Pastor Scott Andrews | June 1, 2025
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Luke 10:17-24
What is it that brings you joy? I’m not talking about finding the golden ticket in a candy bar or buying a winning lottery ticket. Joy. I asked Google the question – AI came back suggesting the answer is subjective. True, but that wasn’t particularly helpful. But there was an interesting article on an Irish mental health website which provided a list of fifty things that bring people joy. I was struck by the almost complete absence of stuff – material things. The article suggested joy was found more in life’s everyday experiences, if we would but stop and take notice. I won’t share the entire list, but here’s a sampling:
- Having the first sip of coffee in the morning (that’s on my list)
- Finishing a good book
- The smell of freshly cut grass
- Blue skies (especially around here)
- Family dinners around the table
- Completing your to-do list on time (I put that one on there since I seldom do)
- When your cheeks hurt from smiling
- Warm hugs
- Sunrises or Sunsets (Some friends let us use their condo at Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago. We are early risers, so we took lots of sunrise pics, to include this one)
- Your favorite dinner
Truly a sentimental list, and possibly some things that bring a measure of joy. But, as I’ve mentioned before, joy is to be distinguished from being happy. Happy is momentary, here one day, gone the next and dependent on outward circumstances. Like getting a good cup of coffee, or just the right present on that special day. But joy, biblical joy – is one that comes from inward contentment – a rejoicing in something the world can’t touch – it’s not necessarily based on outward circumstances. A related Greek word is markarios, translated blessed. It’s the word used in the beatitudes – blessed are the…poor, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst. That’s a bit different from the list, isn’t it. Joy, blessedness, for the believer is something altogether different, deeper, inward, consistent, unassailable.
So again, what is it that brings you joy? Well, over the past couple of weeks, we’ve looked at some challenging passages. First, after Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem, three would-be disciples wanted to join the movement, with some conditions. Conditions that, if we’re honest, are some we consciously or subconsciously put on Christ: comfort, security and acceptance. With each one, Jesus had some rather difficult things to say. Basically, without a change of attitude, without self-denial and a willingness to follow even if it means sacrifice and suffering, you aren’t worthy of the kingdom of God.
That was hard to hear. Then, Jesus sent out the seventy faithful followers with the good news of the kingdom. Seventy faceless, nameless, but true disciples. He told them to pray, because the task was difficult. He told them of the need: the harvest is plentiful. He told them of the challenge: you’ll go as little lambs among wolves. He gave them some austere instructions: go without money, possessions, extra shoes – why, don’t even waste time with a greeting on the way. Don’t be distracted – there is urgency here.
He told them what to do if the ones to whom they go accept the message – grant the peace that comes as a result of receiving the message. Receive their hospitality – food and shelter – for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Heal those who need it as an expression that the kingdom has come near to you.
He also told them what to do if they don’t accept the message – wipe the dust off your feet in a public square as a testimony against them. The kingdom came near, and you rejected it. Then Jesus warned of the severe consequences – the judgment to come upon those who reject the message. Startling words.
So, the seventy went out – penniless, seemingly poor beggars but with the wealth of the message. All they had was the clothes on their backs, the shoes on their feet, and the good news of Christ. Lambs among wolves. What happened? Our text today. As we read it, I want you to notice, in the midst of suffering and sacrifice, the words joy and rejoicing. Read it with me, Luke 10:17-24.
This is good news today – reasons for joy. Please notice though, there is an increasing joy through this passage – an ever-increasing joy, which forms our outline:
I. The Joy of God’s Power (17-19)
II. The Greater Joy of God’s Salvation (20)
III. The Greatest Joy of God’s Sovereignty (21-24)
Let’s start with the joy of God’s power in ministry. The seventy returned – that’s good. Not 65, not 68. All of them. They were sent out as lambs, but the Good Shepherd protected them among the wolves. It doesn’t always happen that way, but His sheep are always under the watchful eye of the Shepherd, and His purposes are always accomplished, even if it means sacrifice. Now, we don’t know how long they were gone – days or weeks. We aren’t even really given much of an account of the success or failure of the mission. Well, other than joy about something the Twelve were told they could do, but it wasn’t mentioned to the seventy, but they did it – they drove out demons.
So, the seventy returned with joy – stop right there. Not because their personal fortunes were enlarged. Not because they had made names for themselves, built reputations on their accomplishments. No, they returned with joy because the work of the kingdom was accomplished – for them in unexpected ways – in Jesus’ name. It was His name that was exalted. Notice, upon returning, they address Jesus as Lord. I believe that means more than, master. They had seen things that required divine enablement, from the Lord.
Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name. Some important thoughts there. First, we know that demons are fallen angels. Revelation 12 tells us when Satan fell, he took one-third of the angels with him, who became his demonic minions arrayed against the kingdom of God. Understand, there is no hope of repentance or redemption for them like rebellious humanity. And they know it – they know their time is limited, and their end is to be cast into the lake of fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
Please notice again, the demons were subject to the seventy in Jesus’ name. The first rule of spiritual warfare is that while our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the demonic forces of evil – we do not battle in our own strength, but in the name and strength that Jesus provides. Go to the armor of God in Ephesians 6 by which we do battle, and notice what we armed with – they are His resources: the helmet of His salvation, the breastplate of His righteousness, the shield of faith in Him, the belt of His truth, the sword of the Spirit which is His word, the feet shod with His gospel of peace.
And having put on His armor in His name, we are able to resist; we are able to stand firm in the evil days of Satan’s attack; we are able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. With all prayer and petition we are able to pray at all times in the Spirit – and in the end, we will conquer in His name. While we should not take spiritual warfare lightly, it should not overly concern us.
Let me take an aside for a moment. Lots of discussion about spiritual warfare today and demon possession and deliverance or exorcisms. Go to any Christian bookstore and you can find any number of books on the topic. Here are the only things I will say about all that. There is a spiritual battle which we wage – in His name. We are not left alone in the struggle. The enemy like a roaring lion does prowl around, seeking someone to devour. Yes. But Peter goes on – resist him, firm in the faith. Stand in the faith. Listen, there is not one example in the Bible of a believer being demon possessed in need of deliverance. No – greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world. Resist him – how? Firm in the faith. James also tells us to resist him – how? Next verse, draw near to God and He will draw near to you. That’s how you fight Satan – not focusing on him but on Christ. Do you remember what happened whenever demons came into the presence of Jesus? They fell at His feet.
Do you see here – they were subject to us in Your name. They cast out demons in the name and power of Jesus from those who needed salvation – and undoubtedly, many if not all of them then received the message of the gospel of the kingdom. So, I’m not suggesting we charge hell with a squirt gun. I am suggesting our battle against the forces of evil will ultimately be successful, because the battle belongs to the Lord. Our Good Shepherd fights for us. We don’t do it in our own strength or methods, making up incantations – we venture in, depending solely on Him. You see, when we do kingdom work, we’re entering the battle.
Look at what Jesus said in verse 18, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightening.” Literally, I was watching Satan like lightning from heaven falling. Falling is last for emphasis. Lightning speaks of speed – Satan fell in speed from heaven. By the way, this is the first time Luke refers to the evil one as Satan. Before, it has been the devil. Satan speaks of the evil one being the adversary, the accuser. He was falling from heaven which means his accusations and attacks against God’s people are failing.
Now, the question is, when Jesus saw this, what did He see? To what or when did it refer? Lots of discussion. Some say this was in eternity past, before the creation of the world, when Satan rebelled and was cast out of heaven, again, with one-third of the angels. Others suggest it was throughout His life when He defeated Satan at the temptations or when He cast out demons. Others say it was when Jesus was crucified and resurrected, putting an end to death – Jesus put death to death by His own death. And delivered His people from slavery to the fear of death. Still others suggest this was a vision Jesus had of the future when Satan and his demons will be judged and cast forever into the lake of fire. All of that is possible. But most suggest it was the result of the ministry of the seventy on this short-term mission trip. I tend to agree.
Think about that. Every time a demon was subject to them in Jesus’ name, the god of this world, the prince of darkness, the ruler of this world lost more of his kingdom. The powers of heaven are invading the powers of hell – and hell is losing and will lose. Perhaps this Satan falling from heaven is simply a picture from time past to eternity future when he will be destroyed. But it is happening now. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil – and He has been doing since His ministry, His death and resurrection, and through His faithful disciples. To include the seventy, and to include you whenever you proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and another soul is saved – delivered from the kingdom of darkness to Christ’s kingdom of light. Satan’s kingdom is plundered and he falls.
Look at verse 19, Jesus said to His disciples, “Behold, I have given you authority (kingdom power and the authority to use it) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.” While some interpret that as a promise to handle snakes, that’s not what Jesus was talking about. He’s simply referring to the power of the enemy seen metaphorically in serpents and scorpions – remember the Garden of Eden when Satan was the great serpent. These are the enemy’s demons – and Jesus says they have no power over you that I do not allow. And they cannot injure you eternally. While the body they may kill, His truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever. They cannot hurt you.
And this is good reason to be filled with joy – to rejoice. But, Jesus says, I got a better joy for you. Verse 20, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this [as awesome as it is, find a little joy there] that the spirits are subject to you, [that’s penultimate] but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” That’s an even greater cause for joy, for rejoicing.
Throughout the Scripture, there is this idea that God has a book in heaven – with the names of His people recorded in it. It’s first mentioned in Exodus 32, when the Israelites were worshiping the golden calf, and God was prepared to destroy them because of their idolatry. But Moses cried out, forgive them, and if not, blot me out of Your book.
This book is often called the book of life and appears throughout Scripture, especially in the book of Revelation. Only those whose names are recorded in the book of life will go to heaven – here, Jesus says, rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven – there’s a heavenly register, and your names are in the book of life. Rejoice in that, because that is eternal. Look at Revelation 20:
11 Then I saw a great white throne [this is after Jesus has returned] and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. [you can’t hide from this judgment]
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. [God has a record of everything we’ve ever done, and by that, people will be judged. That’s not good.]
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Later, John says only those whose names are written the book of life, sometimes called the Lamb’s book of life, will enter into the new heaven and the new earth. It’s called the Lamb’s book of life, because the names written it have been saved by grace through faith in the work of Jesus on His cross and resurrection – the lamb who was slain. We are not saved by our work written those other books – we are saved by His work, and our names are written in His book. So again, rejoice that the demons are subject to you, but that’s just for a time. Because there’s coming a day when they will be tormented day and night in the lake of fire forever. So, rejoice more that you will not be cast into the lake of fire, because your names are recorded in heaven forever. Your name will never be erased, and that’s cause for greater joy.
Rejoice in God’s power, rejoice in His salvation. And third, all this caused Jesus to rejoice greatly in the Holy Spirit. This seems a little disjointed, but I think it will come together. The word for rejoiced greatly is an unusual one – it speaks of great, exuberant joy. Hence, good joy, greater joy, greatest joy. It’s the only place in the NT we see Jesus filled with such exultant joy. We find Him weeping, never smiling, never laughing, although I’m sure He did. But here, expressly stated, exuberant joy.
This is an incredible passage for many reasons. Some suggest this is the highpoint of Trinitarian theology as well as the highpoint of the declaration of the deity of Jesus in the book of Luke. Others suggest it’s the highpoint of that declaration in all the gospels. It’s an incredible passage, because it declares the Trinity, the clear deity of Jesus, and God’s sovereignty over salvation.
Now, most of us understand something of the Trinity – that is, three persons who make up one God. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God, and those persons are not to be confused, yet there is one God. I know that’s challenging to wrap our minds around. The Scripture is clear there is only one God, and yet we have the truth of the clear deity of each person of the godhead – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There’s more I could say about that, but this is orthodox Christianity. We don’t have three gods, we have one God, who exists in three eternal, co-equal, co-substantial persons. Equal in authority, power, attribute, essence. And we see them working together in this text. Notice that Trinitarian interrelationship that exists – a sort of Trinitarian dance that takes place.
First, we note that Jesus rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit. We remember He was filled with the Spirit at His baptism, and the Spirit directed Him – for example, when He led Jesus into the wilderness. There is a oneness of relationship and purpose here. He came and filled Jesus – He was not Jesus, but He united with Jesus. And we see here, it is through the Holy Spirit that Jesus exulted with greatest joy.
Why? Jesus then goes on to tell He rejoiced greatly in praising the Father. Why? You see it bubbling over, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things” – stop right there – what things? That the disciples’ great joy – greater than the results of empowered ministry – is that their names were written in heaven. How? Through the gospel. And that caused Jesus to rejoice. You see, how did that happen – how was this gospel applied?
Because, don’t miss it – because You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. This is where we begin to see the sovereignty of God in revealing salvation. God revealed the truth to this band of disciples that their names were written in heaven – rejoice in that. But further, while revealed to them, that truth was hidden from the wise and intelligent. We see this throughout Scripture, for example, in I Corinthians 1:26ff:
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
29 so that [here’s the purpose, so that] no man may boast before God.
Clearly, the purpose of our salvation is for boasting in Him, and not in us. It’s not like we chose God – He chose us. Actually, what is stated here is how God has chosen the base and foolish people of the world so that there would be no room for boasting. Listen, Jesus said, the Father actually hid these things from the wise and intelligent – undoubtedly referring to the religious elite who thought they knew it all – the scribes, the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, the Sadducees – any group that thought they were wise enough to discern the truths about God and therefore, deserving. Nope – you wouldn’t understand anything unless God revealed it to you – and He hasn’t. You’re arrogant in your wisdom. He’s hidden salvation truth from them, and revealed it to infants, babies. Why – so that they would only boast in Him, and not in their perceived self-worth.
I know some people get irritated about this truth – but here it is in black and white. He revealed it to some and hid it from others. Understand, God is here choosing to whom the gospel would come – whose names are written in heaven. At the very least by grouping – babies. But, it’s interesting to note Revelation 13 and 17 both indicate the names – individual names – were written in the book of life before the foundation of the world.
We see that in verse 22. In this Trinitarian interplay, we see first one of the clearest declarations of the deity of Jesus, which will morph back into God’s sovereignty in salvation. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father. Who can say that but God Himself. And here, Jesus actually called the Father, My Father. This was a bold statement. You could refer to God as our Father, but not My Father. In fact, once when He did so, the Jews picked up stones to stone Him, calling God My Father, thus making Himself equal to God. And He was.
The Father has given all things to the Son – who could do that, who say that, who could receive that, but God Himself. We remember Jesus will say in the Great Commission in Matthew 28, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. What mere human could claim that? All authority to send them, all authority to judge them, all authority to grant salvation to those He wills. No one could do that but the incarnated Son of God – the God-man.
Further, no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son. See this reciprocal knowledge – Jesus says, we know each other fully and intimately. That’s an audacious statement unless you’re God. Now notice, no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. You cannot know the Father except through the Son – and that comes through the revelation of the Father to whomever the Son wills.
And this truth is so incredible, Jesus turns and says to the disciples privately – presumably the Twelve – Blessed (there’s the word makarios) blessed are the eyes which see the things which you see. To you, they have been revealed. Not to the wise and intelligent – and we remember the ragtag group of disciples that Jesus gathered around Himself. Blessed are you to see what you see, and they could not.
“For I say to you, that many prophets and kings [the greatest and most blessed leaders in the OT] wished to see the things you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.” He is saying to them, do you realize how blessed you are to receive the sovereign knowledge of salvation that God has given you. Great joy, greater joy, greatest joy that God has revealed Himself to you. This is incredible.
Peter says it this way in I Peter 1:10-12,
10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,
11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
Prophets, kings, and even angels longed to look into this salvation – but you are blessed, because you have known and experienced the hope of the gospel of the kingdom. Joy in the work of the kingdom, greater joy in the salvation we have received, greatest joy in God sovereignly granting salvation to us. Without it, we would never be saved.