Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – July 6, 2025
“17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, 
and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, 
but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Luke 10:17-20 -
Jesus’ followers return from their mission amazed that even the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name. Jesus responds that he has indeed given them such power, but in so doing, he adds two further points. He alludes to the basis of this power as well as the end for which it is given. The basis of this power is that Satan has been dislodged from the position of power that he had formerly usurped. Jesus indicates this by saying, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.” The end for which Jesus gave this power to his followers is to advance his kingdom in order that people might enjoy God’s presence forever. Accordingly, Jesus tells his followers not to rejoice in the power itself but in the fact that their names are written in heaven. So, the power is a means to the greater end of advancing God’s kingdom, and the basis of this power is the work of Christ on the cross that dislodges Satan from his usurped position of power.
The name Satan means accuser or adversary. In Job 1 we see this in action: Satan enters God’s presence to accuse Job. And the basis of Satan’s power to accuse is the guilt of our sin, both original and actual. However, this power was broken when Jesus died on the cross to remove the guilt of our sin. Moreover, it was further broken when Jesus ascended to heaven to intercede for us—on the basis of his sacrifice—in the very spot where Satan once accused. The result was that Satan was dislodged from his usurped position of power: “Satan fell like lightening from heaven.” It is precisely this dislodging of which Christ speaks in John 12: “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (John 12:31, 32).” 
When Christ spoke to his followers on the way to Jerusalem, he had not yet been lifted up. But the result of his work was so certain in advance that Satan’s fall from heaven was guaranteed. In the divine plan, it was already a done deal. This is why the demons were subject to Jesus’ followers in his name.
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – July 6, 2025
“17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, 
and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, 
but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Luke 10:17-20 -
Jesus’ followers return from their mission amazed that even the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name. Jesus responds that he has indeed given them such power, but in so doing, he adds two further points. He alludes to the basis of this power as well as the end for which it is given. The basis of this power is that Satan has been dislodged from the position of power that he had formerly usurped. Jesus indicates this by saying, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.” The end for which Jesus gave this power to his followers is to advance his kingdom in order that people might enjoy God’s presence forever. Accordingly, Jesus tells his followers not to rejoice in the power itself but in the fact that their names are written in heaven. So, the power is a means to the greater end of advancing God’s kingdom, and the basis of this power is the work of Christ on the cross that dislodges Satan from his usurped position of power.
The name Satan means accuser or adversary. In Job 1 we see this in action: Satan enters God’s presence to accuse Job. And the basis of Satan’s power to accuse is the guilt of our sin, both original and actual. However, this power was broken when Jesus died on the cross to remove the guilt of our sin. Moreover, it was further broken when Jesus ascended to heaven to intercede for us—on the basis of his sacrifice—in the very spot where Satan once accused. The result was that Satan was dislodged from his usurped position of power: “Satan fell like lightening from heaven.” It is precisely this dislodging of which Christ speaks in John 12: “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (John 12:31, 32).” 
When Christ spoke to his followers on the way to Jerusalem, he had not yet been lifted up. But the result of his work was so certain in advance that Satan’s fall from heaven was guaranteed. In the divine plan, it was already a done deal. This is why the demons were subject to Jesus’ followers in his name.