Day 287: What's really exciting! – Luke 12 vs 17 – 23
17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” 18-19 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”
21 At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way. 22-23 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then, when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. Luke 12:17-23 New Living Translation paraphrase (English Standard Version link)
Having been sent ahead of Jesus to many villages, the disciples returned full of excitement at the authority His name had shown even over demons. What process did Jesus say those things indicated was now taking place? (vs 18-19)
The downfall of Satan's kingdom! It seems that, up till then, Satan had reigned over the nations. When he tempted Jesus we read: “The devil took Jesus up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 'I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,' the devil said, 'because they are mine to give to anyone I please.'” (Luke 4:5-6) But Luke tells us that as Jesus sent out His messengers with the gospel of the Kingdom of God, Satan began to take a tumble. Jesus gave them the authority to crush the powers of darkness. (vs 18-19)
Even though there's a delightful example of the apostle Paul actually surviving the bite of a poisonous snake in Acts 28:2-6, verses 18-19 don't mean we should run about stamping on snakes and scorpions. It's a picture of conquering the sting of sin and death which Satan and his demonic forces spread in the world. And, in case the disciples got too taken up with the authority Jesus had entrusted to them, He reminds them of something that was a greater privilege and far more exciting. What would that be? (vs 20)
If God were to use you or me in some spectacular way I'm sure we would be 'over the moon' with joy. But Jesus says that we should already be filled with joy to know that God has written our names in, what Revelation calls, the Lamb's book of life. Oh let us never lose sight of that as we wage war “against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) And this glorious truth is not only a joy for us – look what vs 21 said of Jesus!
Jesus rejoiced that the time of God's Kingdom had dawned and the destruction of Satan's reign had arrived. He also rejoiced in how God was bringing about His Kingdom and who He had chosen to use. That's why those disciples were so very privileged. (vs 22-23) They were the 'pioneers' of taking the gospel to the world. God had opened their eyes to know the Father and the Son. And the day would soon come when they too would be filled with God's Spirit
Are you a follower of Jesus today? Has God opened your eyes to see that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Then you have good reason to rejoice greatly - and to be excited at the prospect of seeing your King one day. Yes, the war against Satan as we seek to spread the gospel can be very hard at times. But, even if you are not wise and clever (as the world sees those things), you are greatly privileged. Your childlike trust has taken hold of the hand of One who is MIGHTY TO SAVE.