I have re-read the passage and further thoughts on it, musings if you will, are below... I broke the passage down to highlight how specific the tasks and requests given by Jesus to the 70. We should note that they are sent to places that Jesus intends to go. He goes still... so must we...~~~
1. After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.
He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore
2. ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.
Go on your way.
3. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.
4. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.
5. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.
6. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid.
7. Do not move about from house to house.
8. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.”
‘Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.’
The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'
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Final thoughts...
The ministry of the sent disciples is an extension of Jesus’.
Sense of urgency to the story
No dawdling says Jesus
Eat what is put before you - don’t do the usual rounds of hospitality. Eat the food even if it is unclean
Take no bag, no money - also alludes to a reliance on God. No (money) belt.
Go like lambs - be vulnerable like the Lamb of God.
It is assumed that houses and towns will be receptive to the Gospel. There is a sense of expectancy. They can expect rejection too.
Peace in Luke/Acts is another word for salvation. Peace can be given, received, accepted or rejected. It is a gift of God freely offered to all...
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