Leadership Multiplication

Jesus leaves the Feast of Dedication and travels to the other side of the Jordan River, where John had baptised him three years earlier (John 10:40). He will use this area as a base for the next few months, awaiting his final entrance into Jerusalem and his pending death on the cross. What will he do in these last months to ensure the movement continues after he is taken up to the Father? What will his final steps be? Let’s look in on what this passage reveals.

Questions from your reading

• What are Jesus’ priorities in this passage?
• In what ways could Jesus have been distracted from these priorities (like Martha in v. 40)?
• Why does Jesus so greatly rejoice in Luke 10:21?
• What do you see as the primary lessons in this passage?
• What other questions do you still have?

Reflecting on your reading

As the movement continues to grow, Jesus assembles the next set of leaders and appoints them much like he did with the twelve. These were clearly disciples who had already given up everything to follow him and were now ready to step into greater leadership. He calls them together, gives some final instructions, and sends them into the last unreached district—Perea. But why does he send them out with nothing?

Remember why he had sent the first twelve out with nothing? Jesus knows his time is short, and he wants these disciples to learn total dependence on the Father. If they step out in faith, God will go before them and provide everything they need to complete the mission he has given them. These new leaders must learn to walk by faith, not by sight.

They go out like a great army of evangelists into the harvest fields of Perea. They're instructed to enter a village, find a man of peace, stay and minister from that home—healing the sick and announcing the nearness of the kingdom of God. If the village rejects them, they are to leave peacefully, shake the dust off their feet, and continue proclaiming, “‘The kingdom of God is near’” (Luke 10:11).

When they return from their mission, they are elated: “‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!’” (Luke 10:17). But Jesus redirects their enthusiasm: “‘Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven’” (Luke 10:20). In other words, don’t celebrate the temporary—celebrate the eternal. Lives and destinies were changed—rejoice in that.

Then, in a moment of joyful worship, Jesus praises the Father:

“‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure’” (Luke 10:21).

Why is Jesus so overjoyed? Why does he erupt in praise? The answer seems clear: he sees that the Father is pleased. The plan is working. The disciples are becoming passionate disciple-makers. The Father’s will was that Jesus would die on the cross—but his work was to make disciples who could make disciples. That work was nearing completion. The mission was multiplying. And the Father was being glorified.

Applying what you’ve read

There’s a unique joy that comes from seeing someone come to Christ through your witness. But there’s a deeper joy still—the joy of watching someone you’ve discipled share Jesus with others, and seeing them come to faith. That’s the joy of multiplication. Now it’s not just one—it’s two, or ten, or a hundred—glorifying the Father, living in obedience to his will, and carrying out the work of making disciples.

Have you experienced these two joys? If not, what’s stopping you?

Spend some time with your disciples talking about the joy of multiplication.