70 For 70

Introduction

The Amazing Relationship that we have

We don't know some of you yet, but we will

Read it, slowly

This is a very important missions text because

it functions as a very specific prophecy about the future

it goes beyond the 12, in fact, that's the main "prophetic” part, and the main message

In the history of the church, the gospel would not primarily be spread through apostles.

That is not Jesus' vision. Examples

Yes, there is the original 12 ( of course minus Judas, add Matthias). They are significant. But Jesus doesn't appoint a new group of 12. His vision is far bigger than that.

Let's leave that idea hanging for a moment.

A Two Level Narrative

Noticing some things about this chapter

“others" … references back

Symbolic numbers… 12 and 72

12 is symbolic … the 12 tribes … in the NT, the apostles had more or less the same relationship to the church that the 12 sons of Jacob had to Israel, but spiritually, not genealogically. They are our spiritual fathers.

so the number Jesus chose to use (12) is a symbol that makes that clear

so if 12 is symbolic what about these “others”? Bc they have a number too!

Symbolism of 70: The data

Genesis 10, 70 nations ( so they say ). The number 70 was well known to Israel to represent the fullness of nations that God put in the world. In Genesis 11, these are the nations that are scattered. Let’s call this the “nations interpretation”.

70 Israelites go down Egypt. This number is repeated in both Genesis and Exodus. It seems that this is a fundamental reference that future references to 70 will refer to. Let’s call this the “people interpretation”.

Exodus 1:5 ESV

All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

The 70 elders who go up Mount Sinai and eat and drink with God. Why 70? Because the 70 elders represent the full people of God. This is a prophetic sign that, one day, all of God’s people will eat and drink with God.

Exodus 24:9–11 ESV

Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

The 70 Spirit-Filled Elders. Again, why 70? Because the 70 elders represent the full people of God. This is a prophetic sign that, one day, all of God’s people will eat and drink with God.

Numbers 11:16–17 ESV

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.

What does the number mean in Luke 10? Both meanings are there

As many of you know, Luke-Acts is one continuous narrative in 2 large sections.

Acts 2 (Pentecost) is the reversal of the Tower of Babel (Gen 11), the scattered nations are now gathered, by the Spirit, into Christ. This shows that what we have called the “nations interpretation”, from the Genesis 10-11, is there.

But, these are 70 individuals in Luke 10, so the “people interpretation” is present as well.

Summary. The message today is entitled "70 for 70". I am referring to how the story refers to “70 (people) who are sent the reclaim the 70 lost nations of Genesis 11”

This numbering is not accidental. Look at Deut. 32:8-9

Deuteronomy 32:8–9 ESV

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.

Thought experiment

Thinking Through the Narrative on Both Levels

Basic division

The Commission is 1-12

The Time Frame is 13-16

The Report is 17-20

Family Dynamics is 21-24

The Commission (1-12). Let’s try to think of this on 2 levels (this

Appointed. This has a bit of an official / organizational nuance. Some scholars don't want to see Jesus as intentionally founding an organized church with leadership and a purpose to spread outwardly and visibly.

Sent. "Apostle" word, again, has an official ring to it! This does not mean they were the same as the 12. But, they were SENT just like them, and the 70 shared in their mission.

“Ahead of him” … this is not a metaphor. They were sent into every town and place he was going to go, 2 levels

Literally true

They were precursors of presence

two by two ( some, this means married couples, Priscilla and Aquila, others, like Barnabas and Paul, are a team)

Pray

One of the ways that most clearly show the prophetic nature of the symbolism

This was definitely for a long time

Participation in divine mission

Divine provision

Prophetic hurry

Strategy

Participation

Healing

Knowledge

Judicial decision rendering

Time frame - judgment day (vs 12-16)

The report (17-20)

They are surprised that they too have such authority

Vs 20 transition statement to the next section

Family Dynamics - the Roots of Power (21-24). The Main Point

Vs 21-24 What is going on?

The things the Father and the Son know

“all things” means all created things

The Father gives to the Son all things

This is incarnational logic

The point is to explain the things we have (revelation, knowledge, authority over demons, power to heal), not what they have (of course, God has these things). How is it that humans have the knowledge / authority / power that belong to God alone? This is what the text is speaking to and where its deepest treasures lie.

First, The Father knows the Son and the Son knows the Father, and this knowledge is exclusively theirs - noone else has it or can share it. But, this creates a quandary - how then do you explain these people doing godlike things?

But, then he says “all things have been handed over to me by my Father”. This should strike you as really weird.

First, what does he mean? He means that the godlike things that the 72 have been doing are the same thing he has been doing in his ministry. They’ve been casting out demons (that’s a godlike activity), they’ve been performing healings (that’s a godlike activitity), they’ve been declaring knowledge (that’s a godlike activity).

But, these “things” are part of the “all things” that the Father gave to the Son. When? In his earthly ministry. So, when Jesus, the Son, casts out demons, heals, and declared knowledge during his earthly ministry, these things are the demonstration of the “all things” the Father has given him.

This is where it gets weird. How can the Son receive anything? A basic tenant of theology is that you cannot give God anything. The Son is as God as God Himself. Therefore, he cannot receive anything. Whatever knowledge of the Father that exists, he already has and whatever exists is already his. It’s a closed system: Father-Son-Spirit. All knowledge and ownership is already there in fullness, and has been so from beyond time. So, how is he said here to have received “all things” from the Father?

Again, he isn’t saying these things to tickle our minds. He is explaining how these 72 are walking around doing things only God can do. But, if they are doing things that only God can do, then God must have come down.

The Son is receiving as man that which he always had as God (“all things”). But, when the Son receives something as man, it is still the Son Himself who receives it, because he is one person, not 2. Why does this matter?

Because the incarnation is being linked to mission. When Jesus came down, he brought his knowledge of his father down to us. And, in union with Him, we share in his divine attributes: Knowledge, power, authority.

Conclusion: The Son came down. Now Jesus receives as man that which he always had as God (“all things”, which in this passage is knowledge, authority, power). In spiritual union with him, these things (which are still God’s) we come to share in. The essence of this sharing is familial. This is the explanation for the power of mission. Knowing God is the mission and its power.

This is what is being spread abroad as we go on mission

This is also why only little children (not sophisticates) know these things and go on mission