Title: We will rejoice (Luke 10:17-20)
Content We will rejoice (Luke 10:17-20)
Today's text tells us a part of Jesus' saving work, proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God and confirming the realization of that kingdom. When Jesus overcame the temptation of the devil in the wilderness, it was an event that confirmed the end of the era when the power of the devil was already exerting its power. After that, Jesus' work of casting out demons was to push out the power of the devil and clearly reveal that the kingdom of God had come. And as we can see in today's text, the event of demons surrendering in front of the ministry of Jesus' disciples was a confirmation of Satan's decisive defeat and the realization of the kingdom of God.
Seventy of the disciples whom Jesus had sent returned with joy from their missionary journey and reported to Jesus: “Lord, in your name, even the demons yield to us.” Obviously, while they were preaching in various places, whenever they encountered people suffering from demon possession, they commanded them to come out of them in the name of the Lord, and they must have witnessed the demons yielding each time they did. They were surprised to see what they had said come true, but the joy must have been indescribable.
To the disciples who reported the results of their missionary journey with excitement and joy, Jesus summarized the meaning of the phenomena they had witnessed in one word. Verse 18: “Jesus said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” As the disciples were going and subjugating demons in the name of the Lord, Jesus saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven. Satan's fall from heaven means Satan's ultimate destruction. The fact that Satan fell “like lightning” from heaven indicates that the power of Satan will fall powerlessly in the face of God’s saving work through Jesus Christ, and that Satan’s ultimate destruction will happen in an instant, one day no one can know.
In this way, Jesus revealed the power he received from his disciples and assured them of their ultimate victory over all evil and the powers of the devil against them, but he did not forget to remind them of one important fact. Verse 20: “But do not rejoice that the demons submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Through these words, Jesus said that the ultimate purpose of His ministry is to have the names of His chosen ones written in heaven, that is, to ensure that their positions in the kingdom of God are guaranteed, in other words, to restore them as God's people, and to restore the chosen ones. He made it clear that this is their salvation and eternal life.
Today's story tells us some facts. The first is that the kingdom of God has already come when Jesus Christ came to this earth. The kingdom of God does not begin on the day when the Lord will come again, but has already come and we live from the moment we receive Jesus Christ by faith.
The second is that the power of the devil who ruled the world has already begun to be defeated, and its ultimate defeat has been decided. It is said that the seventy disciples sent by Jesus returned from their missionary journey with joy, but this joy of the disciples foreshadows the eschatological victory of God's people over the devil and all evil in the world and the ultimate happiness in God's kingdom. You will be able to.
Third, we are called to drive out the powers of the devil and build the kingdom of God. If it is a task that God has called and entrusted to you, it is by no means small. This work is to participate in God's work, and to continue what the Lord has done.
The fourth is that the Lord has given us power over evil and overcoming it so that we can bear it. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are safe in the hands of God. Nothing can ultimately harm us. Anything that opposes us can be overcome as long as we do the work of Christ in the name of Christ.
Fifth, we must do what the Lord has commanded in order for the power that the Lord has given us to be exercised. We know the story of the nine disciples who failed to cast a demon out of a little girl on their own without praying and relying entirely on the power of God.
The story of today's text is not only about the ministry of Jesus Christ, but also about the mission of his disciples or the church. We are called to participate and expand in this work of Christ. Now, what we have to do is to go out into the world and boldly preach the gospel in the name of Jesus Christ, proclaiming the kingdom of God. Victory is already given. The Lord has given us authority and power over all forces that are trying to face the victory of this gospel, the victory of the Lord, and the victory of the kingdom of God. All you have to do is exercise that authority faithfully and proudly. The one who gave us that authority will Himself protect us from any danger. If you act without a firm trust in Jesus Christ, you are committing the folly of staying powerless in the fight against evil, even with all the authority the Lord has given you.
We should not be anxious or discouraged because of temporary trials and sufferings in our personal religious life or in our church ministry. There are times when we are persecuted at home because we believe in Jesus, and there are times when we are alienated from work and society. But please do not be discouraged and saddened by it. Because the things we should really be happy about are never taken away from us. We should not be proud of the successes and victories we experience in our personal religious life and in our church ministry. Because everything comes from the grace of God.