In Luke chapter 9 we see Jesus sending out His 12 Apostles. First Jesus called them together and then He sent them out. Jesus sent them out two by two. They went out visiting from village to village sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ. They went out healing the broken people, offering grace, show love and mercy. They went out to save the world.
Just as Noah saved the world by bringing then into ark two by two, Jesus was saving the world by sending His Apostles out into the world two by two. Two by two, the Apostles went out. They went to the villages of Israel.
In chapter 10:1-17 of Luke, we see Jesus now sending out 70. Jesus sent out 70 disciples. They went, not to the local communities but to the global community. They went out, after being appointed by Jesus, teaching, healing and offering grace.
Luke uses the Greek word 'apostello' 45 times in this book. The word is the root for the word apostle, which means, to be sent out. Luke uses the Greek word 'poreumai' 37 times in this book. This word means, 'go, travel, traverse'. Truly the idea of going is a constant theme in the gospel of Luke. And we see the idea of going, or rather being sent no more clearly than in chapters 9-10. When Jesus sent the Apostles in chapter 9 the event is known as the first mission and the one involving the 70 disciples (some ancient manuscripts state 72) is referred to as the second mission. One trip went local. Went went global.
Jesus sent out 70. 70 is a powerful number. Moses appointed 70 Elders to assist him (Num. 11:16) There were 70 members on the Sanhedrin. When Jesus sent out the 70 disciples, the Jewish world knew of 70 countries besides their own.
To the rest of the world, Jesus was sending those 70 disciples. They went as groups of two. And I pictures each group of two disciples, going out and reaching new people in new lands for the Lord. 70 disciples were sent. And there were 70 countries. Coincident? I don't think so. I believe Luke is telling us to go, not just to our local neighborhoods, but into the global community.
Jesus first sent out the 12 Apostles. Then He sent out the 70 disciples. And now Jesus is sending us out into the world. Today, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has 452 missionaries serving in 64 countries. While the number of mission workers may look significant, the number of countries in which there is a mission presence is dismal. It's embarrassing. Only 64 countries out of the 194 today are currently being reached for the Lord. Perhaps we are not taking Jesus' command to 'go' very seriously. Perhaps now is the time to go.
Just as Noah saved the world by bringing then into ark two by two, Jesus was saving the world by sending His Apostles out into the world two by two. Two by two, the Apostles went out. They went to the villages of Israel.
In chapter 10:1-17 of Luke, we see Jesus now sending out 70. Jesus sent out 70 disciples. They went, not to the local communities but to the global community. They went out, after being appointed by Jesus, teaching, healing and offering grace.
Luke uses the Greek word 'apostello' 45 times in this book. The word is the root for the word apostle, which means, to be sent out. Luke uses the Greek word 'poreumai' 37 times in this book. This word means, 'go, travel, traverse'. Truly the idea of going is a constant theme in the gospel of Luke. And we see the idea of going, or rather being sent no more clearly than in chapters 9-10. When Jesus sent the Apostles in chapter 9 the event is known as the first mission and the one involving the 70 disciples (some ancient manuscripts state 72) is referred to as the second mission. One trip went local. Went went global.
Jesus sent out 70. 70 is a powerful number. Moses appointed 70 Elders to assist him (Num. 11:16) There were 70 members on the Sanhedrin. When Jesus sent out the 70 disciples, the Jewish world knew of 70 countries besides their own.
To the rest of the world, Jesus was sending those 70 disciples. They went as groups of two. And I pictures each group of two disciples, going out and reaching new people in new lands for the Lord. 70 disciples were sent. And there were 70 countries. Coincident? I don't think so. I believe Luke is telling us to go, not just to our local neighborhoods, but into the global community.
Jesus first sent out the 12 Apostles. Then He sent out the 70 disciples. And now Jesus is sending us out into the world. Today, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has 452 missionaries serving in 64 countries. While the number of mission workers may look significant, the number of countries in which there is a mission presence is dismal. It's embarrassing. Only 64 countries out of the 194 today are currently being reached for the Lord. Perhaps we are not taking Jesus' command to 'go' very seriously. Perhaps now is the time to go.
