Christian Art | Jesus Sends Seventy Disciples On Mission | King James Audio Bible | KJV
Luke 10: 1-12 – Week 26 Ordinary Time, Thursday; also (partial) Sunday Week 14 (C) (King James Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word)
1 AFTER these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
The seventy disciples, or as some authorities state: the seventy two, are symbolic of the sending to all nations, and supplementary to the Twelve. There is a numerical symbolism here, the meaning of which we may with confidence say concerns a sending of the Gospel to all nations.
Of these disciples, our Lord demands quite similar conditions of love and service as he demands of the Twelve. This, by extension, is what Jesus demands of all of us. These disciples must take no insurance as they go about their mission. The seventy disciples must be fully committed to proclaim themselves as Christians and so to share the good news. They must believe in themselves as Christians. There must be no back-up plan, a what-to-do set of contingencies. The seventy disciples must trust, and they must have faith.
Trust and faith are in so many ways synonymous in the Bible. Really, we think back to Abraham, and Abraham’s call by God to leave his home and to journey to a foreign land, the Promised Land. It is striking that Abraham is the towering figure for whom Christians, Muslims and Jews all have respect. Here, even where there is most terrible conflict, we can have confidence in this great man who exhibited trust and faith.
There is to be hostility all around. Jesus tells us that Christians are sent as lambs to the slaughter, even as Jesus himself was. It is through this disposition that greater love can follow. Christians are sent to bring a message of love and peace. We Christians know that this is not easy. We also know that there is a great deal of unrequited love in the world, love which is longing for God – for a full communion with God. Here is further trust. As Christians, we are to put ourselves in a community relationship with people, while we bring Jesus to those people, who may not already know Christ.
This mission involves eating what is put before us. In the Gospels, this means that the laws of purity are no longer pertinent. If pork or if shell fish, for example, were to be set before the disciples, then that would be what they should eat. This is in accordance with Peter’s later vision. Here it is Jesus instructing us. We must listen most closely to this lesson concerning ritual purity, and indeed good manners.
The primary mission is to be received and to be good guests, to bring peace and through faith to heal the sick. The blessings we bring may then spread through the whole of the communities we come to. Through our whole way of being, we are to proclaim: the Kingdom of God is come to YOU! As Christians, our call is for communities and individuals joyfully to celebrate this message proceeding from each one of us.
Carry nothing so very ostentatious as a script or a pre-determined manner of preaching. Go to people as people. Find out what it is that people are really asking God for. Then give people that. This is what God asks of us – of all disciples. God simply asks us to share His Word, which we can do through kind actions resultant upon completely loving receptivity to others’ needs. We have so many examples of the saints to help us in this regard. We can all do this.
Concluding Prayer | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
Lord God, true Light and Creator of light,
grant that faithfully pondering on all that is holy,
we may ever live in the splendour of your presence.
We make our prayer through our Lord.
King James Audio Bible | Endnotes | God’s Love In The Book Of Revelation
‘And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’ Revelation 21:3-4 (KJV)
Revelation 21:3-4 depicts a moment where God announces His presence among humanity. The passage describes the future state after the establishment of the new heaven and new earth. God declares that His dwelling place will be with people, and they will be His people. This signifies a close relationship between God and humanity, emphasizing His role in their lives. That ‘God himself shall be with them’ highlights a direct connection, suggesting that there will be no barriers between God and His people in this new reality.
These verses continues by describing the removal of pain, suffering, and death. God ‘shall wipe away all tears’, indicating that sorrow and grief will no longer exist. The text specifies that death, sorrow, crying, and pain will all cease to be part of human experience. This suggests a transformation of existence, where the negative aspects of life – things that cause suffering and separation – are eliminated.
The reason for this change is that ‘the former things are passed away’. This points to the end of the current world order, marked by mortality and imperfection. It implies that the old way of living, with its struggles and challenges, will no longer apply in this new creation.
The Bible verses center on themes of restoration and reconciliation. God’s presence with His people in a renewed state implies a resolution of the brokenness that characterized the old world. Removal of suffering and death reflects a return to a state where life is free from the pain and hardships that define human experience. This transformation is presented as an outcome of God’s direct involvement and closeness with His people in the new creation.
In order to find Jesus, the leper in these Gospel verses has had to transgress the law of the time, which was that he must live away from others, because whoever touched him would be impure. The leper has broken the religious laws so as to be with Jesus [ … ]
We might imagine our gazing upon a breath-taking sunrise or a star-filled night sky. The opening lines of this psalm capture that moment, reminding us that the heavens declare the glory of God. The celestial display becomes a testament to divine craftsmanship, whispering its wisdom to all who observe it [ … ]
Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:35-36 (KJV) ‘For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: Naked, and ye clothed me not: I was sick, and ye visited me not: I was in prison, and ye came unto me not.’ Reflection on the Gospel In these verses, Jesus speaks about compassion and how our actions towards others reflect our love for Jesus. Jesus teaches us that by caring for those in need, we are also caring for Jesus. This passage challenges us to look beyond ourselves and extend kindness and mercy to those around us. Prayer Heavenly Father, I come to you asking for a heart filled with compassion. Help me to see others through your eyes, to feel their pain, and to be moved to action. Teach me to love and care for those who are suffering, just as Jesus did. Let my actions reflect your love and bring comfort to those in need. Thank you for your endless compassion and grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Personal Reflection I think about a time when I was in need and someone showed me compassion. How did it make me feel? Now, I consider a time when I had the opportunity to help someone else. How did my actions impact them? Compassion is more than just feeling sympathy for others; it is about taking action to alleviate their suffering. By practicing compassion, I bring God’s love into the world. Meditation On The Prayer And Gospel Compassion begins with recognizing the humanity in others and responding with love and kindness. Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35-36 remind me that my treatment of others is a reflection of my relationship with Jesus. This is not only a call to action but an invitation to embody God’s love in my daily life. As I meditate on this prayer, I remember the story of the Good Samaritan. Despite being a stranger, the Samaritan showed great compassion to a wounded traveler, demonstrating the kind of love Jesus calls me to show. This story illustrates that true compassion knows no boundaries and is driven by love. I think about those in my community who are in need. I visualize their faces and hold them in my thoughts. I imagine Jesus standing with me, encouraging me to extend compassion and kindness. I feel the warmth of Jesus’ love as I commit to making a difference in their lives. Compassion is not just about grand gestures but also about small acts of kindness that can transform someone’s day. It involves listening, understanding, and being present for others. As I practice compassion, I become a vessel of God’s grace, reflecting Jesus’ love to those around me. Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you for your example of compassion. Help me to follow your footsteps and show love to those in need. Grant me the strength and courage to act with kindness and mercy. Fill my heart with empathy and understanding, and let your love be evident in all that I do. Amen. Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12 (KJV) ‘Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;’ Blessing May the compassion of God fill my heart and guide my actions. May His grace empower me to show love and kindness to those in need. Go forth in His love, extending mercy and compassion to all you meet. Amen.
