Luke 10:19 - Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
How exciting it must have been for the disciples to receive their commission
directly from the Lord! Having traveled around with Jesus for months or years and
witnessing the wonderful miracles He wrought, the thought of going out in that
type of power undoubtedly gave them great excitement and expectation. After
their great evangelistic outreach, "The seventy returned with joy, saying,
'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.'” (Luke 10:17) Shortly
following their exclamation, the Lord uttered the words of our lead verse, declaring what they had
just experienced. The gospel was real and they were an active part in bringing
heaven to earth---helping to heal, deliver, and give great hope where there was
previously hopelessness.
One
might ask why Jesus did not give them this revelation of their authority in
the Name of Jesus before they set off. He did give them some fundamental
instructions about how to conduct themselves. However, He waited to confirm what
He spoke in Luke 10:19 after they returned and in regard to what they had experienced. Possibly this was to keep
them in a place of humility with the ability to receive from the Lord on an as
needed basis. Rather than going out with a sense of dramatic intensity that
everyone they laid hands on would be healed or delivered, possibly Jesus wanted
them to go out and experience power through wisdom. Rather than having carte
blanche and a belief they were able to heal every illness and cast out every
demon, Jesus instead wanted them to rely upon God's wisdom and move according to
God's will and purpose. Remember, there were many in Jesus' time that were not
healed or delivered. Case and point, the lame beggar in the Gate Beautiful which
Jesus undoubtedly saw day after day during His ministry. (The Lord had a divine
appointment for this man with His servants Peter and John [(Acts 3:1-2].) Possibly
some days the power of God was not present for Jesus to heal, as stated in Luke
5:17. Therefore, as in the case of the seventy, He wanted them to go forth in
God's wisdom first. Then, He could demonstrate His healing through them as He
willed.
The disciples knew they were being sent out under Jesus' authority. However, by
their exclamation of joy and surprise on their return, it is clear they did not
understand the full implication. Authority is administered best when it is done
so with both wisdom and power. Just because someone has the authority and the
power to exercise it, does not mean they have wisdom to make sure it is passed
along with grace. Merely look at any number of authority figures in law
enforcement, government, or even religion to understand this dynamic. Once the
disciples understood the necessity of using God's authority first with His
wisdom, then it created great joy in them. Misused power will often create more
problems than the solutions it seeks to remedy.
Luke 10:19 is intended to show us the strength of God over this world
while giving us imagery that is powerfully descriptive. Yet, we must be careful not to allow romantic
sentimentality to rocket us away from its intent and to discourage us. As the
disciples learned wisdom from daily learning with Jesus, so we must slog through
commonplace days to get to the days where we are demonstrably treading on the
enemy. Many
days, we live out the miracle of the mundane where we allow God's character to grow
within a little at a time. We live as fathers and mothers and sons and
daughters, doing the next right thing that God desires of us. These days are
usually without spiritual drama and can look very much like what our worldly
counterparts are accomplishing.
However, the exceptional is made exceptionally grand when we have been living
right every day. Then, when we come upon someone who truly needs a touch from
God, we can be the one to offer them God's peace while we grind the enemy under
our feet. This, my friends, is the real Christian life.
Lord
God Almighty, lead us not into the temptation of possessing Your power without
Your wisdom. May we spend time in Your presence, understanding how Your
authority is perfected in humility. Grant us the joy of Your presence as we
minister to others for You and Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Your Barefoot Servant,
Rick
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