Luke records the Lord’s sending out seventy men to the nation of Israel to announce the kingdom of God (Luke 10:1–9). They were to tell the people that Jesus was the long-awaited Christ. The Lord Himself would follow. They had the privilege of paving the way for the King. Israel had waited many centuries for this day. 

Not only did the seventy have a great message to share, but they also performed incredible miracles. The Lord gave them the ability to heal the sick. These healings were a foretaste of the kingdom Christ would one day bring to the nation, fulfilling OT prophecies. The power they displayed also verified that their message was true.   

It would not be an easy task, however. Christ told them that He was sending them out like lambs among wolves (v 3). Jesus was heading to Jerusalem, which was the home of religious leaders who were His enemies. These seventy men would preach in Judea, including the area around Jerusalem. The Lord warned them that they would encounter opposition (v 10). 

The seventy would have to hurry. Their task was urgent. The King would be arriving in Jerusalem soon. The nation would have to accept or reject His offer of the kingdom. A new world was coming. They would have to believe that He was either the Christ or an imposter.  

The Lord told the seventy that they were not to worry about what they took for their journey. They needed to travel light and proclaim their message as quickly as they could. It was clear that they would not enjoy many creature comforts (vv 4–5). 

Would you have liked to be part of that group? Probably all of us would say, “Absolutely!” What an honor it would have been to serve the King in this way. Imagine telling your neighbors that the Christ would soon be passing their way. Imagine being able to heal people who were sick. God was telling His people that He had sent the One who could save them from their enemies. The power exhibited through the hands of these seventy men verified this good news. 

Immediately before the Lord sent out the seventy, Luke tells us about three men. They were all given the opportunity to follow the Lord (9:57–62). However, they hesitated. The first man thought following the Lord would be a piece of cake. But the Lord told him that he might not have a place to lay his head. Following Christ would be difficult. 

The second man wanted to wait a while before following the Lord. He needed time to bury his father and gain his inheritance. He didn’t realize that time was of the essence. 

The third man wanted to go back home and take care of any leftover business. The Lord told him that he couldn’t follow Him if he had one foot in this world and one in the world to come. He needed to focus on the kingdom. That was the message the seventy would proclaim. 

These three men and the seventy are connected. The Lord was seeking believers who would serve Him in a significant way by becoming part of the seventy. He told these three men what they would need to do if they wanted to be in that blessed company. 

One gets the impression that the three were not willing to do what was necessary. What a blessing they lost. If so, I am sure they later wondered about what might have been. 

We are not called to literally follow the Lord to Jerusalem. We are not called to offer the kingdom to Israel and to heal the sick. We cannot be part of the seventy. 

But we are called to follow the Lord. He has left us His Word and told us to be faithful to it. We can serve Him right where we are. Let’s be faithful in doing so. At the end of our lives, and at the Judgment Seat of Christ, may we not have to say, “What could have been?” 

Q: Will you regret how you lived your life?