And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Earlier in Luke chapter 10, Jesus sent out 72 of his followers — not his core twelve disciples, but a broader, unnamed group of ordinary people — ahead of him to every town he planned to visit. He gave them authority to heal the sick and to proclaim that God's kingdom had arrived. This verse captures their return: they came back overflowing with joy and astonishment. They had expected to be messengers, but they found themselves doing things they had no natural ability to do. When they used Jesus' name, even evil spirits — understood in that culture as powerful and dangerous beings — obeyed. Their joy in this verse is completely uncontained and entirely believable.
Lord, I want to live with more expectation — not that I will feel powerful, but that you are present and moving through ordinary people like me. Send me out today like those 72: uncertain, unqualified, but carrying your name. That turns out to be enough. Amen.
They left nervous. They came back with stories. You can almost hear the scene — everyone talking at once, interrupting each other, laughing in disbelief. *Even the demons!* There's a freshness to this moment that's worth sitting in, because it's the joy of ordinary, unnamed, probably-doubting people who discovered they had been trusted with something real. They weren't just carrying a message. They were carrying authority that actually worked. And what made it extraordinary wasn't that they felt specially gifted or spiritually prepared — it's that they stepped out anyway, and found the name of Jesus was *enough*. Jesus' response in the next breath is quietly instructive: don't celebrate that the spirits submit to you — celebrate that your names are written in heaven. He's not cooling their joy; he's deepening it. The real miracle isn't the power, spectacular as it was. It's the relationship. You are *known*. That doesn't change when the remarkable moments end and you're back to a regular Wednesday with nothing extraordinary happening. What would it look like to go into today carrying the same expectation these 72 carried — that you might actually be part of something that moves?
Why do you think Luke specifies that these were 72 people — not just the twelve closest disciples — and what does that suggest about who God chooses to work through?
Have you ever experienced a moment where God did something through you that genuinely surprised you? What was it like, and how did it affect the way you saw yourself?
Jesus redirects their joy from the power they experienced to the fact that they are known by God. Why do you think he does that — what might he be protecting them from?
How do you treat the people around you differently when you carry a genuine sense that God is present and active, versus when you're just going through the motions of faith?
What is one ordinary interaction you have coming up this week where you could show up with the kind of expectation these 72 disciples had when they walked into those towns?
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 14:12
And heal the sick that are therein , and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Luke 10:9
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Luke 10:1
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 12:31
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Luke 9:1
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly . The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Romans 16:20
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:17
And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
Mark 6:13
The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
AMP
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
ESV
The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.'
NASB
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
NIV
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
NKJV
When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”
NLT
The seventy came back triumphant. "Master, even the demons danced to your tune!"
MSG