A dictionary will tell you that “return” means "to come back in thought, condition, or practice." In today's passage, the 70 come back from their journey, but they come back different from when they first came to Christ. Now they have firsthand experience of what Christ's journey on earth was like.

They left knowing who Christ was and the glorious acts that he had done. But even though they knew and realized who he was, they still came back changed. Being sent on a journey by Christ meant their mindset was changed, their condition was changed, and their behavior was changed.

They came back rejoicing because of what Christ had done, but also for their own personal changes. We all must come to Christ in order to be sent on a personal journey to return changed! We are disciples sent on a journey by Christ, journeying to change the world, but also for ourselves to be changed and transformed.

by Timothy Peoples from d365.org