Knowing The Word in Luke 10:17-20

The Return of the Seventy-Two

10:17 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.”

Comments

How long were the seventy-two away? We do not know, but we do know the success of their mission brought them deep joy. That Satan fell from heaven has two possible meanings. First, Satan received a notable defeat in the work of these men as they took more ground for the kingdom of God in occupied territory. Second, the pre-incarnate Jesus saw Satan, a prideful angel, fall. He warned his disciples not to be too proud of their success. The former interpretation is the most likely, but all followers of Jesus need to monitor our pride. After all, it was Jesus who gave them the right to exercise power. The treading on serpents and scorpions should be taken figuratively rather than literally. The term likely refers to demons, the underlings of Satan. They were to remember that when engaged in the mission of Jesus, they would be safe.

In closing, Jesus turned their attention to lasting realities. They are individually known by God and have already been saved for eternal life.

Application

How does knowing your name is written in heaven influence your life? Where are you on the scale from “I’m in and can relax in this life” to “I’d better get busy inviting more people to live eternally with Jesus”?

Prayer

Father, you know me by name, and I praise you. You created me in your image, and I praise you. You bought my life upon the cross through the sacrificial death of your Son, and I praise you. You adopted me as your child to live with you for ever and ever, and I adore you.