1 Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come. 2 Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. 5 Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6 If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. 8 Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are therein, and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ 10 But into whatever city you enter, and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.”

Luke 10:1-12 - World English Bible

As he made his way toward Jerusalem in Luke 10, Jesus sent out advance parties to prepare for his visits. The advance men (numbering 70) extended the mobile ministry of the Messiah, bringing them the Good News and healing. He first prayed for a workers in a “great harvest” then instructed them to travel light, both to wisely avoid tempting thieves (no purse, wallet or extra sandals) and to go with speed (greeting no one along the way).

When they arrived, he wanted them to give the family where they stayed the peace of God. 10:5-6 indicated this “Shalom” was a gift given to patriarch of the host clan who openly received the Good News (a “son of peace); if the man rejected the proclamation of the Kingdom, the peace would return to the giver. In other words, like the Good News and healing, this gift stood apart from the giver and had a power of its own, for it was the Word of God that came down from heaven and had an effect on earth (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Jesus wanted these “apostles” to remain with the host family as a base of operation in the hamlet, being good guests (10:7-8) and evangelizing them in word and healing deed (10:9). If the village rejected them, he wanted them to reject the people with an insult (shaking off the dust and giving them a warning in 10:11). Their sin exceeded that of Sodom, a heavy judgment on them, indeed.

Implicitly, Jesus wants us to go and spread the Good News. We might not travel to the next town and depend upon the hospitality of strangers, but he expects us to evangelize in word and deed. Not everyone will accept our message, but, like the 70, at least we tried.

How have you shared the Good News today?