My Father's Business: A Call to the Seventy in the Gospel of Luke

The first recorded words of Jesus in the Bible are: "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Luke 2:49 This is when Jesus goes missing as a child, and His earthly parents find Him in the tabernacle, studying God's word and learning from the priests. From the very beginning, Jesus has been about His Father's business, modeling the righteous life and leading others to the Father. Our call is the same, and it is further demonstrated in today's topical study of The Seventy from Luke 10:1-20

Jesus' earthly ministry was not just to teach us about the kingdom of Heaven, but to equip us to lead others to the kingdom after His return to Heaven. There is a point before Jesus' crucifixion that He sends out His twelve disciples and another unnamed seventy after them to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick.

"Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." Luke 9:1-2

"After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go." Luke 10:1

Both the disciples and the unnamed seventy were laborers for the kingdom of God. They went before Jesus to prepare the hearts and minds of the people to receive the truth Jesus was coming to share. In this way, John the Baptist also served by preaching repentance and preparing the people to receive Jesus. As children of God, as followers of Jesus, we have the same call as the seventy. In the words of my pastor, we are the seventy. The seventy prepared the way for Christ's arrival. We prepare the way for Christ's return.

We are called to preach the kingdom of God and lead them to the Healer.

My pastor did an intensive study of the topic of The Seventy last year (2025). I will share some of my notes from my pastor's teachings below. But the point of today's post is simple. We are here for a reason. We have a God-given purpose on this earth and His word tells us what it is: to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick.

Our ability to preach God's word is not limited by our job title, economic status, past sins, or anything else. You don't need qualifications determined by man to tell the world what God has done for you, what God has brought you through, or even what you know about God based on your study of His word. God calls each of us to preach His word. He qualifies us. We need only to step into the calling, into our purpose, with the confidence He gives us. As far as healing the sick, the main way we do this is by sharing our stories, our testimony, and God's word, leading others to the one true Healer, Jesus Christ. Without Christ, we are all sick. This is the call on our life--to tell our story, to tell God's story, to anyone who will listen.

"He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." Luke 10:16

"Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it." Luke 10:23-24

Additional Notes:

• God wants to advance His kingdom in every arena. There are many ways we can live out the calling on our life. Our diversity does not disqualify us. There is not one appearance of righteousness.

• Sometimes we're called, but still don't do it because we're afraid or feel like an imposter.

• When we're called, we're empowered, anointed, equipped to answer the call. Do not be afraid.

• The Seventy returned to Jesus with joy after answering the call. The return is just as important as the sending.

• Return to Jesus for rest and re-assignment.

• You are a purpose with a name. God doesn't create anything without a purpose. Your existence is proof of your purpose.

• The call is the same in every season, but the way the call is answered may look different in each season. Be open to the different ways God wants to use you.

• Set backs are set ups. Your history doesn't disqualify you from leading others to Christ. In fact, it's likely the very part of your story that will relate to, speak to, and lead others.

• Community while living out the call is important. The Seventy were sent out two by two. This relates back to Genesis when God created a wife for Adam. While the way we have community in this life may not always appear as the marriage union, the claim that it is not good for man to be alone is still true. Seek community for support and accountability.

• Advancing the kingdom of God is a kingdom mindset. We are called to have a kingdom mindset, to be about our Father's business.