In this passage, Jesus commissions seventy-two followers to go ahead of him into Samaria, preaching and healing, in anticipation of his going there, and they are successful in their work. The sending of the seventy is only found in Luke. It is similar to when Jesus sends out the twelve disciples, which is found in multiple gospels, but this story shows us how extensive Jesus’ network of followers was. It was assumed that followers we hear about that were not a part of the twelve disciples were part of this group like Cleopas who meets Jesus with another disciple on the road to Emmaus. 

Jesus sends these followers out to prepare the way for him, and probably also to get some practice for future ministry. Some interpreters would say that a third mission for the seventy is to heal, but I would say that that is part of preparing a place for Jesus. Healing and preaching helps people to know what Jesus is going to be about before he even gets there. Much Christian mission work today starts with health work. Helping people be healthy is good in and of itself, but it also helps them to know that healing is a core part of Chrisitan mission. 

The verses we skip in the lectionary are “woes” that Jesus proclaims against stubborn and close-minded cities. This is on the mind of seventy who are headed into territory that has so far shown to be hostile to Jesus. Samaritans would have been skeptical that a Jewish prophet like Jesus would have anything good to say to them, so they might treat his followers harshly. These woes show that Jesus takes the seventy’s safety seriously. 

When the seventy return, they are happy that they have been so successful. They haven’t just healed people; they have even managed to cast out demons successfully. Jesus is very encouraging to these followers by telling them that it was like Satan falling from heaven that they did so much Godly work! Jesus wants this memory to give them confidence that God will always look out for them in all the mission work that they will do, even after Jesus has left them. No matter what, they will see Jesus again in heaven, so why should they fear? 

For us, this story can be encouraging because of the seventy’s success among people who could be hostile to their message. We spread Jesus’ message of love and healing, not because it helps us win points with God, since our names are already “written in heaven”, but because we are thankful for what God has done for us and we can be confident that God has our back no matter what.