Luke 10:17–24 (ESV)
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.” 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
“Who is Jesus?”
Every so often it’s good for us to ask ourselves that question because that’s the question which is on the minds of people who don’t know Jesus but are curious about Him.
Is Jesus a good moral teacher? Is Jesus a divine superhuman which, by default, makes Him disconnected from the realities and experiences of us “normal” folk? Is Jesus a guru of a new spirituality, a new way of living life, which if followed, will open the doors of Heaven?
This passage gives us a wonderful view of Jesus that we perhaps don’t often think about. Verse 21 is the key and our translations of the Greek word agallian really don’t translate well into English. The word can best be translated as “exceedingly joyful”. In other words, Jesus is bursting with joy and delight. The picture Luke is painting for us is the most jubilant and elated description of Jesus in all of scripture; Jesus is overflowing with happiness and joy in this moment.
But why?
God is fulfilling His promises as the kingdom of God is being revealed and it’s not exclusive to the religious elite or the most learned, or to kings, or those in power. The kingdom of God and intimate knowledge of God the Father is for all who will simply come and receive it and in this knowledge, Jesus and God the Father take great pleasure and joy.
There is another Greek word in this passage that should catch our eye as well. The word is in verse 17; hypostrephein. The word is one of Luke’s favorites and it means “return”. Luke uses the word 32 times in his Gospel and in Acts and it’s only used three other times in the New Testament but not in any of the other Gospels. As Luke uses the word it means a returning to a God-intended state.
The disciples return to Jesus after obediently carrying out the commission which Jesus gave them. If you remember the mission of the seventy-two was not easy, it was dangerous and challenging. But their obedience to Jesus hasn’t left them burned out, cynical, or defeated. Instead they return with joy.
Jim Edwards said it best in his commentary on Luke’s Gospel, “The experience of discipleship is more, not less, than what Jesus promised.
So what are you waiting for? Return and follow where Jesus will lead you and in doing so share in the joy of Jesus which He shares with the Father.
Isaiah 30:15a (ESV)
15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers!
Scott