¹After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. ²He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. ³Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. ⁴Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. ⁵Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ ⁶And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.  Luke 10:1-6

Did you notice something about this passage?  Jesus sent out seventy “others”.  Not Peter, James, John or the other twelve.  Not a name among them, but seventy of His followers.  He sends them, they go and as the passage continues, great things happen.

Names are very important in the bible.  If a name is mentioned, there is a reason.  Sometimes it is to show connections (family genealogies), or “pedigree” (Paul naming his teacher).  Sometimes names define the person (Thomas Didymus – the Twin).  In this case not having names means more, at least to me.

These unnamed followers are sent with a mission just as each of us are sent with a mission.  No names mean no exclusions – we are all sent out to be laborers for the harvest.  We are all sent to spread God’s love.

In this week’s journeys, be one of the seventy, spread peace and light.

Peace,

Pastor Bill