Questions about the 72 Jesus sent out

Jesus Sends the 72 Disciples, James Tissot

 To cover more ground, Jesus again sent out 72 disciples (the first time in Galilee with 70, this time probably in Judea) commanded to perform miracles as a testament to the fact that “The Kingdom of God is near you.” (Luke 10:10).

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• How do the disciples react to their success? Is there a danger here of misplaced priorities? “The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!'” (Luke 10:17).  When the disciples returned their first words to Jesus were those of amazement at their “new-found powers,” that is healing the sick and casting out demons, the latter of which they did not anticipate (Elwell, 820). While it is possible that the disciples were marveling at Christ's authority, for they do recognize that they were only able to do these things “in your name,” it seems likely that the human tendency to associate with and accumulate power tempted even Jesus' own disciples. This fact was probably not lost on Jesus, who likely “detected here the danger of misplaced priorities, success-driven arrogance, a propensity for power encounter over truth encounter” since none proclaimed amazement over the advancement of the Kingdom of God (Howell, 218).
• How does Jesus view these exorcisms in terms of the dawning of his kingdom and its effect on Satan’s countermission?  “And [Jesus] said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 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.'” (Luke 10:18-19 ) Speaking metaphorically of evil, both human and spiritual (as opposed to actual serpents and scorpions), Jesus encouraged His disciples by revealing that God's Kingdom will triumph over Satan's dominion on the earth. When Jesus sees Satan falling from heaven like lightning “he is not speaking of Satan's prehistorical fall, nor is he referring to a vision he had during the disciple's ministry” (Elwell, 820), but to the “sacking of Satan's Kingdom” as Jesus and the disciples inaugurate God's Kingdom on earth. This is not so much a prophetic prediction of Satan's fall as much as it is “a prelude to the defeat of Satan at the cross and his final vanquishing at the second coming of Christ” (Howell 218), which has begun with the disciples' ministry. In the same way, believers advancing God's Kingdom can have assurance that they operate under Christ's authority (Matthew 28:19), thus able to be free and to free others from the bonds of sin and the devil without fearing harm from the spiritual powers of darkness in the heavenly realms who stand in opposition to the advancement of the Gospel (Ephesians 6:10).
• What should be the object of the apostles’ rejoicing? How is Jesus trying to redirect the focus of his representatives in ministry? “'Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'” (Luke 10:20)  Despite Jesus' encouragement over the forces of spiritual darkness, Jesus focuses the disciples on the potential of darkness within themselves, namely their fallen sinful nature. For power and earthly authority should not be grounds for celebration, especially in light of eternal salvation brought about by Christ's sacrifice, the good news of the Kingdom. Christ redirect and purifies “their deepest level of satisfaction [which] should spring not from their ability to command the submission of evil spirits, but from the security they possess as God's beloved ones whose names are listed in the heavenly recording of the redeemed” (Howell, 218). Jesus words speak broadly against the attraction to all forms of sensationalism created by the power or Spirit of God, since these things, while good in themselves, can become distractions to not only the purpose of these gifts, but also our purpose as part of God's mission to redeem all nations.

• Elwell, Walter. A.. Evangelical Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. 1989.  
  
• Howell Jr., Don N.. The Passion of the Servant. Eugene: Wipf & Stock - Resource Publications. 2009.