Jesus Seeks the Nations Luke 10:1-12

Kingdom Principle: God is actively working to save the nations. Jesus message of salvation is not only for the Jewish people it is also for the Gentiles. The deciding factor among all peoples is whether or not they embrace the Son. To embrace Jesus is to embrace the Father’s plan. The Son’s _______________________ Mission (to the Nations) Luke 10:1 (ESV) — 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two (seventy) others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. Genesis 10:1-2 (ESV) 1 These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. Genesis 10:6 (ESV) 6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. Genesis 10:22 (ESV) 22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. Genesis 10:32 (ESV) 32 These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood. The number appears to be symbolic of the nations of the world, a view the Jews based on Genesis 10, where there are seventy names in the Hebrew text and seventy-two in lxx The gospel is for the whole world. The same authority that attended to those first Jewish missionaries, the Apostles, also attends to those who take the message of the gospel to the nations. This makes the mission among the nations, as sanctioned by the Son as the mission to the house of Israel. Romans 1:16 (ESV) 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The Father’s ________________________ Approval (of the Mission) Luke 10:2 (ESV) 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Luke 10:4–8 (ESV) 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. God sovereignly provides for the needs of his ministers and missionaries, through the kindness and generosity of his people. There will be a dramatic outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the Gentiles that will bring about a mass conversion of souls seen in accepting Jesus Christ as Son and Savior. And for this, the church is going to need a ton of laborers. Acts 13:44–49 (ESV) 44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. Questions to Consider In what ways do you rejoice in the expansive nature of God grace? To whom among the nations are you planning to preach the gospel to? Are you trusting in God’s sovereign power to prepare their hearts to receive the gospel?