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.”
The Seventy returned from their mission to report to Jesus. They were amazed that the demonic world was subject to them.
10:17
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
The Seventy returned with a report to Jesus. They were able to subject demons in Jesus’ name. They gave credit to Jesus and did not assume the power was in them. It was a “joy” for them to see God at work in their ministry.
Demons are fallen angels who rebelled with Satan (Isa 14:12). They are the means the devil uses to tempt believers and blind unbelievers. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn 3:8). Here, Jesus gave the Seventy authority over demonic power. Jesus commissioned them to represent Him. To reject their message was to reject Jesus.
The Seventy’s authority lay in Jesus’ name. The authority of Jesus’ name is apparent in the book of Acts. The success of their ministry rested on the authority of Jesus.
10:18
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Jesus said to the Seventy that He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Satan will come to a place where Jesus will ultimately defeat him (Re 12:7-9; 20:1-10). The defeat of demons by the Seventy was a foretaste of the ultimate defeat of Satan. “Lightning” indicates the suddenness of Satan’s fall.
10:19
Behold, I give [have given] you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means [emphatic negation] hurt you.
Jesus gave special authority to the Seventy to defeat satanic forces. “Serpents and scorpions” were symbols of demonic evil. These symbols of Satan’s power could not hurt the Seventy. This verse has nothing to do with handling snakes or scorpions.
10:20
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
The eternal status of the Seventy was a greater blessing than the power over demonic forces. God inscribed their names in heaven. True joy does not come from the missionary accomplishments of the Seventy but from the fact that they possessed eternal salvation—God wrote their names in heaven. Nothing compares to a person’s name written in the eternal Book of Life. Disciples should continue to rejoice in their salvation. Their names “stand written” in heaven (perfect, passive, indicative).
PRINCIPLE:
Disciples experience joy in serving Jesus, but they have a greater joy in their eternal salvation.
APPLICATION:
The Seventy experienced joy beyond their anticipation when they saw God defeat demonic powers through them. Jesus added a further blessing where He assured them that Satan himself would suffer permanent and ultimate defeat. Victory is certain. It will occur in God’s timing. Evil will not know ultimate victory.
An even greater blessing than service is the believer’s assurance of eternal salvation. Our names stand written in heaven.
