When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.

I have a Roma tomato plant that is producing big and yummy tomatoes right now. This plant was started from a seed. It now has over 20 tomatoes growing on it in various stages of ripeness. We planted cucumbers and the plant grew and grew, but for a while there were no cucumbers. Then one day, BAM, 4-5 cucumber shoots started. Now we have harvested a couple of those too.

One thing I love about this second set of instructions to the 72 disciples Jesus sent out is the multiplication of it. First Jesus was sent to preach the good news, and tell of a new covenant with Israel and the rest of mankind. And he called 12 disciples. Then after investing in the 12 disciples, he sent them out with power and authority in his name and they healed and drove out spirits and preached the gospel. Then (my best guess here), Jesus and the disciples invested in 72 more disciples. And when they were ready, they were sent out in the same fashion. One multiplies to 12. Twelve multiplies to 72. The fruit of a heart after God is on full display!

And here in this passage, he speaks to them directly about the groups of people in the various cities he will encounter. Some will listen and receive the good news. They will be blessed. Others will listen and reject the good news. They will be punished in the end. He sent out the 72 as his emissaries to a lost world with power to act.

I think about some of the stories that I have heard recently regarding our military and how they have, at times, had to get approval for every small action. This is not an example of good leadership. Jesus models good leadership here. He builds up the abilities of good-hearted people, he sends them out with authority, and then he gives them authority to act with independent field-level discretion. And with the authority and the risk of rejection and persecution also comes justice. God will judge those who reject them and the message of truth. And he will receive those who hear and believe.

Lord, thank you for modeling the multiplication process of spreading the gospel. You intend for us to participate in it. And you give us, just like you have the 72 disciples sent here, power and a calling to serve you. May I serve you with honesty, truth and in love! May many come to know you better through your work in me! Praise your name!