Jesus lifts our eyes to a field that’s ready and sends ordinary followers into it as his representatives.

Snapshot: Jesus lifts the disciples’ eyes and points them at a field. The harvest is plentiful, he says, but the workers are few, so beg the Lord of the harvest to send out workers. Then he makes them the answer to their own prayer. He sends out seventy two of his follower, two by two, ahead of him into every town he is about to enter. Travelling light. Lambs among wolves. Eyes on the harvest, not on their own comfort or safety. The mission we’ve been given isn’t a mission that’s best left for the professionals. It’s ordinary disciples carrying his peace and his kingdom onto a real street. Don’t skip the woes in verses 13 to 16. The same gospel that brings peace to one house hardens the next, and to hear these messengers is to hear Christ himself. The Sender is the Lord of the harvest, and the message is his own presence drawing near. The gospel is the peace he holds out to every house that will receive him.