“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.” Luke 10.1-4
The Mormon Church, though very cultish and unchristian, has something right going for them—they are still sending out evangelists two by two all over the world. Every young missionary serving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is required to go on a two-year mission to proselytize and spread the faith. Now, what they are spreading is very opposed to the truth of Christ, but that’s a lesson for another study (for more, read https://www.gotquestions.org/Mormons.html).
Jesus first appointed and then sent out seventy-two additional disciples—thirty-six pairs of Christ-following missionaries—to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ as Messiah and to call people to repent of their sin and turn to God. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful,” and indeed it was! The world had been waiting for this Messiah to appear since the beginning of time. The Jews had prayed and waited for God to send the Savior. Many believed and were saved, while others—the nation as a whole—rejected God’s Messiah and put the Lord to death.
The sending forth was anything but easy, as Jesus says in this passage: “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” That can’t be safe or easy! But the gospel went forth, and it is only because of their efforts and the power of the Holy Spirit that I can rejoice today in salvation and the pursuit of holiness before God.
This week is Holy Week—a time when we proclaim the Lord’s passion upon the cross. His suffering, death, and resurrection are momentous for humanity. The difficulty of Jesus’ final week, the rejection by His closest disciples, the death at the hands of the Jews and Romans, and ultimately His resurrection would shape the world as we know it.
We too can be a part of God’s movement of love. We, who are recipients of those early missions, are not to be forsaken. We are included in God’s effort to save the world. But we must first believe, accept, and choose to follow Jesus. Then we will receive the Holy Spirit, and salvation will come to our house this day.
And then we too are sent—to proclaim the Lord’s death and resurrection until His beautiful return.
Will you join Christ in the Great Commission? Will you be His hands and feet? Will you allow the story of Christ to overflow from your lips so that the world might know His peace, His love, and His salvation? Let this week be one of commitment for all believers—that Jesus Christ is Lord.
“O Lord God, you are good and faithful. When my love fails, your love remains steadfast. When I am lost, you find me. When I have fallen, you lift me up. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with your power and love. Allow me to walk in the ways of everlasting life and to know the truth of your love. I praise you, Lord, and magnify your name. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen.