So we had just done an entire summary/review of the first 12 chapters in John, and my professor asks, "Now what is our job or our mission?" And the answers start flying. (these are all things he's been emphasizing throughout the semester)
"Go make disciples."
"obey."
"Love one another."
"Have streams of living water flow out of us."
And to all of these, he answers, "Yes...all of that. but WHAT IS OUR JOB NOW!"
We looked at him puzzled, because we were giving all the right answers but he was obviously fishing for something specific. So we shouted out a few more. Not what he was looking for. At this point we were getting frustrated. we didn't know WHAT he wanted!! He kept giving us this mischievous smile and asking the same question over and over again. *sigh*
Finally to be dumb, I say, "Be like Jesus!" (we have this ongoing joke in class that if no one knows the answer we just say, "Jesus" and it has to be right, because Jesus is the answer to everything.)
He points at me and says, "There...that's probably the closest yet." So we start guessing variations on "Be like Jesus." And finally, Ryan (one of like three in the class) says it.
What is our job/mission?
"The same as Jesus'"
Oh come now, Matt...as if that wasn't EXACTLY what i said. He likes his wording better. Anyway. All of that is beside the point.
Our job/mission is to be the same as Jesus. (except, let me point out, in the way he is God and was a sacrifice for the atonement of sins...that is the only aspect we do not share).
So lets dig a little deeper to see what this means. I am going to start with another catch phrase that has become popular in our class.
"The Sent One is as the Sender."
Think about that. Jesus said it multiple times.
"Before Abraham was, I Am." (John 8:58). By Jesus calling himself "I am" he is taking on the identity of God. This was very controversial. But what Jesus was doing was deflecting the focus off of him. He was an ambassador and a representative of the Father.
"I showed you many good works from the Father." (John 10:32)
"I and the Father are One." (John 10:30)
"Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me."I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." (John 11:41-42)
"My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me." (John 8:16)
"If you knew me, you would know my Father also." (John 8:19)
It was all for God. So that through Jesus the people might know God, who SENT him.
This means that when Jesus gave the commission to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt 28:19), he sent us. And we are to be the SAME as him. We (as Sent ones) are to be as the Sender (Jesus).
This is so that when we spread love, joy, peace, freedom, and purpose throughout a world that is dark, sinful, and dying we bring them the message of LIFE. How AWESOME is that?! but wait...that's not it.
You might have been wondering where the "Fed-Ex" title of this blog fit in. Well here it is.
When you receive a sweet care package from your Grandma through Fed-Ex, you are excited to see the delivery man...but do you thank HIM for what you receive and give him a big hug because he is the one who brought you the package? Well you might say a simple thank you out of courtesy for being the deliverer. but you don't thank him for what is inside. You call or write your Grandma and tell HER. The fed-ex guy was just the means by which you got it.
This is how it is with the message we are delivering to the world. Sure the people receiving it might be grateful to us for being the means... but their gratefulness for the gift (of life) itself is to the Sender. We are merely the sent ones...being representatives and delivery people for the Sender.
WOOHOO! I love this! How amazing of an opportunity to be the same as Jesus!
This means that the works/deeds and teachings he did, we now have the opportunity to spread through what we learn from the Word and the gifts of the Spirit that have been bestowed upon us.
Let us go out, and be Sent Ones that are as the Sender. Let us deflect attention from people who are going to thank US as delivery people for the gift that came from the Sender. It is only God...and we are BLESSED to be able to carry the message of life, love, joy, peace, freedom and purpose.
"Go make disciples."
"obey."
"Love one another."
"Have streams of living water flow out of us."
And to all of these, he answers, "Yes...all of that. but WHAT IS OUR JOB NOW!"
We looked at him puzzled, because we were giving all the right answers but he was obviously fishing for something specific. So we shouted out a few more. Not what he was looking for. At this point we were getting frustrated. we didn't know WHAT he wanted!! He kept giving us this mischievous smile and asking the same question over and over again. *sigh*
Finally to be dumb, I say, "Be like Jesus!" (we have this ongoing joke in class that if no one knows the answer we just say, "Jesus" and it has to be right, because Jesus is the answer to everything.)
He points at me and says, "There...that's probably the closest yet." So we start guessing variations on "Be like Jesus." And finally, Ryan (one of like three in the class) says it.
What is our job/mission?
"The same as Jesus'"
Oh come now, Matt...as if that wasn't EXACTLY what i said. He likes his wording better. Anyway. All of that is beside the point.
Our job/mission is to be the same as Jesus. (except, let me point out, in the way he is God and was a sacrifice for the atonement of sins...that is the only aspect we do not share).
So lets dig a little deeper to see what this means. I am going to start with another catch phrase that has become popular in our class.
"The Sent One is as the Sender."
Think about that. Jesus said it multiple times.
"Before Abraham was, I Am." (John 8:58). By Jesus calling himself "I am" he is taking on the identity of God. This was very controversial. But what Jesus was doing was deflecting the focus off of him. He was an ambassador and a representative of the Father.
"I showed you many good works from the Father." (John 10:32)
"I and the Father are One." (John 10:30)
"Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me."I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." (John 11:41-42)
"My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me." (John 8:16)
"If you knew me, you would know my Father also." (John 8:19)
It was all for God. So that through Jesus the people might know God, who SENT him.
This means that when Jesus gave the commission to "make disciples of all nations" (Matt 28:19), he sent us. And we are to be the SAME as him. We (as Sent ones) are to be as the Sender (Jesus).
This is so that when we spread love, joy, peace, freedom, and purpose throughout a world that is dark, sinful, and dying we bring them the message of LIFE. How AWESOME is that?! but wait...that's not it.
You might have been wondering where the "Fed-Ex" title of this blog fit in. Well here it is.
When you receive a sweet care package from your Grandma through Fed-Ex, you are excited to see the delivery man...but do you thank HIM for what you receive and give him a big hug because he is the one who brought you the package? Well you might say a simple thank you out of courtesy for being the deliverer. but you don't thank him for what is inside. You call or write your Grandma and tell HER. The fed-ex guy was just the means by which you got it.
This is how it is with the message we are delivering to the world. Sure the people receiving it might be grateful to us for being the means... but their gratefulness for the gift (of life) itself is to the Sender. We are merely the sent ones...being representatives and delivery people for the Sender.
WOOHOO! I love this! How amazing of an opportunity to be the same as Jesus!
This means that the works/deeds and teachings he did, we now have the opportunity to spread through what we learn from the Word and the gifts of the Spirit that have been bestowed upon us.
Let us go out, and be Sent Ones that are as the Sender. Let us deflect attention from people who are going to thank US as delivery people for the gift that came from the Sender. It is only God...and we are BLESSED to be able to carry the message of life, love, joy, peace, freedom and purpose.
