Sent Out with Joy: What We Learn from the 72 (Luke 10:1-24)
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be sent on a mission by Jesus Himself? In Luke 10, we get a glimpse of that moment. Jesus sends out 72 of His followers with a message to share and work to do—and what happens next is full of lessons for us today.
Jesus Sends the 72
As Jesus travels toward Jerusalem, He chooses 72 of His followers and sends them out in pairs. Their job? To visit the towns He plans to go to and prepare the way.
He tells them, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.” In other words, there are many people ready to hear God’s message, but not enough people willing to go. So Jesus tells them to pray for more helpers—and then go themselves.
He gives them some simple instructions:
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Don’t carry extra stuff—travel light.
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Focus on the mission.
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Greet people with peace.
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Stay where you’re welcomed and share this message:
“The kingdom of God has come near.”
He also prepares them for rejection. Not everyone will listen. But even when that happens, they’re told to keep moving and stay faithful.
Warning for Unrepentant Cities
Jesus doesn’t hold back. He speaks strongly about some cities that saw His miracles but still didn’t turn to God. Cities like Chorazin and Bethsaida are warned—they had a chance to respond and didn’t take it.
This part reminds us that seeing something amazing doesn’t always change a heart. Jesus is saying that when we see God at work, we should respond—not just watch.
The 72 Return with Joy
When the 72 come back, they are thrilled. They say, “Even the demons obeyed us when we used Your name!” They had seen real power—healing, freedom, and lives changed.
Jesus celebrates with them but gently redirects their focus. He says, “Don’t rejoice just because the spirits obey you. Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
In other words, what matters most isn’t the success of your mission—it’s your relationship with God. That’s where real joy comes from.
Jesus Rejoices in the Father’s Plan
Then something beautiful happens. Jesus is filled with joy and thanks God out loud. He praises His Father for revealing His truth not to the proud or powerful, but to the humble—to people with open hearts, like children.
He tells His followers how blessed they are. Many prophets and kings had longed to see and hear what they were experiencing, but didn’t get the chance. The 72 were part of something truly special.
What This Means for Us
This story isn’t just about a mission long ago—it’s a picture of what following Jesus looks like today:
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We’re sent – God wants to use us in our everyday lives to bring His love and truth to others.
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We’re equipped – We don’t need to have all the answers or carry a lot with us. Jesus gives us what we need.
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We’ll face challenges – Not everyone will listen or accept what we share, but we’re called to stay faithful.
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We’re deeply loved – Our greatest joy isn’t in what we do, but in knowing that we belong to God.
Jesus didn’t send the 72 out alone, and He doesn’t send us alone either. He walks with us, works through us, and rejoices when we return with stories of what He’s done.
So today, remember this: You are sent, you are loved, and your name is known in heaven. That’s something to celebrate.
Luke 10:1-24 (WEB)
10:1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come. 2 Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. 8 Into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ 10 But into whatever city you enter and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. 15 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”18 He said to them, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”21 In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”22 Turning to the disciples, he said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.”23 Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see, 24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.”