Rejoice in This (Lk. 10:17-24)
You know those moments when you can’t hold in good news and you rush to tell someone, expecting them to be just as excited as you are? And then their reaction lands with a thud instead of the excitement you imagined. Maybe, like me, you had a below-average GPA and you finally buckled down and picked it up to a 3.0 and it didn’t even move the needle on the excitement gauge for those you shared the news with. Or, after a long time of struggling to find work, you finally land a job, and the congratulations you received was a little underwhelming to say the least.
Alicia and I had only been married for around three years at the time. Her birthday was coming up and I wanted to let her know that I had really been paying attention to her wishes. At the time she was changing her diet and making a lot of healthy choices about her life and that’s when I began to notice her saying, on a few occasions, that she wanted a new floor scale to replace our old one. I know! Well, when she opened her gift and saw the new scale, top of the line, new scale, I expected a better response than I received.
I’m sure that the Seventy disciples who returned from their mission probably felt the same way when they told Jesus what had happened on the road. They didn’t get the response they were hoping for either.
Grab your Bibles and turn to Luke 10:17.
17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;
24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.” (Lk. 10:17–24 NKJV)
Don’t Rejoice (Lk. 10:17-20)
This passage mirrors what we read about in Luke 9. After Jesus sent the Twelve out with power and authority over sickness, disease, and death to preach the coming kingdom of God, they returned to Jesus and reported all that they had done and all that they taught (Mark 6:30). Well, a similar thing happens here in chapter 10 after the Seventy disciples returned from ministering wherever they were sent.
Just like when the Twelve came back, the Seventy came back pumped! They are so excited!
As we learned from chapter nine, the disciples of Jesus had been traveling in the nearby region ministering to the sick and preparing the way for Jesus. Now, with those assignments completed, they returned to share all that they had experienced. They told Jesus about the cleansing of lepers. They told Him about the blind who could see God’s glory and the deaf who could hear the message of the Lord’s salvation. They told Him of mute raising their voices in praise to God. They spoke of the dead who got to “lick the spoon” of resurrection life.
And that’s exactly what the Seventy disciples reported once they returned. Again, I can only imagine how electric that reunion must have been as they shared stories of heaven touching earth. However, unlike when the Twelve returned, the Seventy gave the most attention to the fact that,
17 “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Lk. 10:17 NKJV)
This is interesting because just a chapter earlier some of Jesus’ disciples were unable to cast out a demon. If you remember, during Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain with Peter, James, and John, there where disciples at the base of the mountain who couldn’t cast out a spirit that had seized a man’s son.
40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”(Lk. 9:40 NKJV)
Sometime after this, John, who was on the mountain with Jesus during His transfiguration, reported that he and other disciples of Jesus refused to let a group minister in Jesus’ Name even though they were successfully casting out demons.
49 Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.” (Lk. 9:49 NKJV)
The event at the base of the mountain and John’s concern gives us an important reminder. Casting out demons, or performing any miracle, doesn’t indicate where you stand with the Lord. I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating. Judas carried the same power and authority as every other disciple. He, too, could drive out demons in Jesus’ Name, yet he couldn’t overcome the demons within his own heart and mind.
Again, I’m a firm believer in the supernatural power of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I’ve personally witnessed the miraculous power of God to heal people. But I understand that the gift is nothing without the Giver. Some people can become so enamored with the power and authority to do supernatural things in Jesus’ Name that they forget why the power is there to begin with. The power is not for our glory, but His! It’s to exalt His Name, not ours!
If you aren’t careful, you can turn God’s power into an idol. This happens regularly in the charismatic movement. They crave the power of God more than they desire Christ. It becomes about greed instead of grace. They chase the thrill of supernatural feats above the joy of dwelling in the presence of the Sovereign Lord.
Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel help us better understand why He cautioned the Seventy disciples to temper their joy.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’(Matt. 7:22–23 NKJV )
So Jesus says,
20 ...do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you...(Lk. 10:20 NKJV)
Fall (Lk. 10:18)
Now, let’s talk about why that is the case.
At first, Jesus’ response to the excitement of the Seventy is a tad confusing. Recently, when my son, Silas, came home from school and he told us that he had laid hands on a friend and prayed for their leg to heal, and it happened, I responded by saying “Seriously!? That’s so cool. Praise God.” Instead of responding the way I did, Jesus doesn’t pat these guys on the back for what happened, He says,
18 “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (Lk. 10:18 NKJV)
What in the world does that mean?
There has not been a clear understanding on this verse for a really long time. For hundreds of years this verse has left scholars scratching their heads. I’m not going to settle the debate today, but I do want to give us something to think about whenever we come to verses like this.
You see, when Jesus said that He “saw” Satan fall, He’s speaking in past tense, and to a God who is not bound by the limits of time, He could be talking about any moment along the infinite timeline.
So here's what we don't know about what Jesus says in reference to Satan. We don't know if He is referring back to his fall before Genesis 1:1 as Isaiah points out.
12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! (Isa. 14:12 NKJV)
We don’t know if He’s talking about this moment in Luke 10 and we don’t know if He is referring to Satan’s fall at the end of the age as is revealed to John.
10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev. 20:10 NKJV)
We can debate the timing of Satan’s fall all day, or we can lift our hands in praise of the God who caused it. We can argue about when Jesus saw Satan’s fall, splitting theological hairs over chronology or we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus accomplished what He came to do.
John tells us plainly:
8 ...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 Jn. 3:8 NKJV)
That was Jesus’ purpose.
He came to destroy the work of the devil that causes division and hostility in families, churches, and communities; which causes despair and convinces people their lives have no meaning; which causes addiction and chains people to destructive habits; deception that blinds people to the truth and leads them astray; injustice that crushes the vulnerable and elevates the corrupt.
Jesus didn’t come to speculate about Satan’s fall, He came to cause it, declare it, and finish it. So instead of arguing about the timestamp, let’s rejoice in the triumph, celebrate the victory and walk in the authority of the One who made it happen and who’s return guarantees it.
Rejoice in This (Lk. 10:20b)
With that, Jesus says to these Seventy men, “Don’t get excited about demons bowing down when you speak My Name. If you want something to rave about, let it be this,”
20...but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Lk. 10:20 NKJV)
Rejoice, because before the foundation of the world, Yahweh set a redemption plan in motion with your name written on it.
Rejoice, because at the perfect moment in history, Yahweh sent His Son, born of a virgin and born under the law, to become sin for you so that you might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Rejoice, because your hope will not disappoint. Your faith is not hanging by a thread; it is held tightly and kept securely in Christ Himself.
Rejoice, because death will never have the final word over you. Whoever believes in Jesus, though he dies in this world, will live forever in the unshakeable kingdom of God, a kingdom not built by human hands.
Rejoice, because when you were dead in your trespasses and sins, God made you alive in Christ Jesus.
Rejoice, because you have an inheritance that is incorruptible and which will not rust, fade, or perish.
Rejoice, because the Triumphant Lamb of God has engraved His Name on your forehead.
Rejoice, because there is a ledger in the New Jerusalem that bears your name.
Stop giving your attention to a devil who has already been crushed under the feet of Jesus. Lift your eyes and fix your gaze upon Christ, your victory, strength and salvation.
Rejoice in this!
The Savior’s Joy (Lk. 10:21-24)
At the same time that Jesus tells His disciples what they should rejoice over, He expresses His own joy for what has been made known to them.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;
24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.” (Lk. 10:21–24 NKJV)
These final few verses focus on what God has made known to those who believe. Revelation is a recurring emphasis in this section. Jesus rejoices because the seventy disciples are privy to the most life-altering information imaginable—the Gospel.
16 ...the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes....(Rom. 1:16 NKJV)
And folks, this mysterious Word is hidden in plain sight. Have you ever seen those folks who do full-body painting? They are so good at what they do that they are able to camouflage people in plain sight and make them completely unrecognizable. Jesus has hidden the Gospel from the wise and the prudent, but He has hidden it under their very noses.
To the scribes and Pharisees He said,
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. (Jn. 5:39–40 NKJV )
The message of the Gospel is not hidden beyond your reach. The word of God says that it is,
14 ...very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. (Deut 30:14 NKJV; see also Rom. 10:8)
Some of the most intelligent people in the world have the hardest time with the simplicity of the Gospel.
What the Apostle Paul refers to as “the foolishness of the cross,” has confounded the most well-educated throughout human history. One of the many ways that the mystery of God’s redeeming love has been revealed is through the weak, unexpected, and despised things of this world.
Speaking to the Believers in Corinth, Paul says,
26 Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families.
27 Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses,
28 chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”?
29 That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. (1 Cor. 1:26–29 MSG )
What Paul doesn’t say is that all who are wise or strong are incapable of grasping the significance of God’s saving grace. However, many who have no trouble at all working out extremely complicated equations that can put a rocket to the moon or master molecular science to cure deadly diseases still find themselves stumped by the Gospel. Many who hold Master’s degrees and PhDs are unable to understand the redeeming work of God in and through the visible image of the invisible God. They just can’t make heads or tails of it. And Jesus says, the reason for that is because God has hidden it from them.
And listen to this, I’m convinced that one of the most obvious places God hides these things is in you. The grace of God is hidden in you as you love your enemies instead of calling down fire on them. It’s hidden in you as you pray for those who misuse you instead of mistreating them in return. It’s hidden in you as you bless those who curse you instead of cursing them back.
God hides His power in your weakest moments in life revealing through your constant trust in Him that grace is sufficient.
Those of you who continue to walk in faith toward Christ as you mourn the passing of a loved one are revealing the Lord’s faithfulness to be present and comforting, sustaining you even when your heart is breaking.
Those of you who cling to Christ in the most difficult of situations instead of turning to your own way, you are revealing the very power of Christ alive in you, shining brightest when life is darkest.
Those of you who trust in the Lord in seasons of poverty are displaying the great power of God to supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
But let’s answer this question for a moment. Why would God hide something that He wants us to have and experience? Again, I’m convinced that the Gospel of God’s grace is hidden in plain sight!I don’t think that God is hiding it from us, but rather He is hiding it for us. Perhaps what He is doing is awakening a desire within us to search for Him. This is why we constantly come across the language of seeking and pursuing God in the Scriptures.
Through the mouth of the prophet Azariah, Yahweh spoke these words to Asa, king of Judah.
2...If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. (2 Chron. 15:2 NKJV)
King David confessed,
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” (Ps. 27:8 NKJV)
Yahweh said,
17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. (Prov. 8:17 NKJV)
The prophet Isaiah strongly encourages the people of God to,
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. (Isa. 55:6 NKJV)
Through the prophet Jeremiah Yahweh said,
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jer. 29:13 NKJV)
Jesus told us in Matthew’s Gospel
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,...(Matt. 6:33 NKJV)
The Apostle Paul reminded us,
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; (Acts 17:26–27 NKJV)
The Author of Hebrews also reminds us,
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6 NKJV)
The reason why some folks cannot understand how a completely Sovereign and Omnibenevolent God could take on human form, die in the place of those He created in order to give them new life, rise from the grave, and triumph over death is because they are just too smart to get it. You most likely will not discover God in your lofty view of yourself. You will not come to a place where you understand and appreciate the grace of God until you humble yourself under His Sovereign hand. The message of the Gospel is reserved for the child-like. God must be your singular overwhelming pursuit in this life.
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matt. 7:7–8 NKJV)
Folks, you’ll never discover God if you aren’t willing to search for Him.
Respond
Let me say a couple things before we close.
We’ve covered a lot this morning.
We’ve talked about joy and how our joy can be in the wrong things sometimes. Even if those things are good they can still be out of alignment. What we need to rejoice over, more than anything else in this life, is that our names are recorded forever in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
We’ve talked about Satan’s fall and the faithfulness of Jesus to come and accomplish this very thing for us.
We’ve talked about God’s revelation of grace. Again, you’ll never discover God if you aren’t willing to search for.
If you do not know God as He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, you may have thought:
“If God would just show Himself… if He would make Himself known… then I would believe.”
But Scripture says something very different.
Paul writes:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (Titus 2:11 NKJV)
God has shown Himself.
He has revealed His grace.
You have seen it, but until you humble yourself in faith, you’ll never recognize what God has already placed before you.
The question is no longer, “Will God reveal Himself?” He already has.
The question now is, “Will you humble yourself and believe?”
