Mark 6:7

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Luke 9:1

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,

Luke 10:1

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.

The seventy-two were sent out after the twelve on separate missions. So why is that important?

Luke 10:9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

These were not apostles. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ may be told to heal the sick and told to spread the gospel when doing it. It is not limited to only apostles.

There are always hints in the bible about this relationship we have with God and what we are called to do. Many feel limited, as if they have not been given gifts. I would encourage everyone to stop thinking that God is limited in how He can enact His will.

If we are looking for differences in instructions we will see many similarities in Mark 6, Luke 9 and Luke 10. What is different is seen in Luke 10 is that Jesus was going to show up later in those places the seventy-two were sent.

What is more important, being given gifts or Jesus showing up?

We want to be seen as serving God but the purpose of our faithful service has to be that Jesus shows up and makes Himself known. It isn’t about us or even the sick, it is about Jesus.

Many get so focused on the work they lose sight of what is really important. God’s will be done, no matter how it gets done or who does it.

The first time I raised my hand was at an altar call and that was the only time it really mattered.

Jesus isn’t asking for volunteers because He is Lord of all.

Psalm 68:20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

I have been struggling with what to write about explaining how the lost might come to know the God that saves. It comes down to this, they have to hear about this God before they learn about this God. Learning is not the same as knowing. That takes revelation, God revealing Himself in a tangible way that takes the student from a learning experience to a knowing experience.

My experience is not the only way that God can reveal Himself. I can share what I know to be true in my experience but that doesn’t mean others will experience God in that specific way.

Only God knows how to reach that lost soul who will finally place their faith in Jesus Christ.

We as Christians have been instructed to spread the gospel, the “Good News”. The parable of the sower says to scatter the seeds liberally without concern as to where that seed lands. The seed only produces fruit when it falls on good soil.

Some go about sharing the gospel by looking for good soil. Nowhere in Matthew 13 does that parable or the explanation of that parable tell us to test the soil, yet that is what some do. In doing so we are not obeying the Word, to spread it liberally.

Now Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples by twos with these instructions;

Luke 10:5-7 English Standard Version

5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

What is different in this application of obedience of faith between the sower parable and these instructions is often lost on believers. In the parable everyone is capable of sharing the gospel wherever they go. In Luke 10 there are those sent with a mission, and evangelistic mission. Specific instructions are given to each in how to go about behaving on their mission. That is not the case in the parable of the sower, all are to spread the gospel, we do not have to be “sent”.

While I still struggle with the words to delineate the difference between learning and knowing, I see one more thing that God shows us in the scriptures.

How many of us think that Jesus only sent out the 12 apostles two by two? Luke says 72.

I missed that and others might also.