The Well-Pleased Father

In the Disciples eyes Jesus was about to do the unthinkable, return to Jerusalem. They saw it as a death wish, Jesus understood it would be his exodus (Luke 9:33), his ascension to the Father ( Luke 9:51ff).
The sending out of the seventy seems premature. Who are these disciples? What do they really comprehend about the ministry of Jesus and his Father? They were about to have a revelation of the eventual downfall of Satan. They were about to see the Kingdom of God draw near in startling clarity to those to whom they went. They were about to see, if they would, the kind of things that well-pleased the Father of their Lord. They were about to prove the Father's eternal methodology; that his grace was designed for the poor and miserable, not those who felt no need. The full implication of all these things was above and beyond their comprehension yet essential for their true joy in Christ.
Upon their return Jesus reinforces their joy in seeing the effects of the Kingdom and gently reminds them of their short-sightedness about the eternities which had come to them through his gospel.
We will use the prayer of Jesus to help us see the true revelation of the ‘well-pleased Father' in what had happened before their eyes. This will help us not to focus upon ourselves or the actions of God, which, if not read truly, may distract us from the eternally securing, heart enlarging realities of his present Kingdom.