The commissioning of the seventy disciples is a significant event in the ministry of Jesus Christ, illustrating His mission to spread the message of the Kingdom of God beyond the immediate circle of the Twelve Apostles. This event is recorded in the Gospel of Luke, specifically in Luke 10:1-24. It highlights Jesus' strategic approach to evangelism and His inclusive vision for the proclamation of the Gospel.

Context and Setting

The commissioning occurs during Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem, a period marked by increasing opposition and the looming reality of His crucifixion. Despite these challenges, Jesus remains focused on His mission to prepare His followers for the work of the Kingdom. The event takes place in the region of Samaria, a significant location given the historical animosity between Jews and Samaritans. By choosing Samaria as the setting, Jesus underscores the universal scope of His message and the breaking down of ethnic and cultural barriers.

The Commissioning

In Luke 10:1, it is written: "After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit." The number seventy (or seventy-two, as some manuscripts suggest) is symbolic, often associated with the nations of the world as listed in Genesis 10. This symbolism reinforces the idea that the Gospel is intended for all peoples.

Jesus sends the disciples in pairs, emphasizing the importance of companionship and mutual support in ministry. He instructs them to go ahead of Him, preparing the way for His arrival, much like John the Baptist's role in preparing the way for Jesus' public ministry.

Instructions and Mission

The instructions given to the seventy are detailed in Luke 10:2-12. Jesus begins by highlighting the urgency of the mission: "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest" (Luke 10:2). This metaphor of the harvest underscores the readiness of people to receive the Gospel and the need for laborers to gather them into the Kingdom.

Jesus provides specific guidelines for their journey: they are to travel light, relying on God's provision and the hospitality of those they encounter. They are to proclaim peace to each house they enter and heal the sick, demonstrating the tangible presence of the Kingdom of God. Importantly, they are to declare, "The kingdom of God has come near to you" (Luke 10:9), a central theme of Jesus' teaching.

Reception and Rejection

Jesus prepares the seventy for both acceptance and rejection. He instructs them to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against towns that do not welcome them, a symbolic act indicating the seriousness of rejecting the Gospel (Luke 10:10-11). This dual expectation of reception and rejection mirrors Jesus' own experiences and foreshadows the varied responses the early Church would encounter.

Return and Rejoicing

Upon their return, the seventy disciples report their experiences with joy, particularly noting their authority over demons in Jesus' name (Luke 10:17). Jesus responds with a profound statement about the defeat of Satan: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18). This declaration signifies the spiritual victory achieved through their mission and the advancing power of the Kingdom.

Jesus further emphasizes the true source of their joy: "Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). This statement redirects their focus from the miraculous signs to the eternal assurance of their salvation.

Theological Significance

The commissioning of the seventy disciples is a pivotal moment that encapsulates key themes of Jesus' ministry: the urgency of the Gospel message, the breaking down of cultural barriers, and the empowerment of believers to participate in God's redemptive work. It serves as a model for Christian mission, highlighting the importance of reliance on God's provision, the proclamation of peace, and the demonstration of the Kingdom through acts of compassion and healing.

In commissioning the seventy, Jesus not only prepares His followers for the immediate task at hand but also lays the groundwork for the global mission of the Church. This event foreshadows the Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19), affirming the universal call to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.Luke 10:1-16
After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, where he himself would come.
Nave's Topical Index

The New Testament view of the Old Testament
... to hear his voice; these he commissions as ambassadors to ... which destroyed, not David,
but seventy thousand innocent ... by WN Clarke: "He [Jesus Christ] has shown ...
/.../eiselen/the christian view of the old testament/chapter i the new testament.htm

Beginning at Jerusalem. --Luke xxiv. 47.
... scribes and pharisees said to his disciples, "How is it ... to my text, and their
commissions; "Beginning at ... Fifthly, Jesus Christ would have mercy offered, in the ...
/.../bunyan/jerusalem sinner saved/beginning at jerusalem luke xxiv 47.htm

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