They Didn’t Understand

In today’s Gospel Lesson, Jesus dispatches seventy-two of the disciples to precede Him into the villages He planned to visit, and to prepare the people for His coming. Their mission is to explain to the people that Jesus is of God. “Cure the sick there” and tell the people “The Reign of God is at hand,” Jesus instructs them (Lk. 10:9). Later, the seventy-two return in jubilation. They are anxious to tell Jesus about their successes. “Master, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name,” they say triumphantly (Lk. 10:17). Jesus answers, “Do not rejoice so much in the fact that the devils are subject to you as that your names are inscribed in heaven” (Lk. 10:20).

Jesus wanted them to understand that they would miss the whole meaning of their discipleship if they saw it in terms of their own glorification. He did not send them out in pursuit of power and prestige. He was saying, in effect, “Do not rejoice…