual variant is more
likely to be true?
➢ Why is teamwork important to successful ministry?
➢ What is the importance of prayer to successful ministry?
➢ Should Christians be afraid of the dangerous situations they will face in
ministry? Please Explain.
➢ How were these disciples able to keep a proper focus on ministry? What are
some things that would help you keep a proper focus on life and ministry?
➢ What is the importance of contentment to life and ministry? How can you learn
to be content?
➢ Why is it important to keep ministry simple? What happens when you tweak the
gospel to make it more acceptable to people?
➢ What should you do if you are faithful to proclaim the gospel / teach God’s
word and the message is rejected? Who is being rejected?
➢ Why does Jesus pronounce woe’s upon Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum?
➢ What is the source of authority for any ministry that you do?
➢ Why did Jesus have to caution the disciples about the dangers of pride?
➢ What should be the greatest reason for a Christian to rejoice? What caused the
Lord to rejoice? How is the Trinity and the deity of Jesus expressed in Luke
10:22? What blessing did these disciples (and us) receive?
