--- title: "Preparing the Way of the Lord" description: "Jesus dispatches a massive wave of volunteers to prepare the way, followed by a shocking report of spiritual victory and a humble reminder of what truly matters." image: "" book: "Luke" bookId: "LUK" testament: "new" startChapter: 10 startVerse: 1 endChapter: 10 endVerse: 24 coversChapters: [10] aiTitle: "Mission Accomplished: The 72 Return from the Field" aiDescription: "Jesus dispatches a massive wave of volunteers to prepare the way, followed by a shocking report of spiritual victory and a humble reminder of what truly matters." hasAiStory: true location: "Chorazin" persons: ["Father","God","Jesus","Prophets","Satan"] hashtags: ["gospel","judgment","repentance"] genre: "gospel" readingTime: 3 type: "adaptive" slug: "LUK/preparing-the-way-of-the-lord" canonicalId: "LUK.10.1-10.24" chronologicalOrder: 1409 relatedSlugs: ["MRK/the-resurrection","PSA/psalm-91-you-are-my-refuge-and-my-fortress","ROM/pauls-salutation","ACT/ashore-on-malta","REV/the-two-witnesses","EZK/ezekiels-mission","LUK/temple-destruction-foretold","MAT/the-commissioning-of-the-twelve","ROM/walking-by-the-spirit","HEB/christs-unchanging-nature","ISA/messiahs-kingdom-through-the-root-of-jesse","REV/the-millennial-reign","ISA/judgements","MAT/jesus-heals-the-blind-and-mute-the-lord-of-the-harvest","REV/the-woman-and-the-dragon","JHN/jesus-arrives-in-jerusalem","JHN/the-disciples-return-and-marvel-many-samaritans-believe","LUK/the-ministry-of-the-twelve-herod-tries-to-see-jesus","MAT/the-lord-of-the-sabbath","MRK/the-ministry-of-the-twelve","HEB/jesus-is-above-the-angels","JHN/jesus-prayer","1CO/follow-christ-not-man","1JN/the-second-test-of-fellowship","2CO/the-light-of-the-gospel","HEB/an-unshakable-kingdom-brotherly-love","1TI/instructions-concerning-different-groups","DAN/the-end-times","ACT/pauls-farewell-to-the-ephesians","EXO/moses-intercedes-for-the-people","EZK/reproof-of-false-prophets","PHP/challenge-to-live-the-example","2KI/the-shunammite-woman","1TH/living-to-please-god","ISA/the-wicked-and-the-servants","2TH/concern-for-the-church","NUM/the-people-complain","EPH/pauls-greeting-to-the-ephesians-spiritual-blessings","ACT/pauls-first-missionary-journey-begins-on-cyprus","1SA/nabal-refuses-david"] prevSlug: "LUK/the-samaritans-reject-jesus-the-cost-of-discipleship" nextSlug: "LUK/the-parable-of-the-good-samaritan" --- In a major expansion of his movement, [Jesus](/persons/jesus) has just deployed 72 volunteers, sending them out in pairs to every corner of the region. The instruction was clear: the work ahead is massive, but the labor force is small. He warned them that they were walking into a hostile environment, like defenseless lambs in a pack of wolves, and ordered them to travel light, carry no extra baggage, and stay focused on their objective without getting distracted. The strategy for these field agents was simple yet radical. Upon entering a home, they were instructed to offer a message of peace. If the household proved receptive, they were to stay put, eat what was provided, and heal the sick while announcing that the kingdom of [God](/persons/god) had arrived. However, there was a firm ultimatum for those who rejected them: the travelers were told to wipe the very dust of those towns from their feet as a public declaration that they had missed their opportunity. The tone from headquarters regarding unrepentant towns was somber. Cities that had witnessed miracles firsthand but refused to change were warned that their future looked far bleaker than those of ancient, notorious cities destroyed long ago. 'Whoever listens to you listens to Me,' Jesus stated, framing the rejection of his messengers as a direct rejection of his own authority. The mission concluded with a triumphant return. The 72 arrived back at base, buzzing with adrenaline, reporting that even spiritual dark forces were crumbling at the sound of his name. In a rare, high-stakes admission, Jesus confirmed that he had witnessed the collapse of his enemy’s power, likening it to a lightning strike. He reassured the team that they now possessed the authority to move through danger unharmed. Despite the excitement, Jesus pulled his team back to reality with a final, grounding observation. He told them not to get distracted by the power they held over the spiritual realm. Instead, he directed them to focus on the only milestone that truly matters: the fact that their names are permanently recorded in heaven. He then transitioned into a deep prayer of thanksgiving, acknowledging that these profound truths were not reserved for the elite, but were being revealed to those with the humble, open hearts of children. ### Jesus Sends the Seventy-Two After this, the [Lord](/persons/god) appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road. Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house. If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. ### Woe to the Unrepentant Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” ### The Joyful Return The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” So He told them, “I saw [Satan](/persons/satan) fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” ### Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving At that time [Jesus](/persons/jesus) rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, [Father](/persons/father), Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many [prophets](/persons/prophets) and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

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