A sense of accomplishment in ministry
must not come first; the joy of salvation must come first.
“The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name!’ He said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will by any means harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven’” (Luke 10:17–20).
(1) Today, as I meditate on Gospel of Luke 10:17–20—the passage where the seventy disciples whom Jesus sent out return and report to Him—I desire to receive the lesson the Lord gives through this text.
(a) First, we meditate on the words: “The seventy returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name’” (Lk. 10:17).
(i) When I reflect on this verse, I am reminded of the gospel song “That Name” (lyrics by Myung-hee Song, music by Deok-shin Choi):
[Verse 1]
Jesus, that Name—I cannot speak it; The mystery within that Name,
The love within that Name—I cannot speak of that love.
Unable to express it, it has become a secret, That Name has become a secret.
[Chorus]
People cast aside that Name Like the stone the builders rejected,
But engraved upon my heart, That Name is a beautiful jewel—
A precious secret I possess, A hidden joy within my heart.
Jesus, that Name—I cannot speak it.
[Verse 2]
Jesus, that Name—I cannot speak it; The tenderness within that Name—
Though I cannot express it, Deep within my soul I can feel it,
I can feel that Name.
· The background behind Sister Myung-hee Song writing this hymn is deeply rooted in the love and grace of God she encountered amid her physical limitations and desperate circumstances.
Confession of faith amid extreme suffering: Poet Myung-hee Song suffered cerebral palsy from birth due to a medical mistake and lived her entire life in physical pain. Around the age of 17, while despairing over her condition, she personally encountered God. After that, she deepened spiritually—praying five hours a day and reading the Bible through more than thirty times.
The inexpressible love of God: The line in the lyrics, ‘The love within that Name—I cannot speak it… it has become a secret,’ paradoxically expresses the abundant love of Jesus Christ and the indescribable joy received through His Name—something human language cannot fully contain.
From a rejected one to a jewel: The lyric, ‘People cast aside that Name like the stone the builders rejected, but the Name engraved upon my heart is a beautiful jewel,’ conveys the grace of the Lord who regarded her—once ignored or overlooked by the world—as a most precious jewel (Internet).
(ii) The confession of the seventy disciples—“In Your Name even the demons submit to us”—goes beyond a simple report of success and contains core principles of the Christian faith:
1. The Authority of His Name
The disciples confess that spiritual victory occurred not because of their own ability or training, but solely because they relied on “the Name of Jesus.”
Delegated authority: In the ancient world, acting “in someone’s name” meant being entrusted with that person’s full authority.
Theological meaning: The power to control demons did not originate from the disciples themselves, but flowed from the divine authority of Jesus Christ.
2. The Meaning of “Submission”
The word “submit” (Greek: hupotassō) is a military term meaning “to line up under a superior” or “to obey.”
The arrival of the Kingdom of God: The submission of demons is evidence that God’s rule (the Kingdom of God) is forcefully penetrating a world once under Satan’s dominion.
Spiritual superiority: It reveals that evil spirits are subordinate beings who must helplessly bow before the authority of Jesus.
3. The Disciples’ Joy—and Its Limitation
The disciples returned “with joy,” greatly encouraged by their victory in spiritual warfare.
A sense of accomplishment: They were amazed and delighted that they had subdued spiritual forces that once seemed impossible to overcome.
Jesus’ correction: However, in verse 20 Jesus warns against letting their joy remain in the exercise of power itself. He teaches that the more essential joy is not in the fruit of ministry (demons being cast out), but in relationship with God—salvation itself.
4. Ministerial Context
This passage confirms how the authority Jesus had given to the seventy (Lk. 10:19) was manifested in real ministry settings. It clearly shows what believers today must rely on in spiritual warfare in the world—the Name of the Lord.
(b) Second, we meditate on the words: “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning” (Lk. 10:18).
(i) This statement affirms the fundamental spiritual event that took place behind the disciples’ field report of victory. Its meaning can be understood in three major aspects:
1. Satan’s Decisive Defeat and Fall
When the disciples cast out demons “in His Name,” Satan’s authority in the spiritual realm was rapidly collapsing.
“Like lightning”: This signifies that Satan’s fall was sudden, visible, and irreversible. Just as lightning flashes instantly to the ground, Jesus proclaims that as the Kingdom of God arrives, Satan’s dominion is losing its power.
2. Spiritual Confirmation of the Disciples’ Ministry
The disciples were amazed at the visible phenomenon of demons departing, but Jesus saw the essential victory behind it.
By saying, in effect, “As you ministered on earth, I saw Satan’s authority being broken in heaven (the spiritual realm),” He reminded them that their evangelistic work was not merely about healing or outward results—it was powerful spiritual warfare that was dismantling Satan’s kingdom.
3. Theological Background: When Did Satan Fall?
There are several interpretations regarding the timing of this “fall”:
A past event: Recalling Satan’s original fall due to pride.
A present event: The victory occurring at that very moment through the disciples’ mission as the gospel expanded.
A future completion: A prophetic vision of Satan’s ultimate defeat through the cross and resurrection.
The most widely held interpretation sees this as a comprehensive declaration of victory: through the disciples’ obedience and ministry, the Kingdom of God had begun to bring Satan’s rule to an end.
Summary
Ultimately, this passage is a powerful declaration of encouragement and victory: “Your ministry is not in vain. Satan is already a defeated power. Therefore, do not be afraid.” And yet Jesus adds something even more important: Do not rejoice first in ministry achievements. Rejoice first that your names are written in heaven. The joy of salvation must precede the sense of accomplishment in ministry.
(c) Third, we meditate on the words: “I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm you” (Lk. 10:19).
(i) “These words are a promise of ‘security’ and ‘absolute victory’ given to the disciples who were engaged in spiritual warfare. Through the cultural background of the time and the biblical context, their meaning can be summarized in three ways.
1. The symbolism of serpents and scorpions: the forces of evil spirits
In the Bible, ‘serpents and scorpions’ are not merely repulsive animals; they symbolize Satan and his agents (evil spirits) who harm humanity and spread poison.
Serpent: From Genesis onward, it symbolizes deception and temptation.
Scorpion: A creature with deadly venom, symbolizing the pain and calamity that torment believers.
Therefore, to ‘tread on’ them means that believers do not succumb to the threats of evil spirits, but instead completely subdue and triumph over them.
2. Authority (Exousia): delegated legal authority
The ‘authority’ Jesus gives here is the Greek word exousia. This does not refer merely to physical power (dynamis), but to ‘legitimate authority’ granted by a king or ruler.
The disciples were not acting in their own strength; rather, in the name of Jesus—who possesses all authority in heaven and on earth—they were entrusted with the legal right to restrain Satan’s power. According to the Hochmah Commentary, this becomes the basis on which believers can act confidently in the world.
3. “Nothing shall harm you”: the promise of spiritual protection
The statement ‘nothing shall by any means harm you’ does not mean that believers will never suffer hardship or physical injury in this world.
Essential security: Although Satan may afflict our bodies, he can never touch our souls or our status of salvation as citizens of the Kingdom of God. This is an absolute declaration.
Ministerial protection: It gives assurance that God will supernaturally protect His servants until they complete their mission. This is in line with Gospel of Mark 16:18.
Conclusion
This verse reminds us that ‘you are fighting a battle that has already been won.’ Our weapon is not our own piety, but the ‘authority’ given by Jesus—and the result is Satan’s submission” (Internet).
(d) Finally, fourth, we meditate on the words: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Lk. 10:20).
(i) “These words form the climactic and most important conclusion of Luke 10:17–20, correcting the ‘source of joy’ in both the life of faith and in ministry.
1. Correcting the priority of joy (ministry results vs. the grace of salvation)
The disciples were thrilled by visible results (the phenomenon of demons submitting). But Jesus teaches that such gifts and powers are merely tools for ministry, and must not become the essential source of joy in faith.
The variability of external phenomena: The ability to cast out demons or succeed in ministry can vary depending on circumstances. If one’s joy is grounded in these, discouragement will easily follow when ministry does not go as hoped.
Essential value: Jesus reminds them that the greatest blessing of a believer lies not in ‘what one does’ (Doing), but in ‘who one is before God’ (Being).
2. The meaning of “your names are written in heaven”
The expression ‘written’ reflects the Jewish background of the ‘Book of Life.’
God’s choice and ownership: It is the confirmation that God has purposed to save us and has acknowledged us as His people. This concept of the Book of Life also appears in Book of Exodus 32:32 and Epistle to the Philippians 4:3.
Unchanging salvation: The authority to overcome Satan may be temporary in its expression, but the name written in heaven is an eternal guarantee that will never be erased.
3. Theological background: the supremacy of grace
The greatest miracle a believer experiences is not ‘demons being cast out,’ but ‘a sinner being saved and becoming a child of God.’
Maintaining humility: Spiritual gifts can become tools of pride, but meditating on the grace of salvation leads us into humility.
Eschatological joy: This joy transcends victories on earth and directs our gaze toward the eternal glory to be enjoyed in the coming Kingdom of God. The Gospel Serve Commentary emphasizes this as: ‘The joy of salvation must take priority over the sense of accomplishment in ministry.’
Summary
In the end, Jesus desired that the disciples not merely remain ‘successful ministers,’ but live as ‘beloved children of God.’ The fact that our names are registered in the citizenship record of God’s Kingdom is the reason for ‘true joy’—a joy that no suffering or circumstance can ever take away” (Internet).