STUDY
NOTES on previous study
Satan
Falls! (Luke 10:1-24)
Seventy or seventy
two? Does it really matter? The differences in versions (some say 70,
others 72) depend on which manuscripts are deemed more trustworthy. Nothing really changes with the number. The point is that Jesus is expanding His
ministry. Just because He is heading to
Even with seventy,
more workers are needed! Surely this is
intended to stir our hearts about the urgency and need of spreading the kingdom
message. So many need to hear the good
news, so many have had their hearts prepared by the God who seeks them and thus
makes the harvest ready, but so few are willing to work in the fields and reap! The harvest is God’s work, we are merely laborers
– and there is so much to be done.
Again, as Jesus instructed the twelve in their taking the message to the
villages, the seventy are not to take anything with them. While this list of prohibitions is different
from that given in 9:3, the idea is the same.
They are to be at the mercy of God’s provisions through hospitality
offered by others. They are embodying
the ministry of Jesus, as lambs sent out among wolves. They are surely under God’s protection.
The urgency of the
message is clear by the strong condemnation of those who would not accept
it. So significant is the message of the
kingdom that those who refuse to accept it are worse than the notoriously
sinful
Verses 13-15
continue Jesus’ pronouncement of “woes” to those who will not accept the
message. In a passage which reminds us
of the prophets’ laments for unrepentant cities, Jesus demonstrates the amazing
nature of the kingdom message. It is a
message with such power, that had the cities of old seen such things, they
would have repented. But Chorazin,
Verse 16 also
reminds us of God’s plan for redeeming the world. When Jesus walked in this earth, He was
limited to one place at a time. Now, His
message is heard wherever an authentic disciple lives. We are to be the embodiment of Christ,
workers in a field ripe for harvest because of the hand of God Himself.
Well, the
triumphant return of the seventy is the next thing we experience in this
text. Kingdom work in the lost world had
indeed begun, with demons falling before the powerful name of Jesus, now
multiplied by seventy. Jesus exclaims He
sees the very fall of Satan himself. Was
this simply a metaphorical statement – or a true vision? It doesn’t really matter. Jesus’ statement is one of kingdom
purpose. When the armies of God march in
the name of Jesus, Satan is powerless to stop the victorious march. God’s will is indeed being accomplished. The enemy is on the run and can do nothing to
stop God’s purposes. But it is not the
power being manifested over evil that is the real blessing. What is truly wonderful is that these
individuals had their names written in God’s book. Jesus’ work was to return God’s erring people
to Him, and while power over evil was exciting, the true test of the success of
Jesus’ coming was that these were submitting themselves to God’s will and were
now living the kingdom life! Their names
were written in heaven – the only thing that really counts.
Jesus now
celebrates. This is one of the few
passages in Scripture where Jesus truly celebrates His life and His work. The time has come, and Jesus is seeing clear
evidence of the establishment of God’s kingdom through Jesus’ work. He is revealing the true nature of God in
ever increasing ways. Jesus is committed
to making God known in His true essence.
He understands His unique relationship with God as His Son and the
nature of His unique calling – to fully reveal God to all.
With this in mind,
Jesus turns to His disciples (and to us, as we participate in the story) and
says, “You are truly blessed.” The
prophets of old and the great kings have all wanted to know this revelation of
ultimate importance. Do we realize the
incredible blessing we have of knowing the eternal will of God? In this dramatic moment, as Jesus anticipates
His death, but celebrates His victory over Satan, we stand next to God’s
faithful Son! What a position of
privilege! The One who knows that very
mind of God calls us to learn about life from Him. May we have ears to hear!
After having read the study notes, answer the
following questions:
Satan Falls! (Luke 10:1-24)
After having read the study notes, answer the
following questions:
1. Do we have any
responsibilities similar to those of the 70 (72)? If so, what are they?
2. How is it that Jesus saw Satan
fall? Has he been defeated? If so, why is sin still such a problem in our
lives?
3. Why do you think Jesus
rejoiced that His message was heard by the simple and rejected by the
intelligent?
4. Do we adequately recognize the
great blessing of “seeing what we see” (
Kingdom Neighbors (Luke
Read Luke 10:25-28
1. What was the expert in the
law’s motivation for asking about “eternal life”?
2. Why do you think Jesus
answered his question with a question?
3. What do you think Jesus meant
by “do this and you will live?”
Read
1. Why did the expert of the law
feel he had to justify himself?
2. Do you think the expert of the
law had found the life he sought? Why or
why not?
3. Can you think of a time when
you were more interested in justifying yourself than discovering truth?
Read
1. Why do you think Jesus
answered the lawyer’s question with a story?
2. Why didn’t Jesus begin his
story by saying, “Let me tell you the story of the Good Samaritan”?
3. What question did Jesus really
answer?
4. What is the connection between
“eternal life” and “go and do likewise”?
Read
1. Why is it surprising that Mary
sat at Jesus’ feet to learn from Him?