Day 48

Luke 10:17–24 (NIV)

¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” ¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, 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 your good pleasure. ²² “All things have been committed 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.”

²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

In verse 20 Jesus reminds the disciples to remember what the best thing to rejoice about is. Is there anything in your life that overtakes the priority of rejoicing about your relationship with God? Thank God you can rejoice in a relationship restored by Jesus!

In verse 21 what does “little children” mean? Who are they?

How do you see the idea of the Trinity demonstrated in verses 21-22?

Notes

We do not hear anything about the details of the 72's mission trip. We do know they come back rejoicing and with better understanding that the power Jesus has given them can defeat the work of Satan. (foreshadow of what they will see through Jesus’ death and resurrection. That sin no longer has to chain us. It to will be defeated)

vs 18-20 Jesus echoes the victory statement of the fall of Satan.

What does it mean that Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven? Some believe it goes back to the passage in Isa 14:12 that by Jesus' time referred to the fall of Satan. In context I think it is Jesus saying Satan has suffered another spiritual blow. Because the disciples (in spite of their weakness and faults) are able to over power evil. It is not just Jesus but also his followers. Satan's ability to influence is still there but Jesus' conquering power is shown to be able to break it.

Interesting that Jesus draws them away from their ability to defeat demons and says that is not what it is about. The Great news is you have a place in heaven! Why focus on what has already been defeated, focus on what you gain because of the victory. That is where your future lies.

Can I get distracted from the real victory? Things that are true or fascinating (like 2nd coming of Jesus) and forget what it all means.

vs 21-22 Luke once again mentions Jesus full of Holy Spirit. (3:22, 4:1, We see the trinity interacting together (John is full of such interactions) All about the glory of God the Father!

Jesus is the means of knowing God the Father. Jesus is the purposed bridge that gives us access. Sounds very similar to John 14:9-11

The praise of God is about how he has revealed this access to God. It isn't about who is the smartest, richest, best known. It is available to people who are willing to trust, to have faith- not in themselves but in God! That is the so-called little children.... Thank you God!

Now speaking just to the 12 Jesus tells them how fortunate they are to see and hear what they are seeing and hearing- (Reminds me of Simeon and Anna in the birth story 2:25-38) THE KINGDOM IS BEING REVEALED BEFORE THEIR EYES- Satan is being defeated, And the place of God is accessible to us all because of what is happening before them!

I too am fortunate because God's plan has also been revealed to me through the words of the Bible! 1 John 1 :1-3