God's revelation

Good morning friends,
After some time immersed in Amos over the last several days today's passage from Luke is a bit of a surprise. We pick up with the second half of our passage from last Sunday's worship when Jesus sent out seventy of his disciples as an advance team. Today those seventy returned to Jesus rejoicing at the power of his name. They were able to heal and cast out devils. Jesus confirms their joy, saying in their victory over demons Jesus saw Satan's defeat. At the same time he reminds them not to be so excited about these wonders, but instead to rejoice in their salvation.

Jesus gives thanks to God for the way God reveals himself to the simple (like the disciples) instead of to the wise scholars (like the Pharisees). He doesn't get into why this is, but only that that is God's "gracious will." We can rejoice and be glad because we've been chosen to get to know and share God's mission today. It really doesn't matter if we feel up to the task, if we think we're qualified to be God's ambassadors or not. God has called us and in Jesus name God gives us all the power we need for our ministry.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 10:17-24
17The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” 18He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24For I tell you that many 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.”