“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure” (Luke 10:21).
“He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16).
The disciples were sent as “plenary ambassadors”/representatives of Jesus.
Rejecting the disciples means their sender was rejected. Rejecting Jesus means His sender was rejected.
On their return (Luke 10:17ff), the seventy-two reported joyfully that “even the demons” were subject to them in the name of Jesus.
“Even the demons” suggests that other things worked out well as well.
Jesus sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God, by word and deed. This they did. It means that many people were healed by their ministry.
The sickness, whatever that may have been, was overcome by the healing power of God.
Given their words and enthusiasm (v.17), they focused on the fact that they over-powered the demons. Note please, that the demons realised that the seventy two were representatives of the most powerful being ever. They sensed that the “in the name of Jesus”
-wasn’t an empty phrase, patched up in the spur of the moment;
-wasn’t used to scare them away;
-it really carried out the authority of Jesus (v.18)…and they knew who Jesus was. Hence they obeyed…they subjected themselves to the commands of the seventy two.
Jesus’ words reveal that there is no greater joy than that of having their names “written in heaven.” All other “joys” may last a lifetime. The joy of having one’s name written in heaven lasts forever. Got that joy?