Ep. 57: The Seventy Two

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LUKE 10:1-16

Although we can’t be certain as to the order of events, it was on his progress southwards at this time that Jesus designated those Seventy, who were to herald his arrival in every town and village. With all their similarity, there are notable differences between the mission of the ‘Twelve’ sent earlier and this of the Seventy. The mission of the Twelve was on their appointment as Apostles, it was evangelistic and missionary and it was in confirmation and manifestation of the ‘power and authority’ given to them.

On the other hand, no power or authority was formally conferred on the Seventy, their mission being for one definite purpose; to prepare for the coming of the Master in the places to which they were sent. Their selection was from the wider circle of disciples, the number being now seventy instead of twelve. Even these two numbers seem to indicate that the twelve symbolised the princes of the tribes of Israel, while the seventy were the symbolical representatives of these tribes, like the seventy elders appointed to assist Moses.

There was something very significant in this appearance of Jesus’ messengers, by two and two, in every place he was about to visit. As John the Baptist had heralded the coming of Jesus, so now two heralds appeared to solemnly announce his Advent at the close of his ministry. As John had prepared his Way, so they did the same, as the representatives of the New Testament Church. In both cases, the preparation sought was a moral one. It was the national summons to open the gates to the rightful King and accept his rule.

This is an extract from the book, Jesus : Life and Times, available for £10 here (Finalist for Academic Book of the year at 2023 CRT awards)