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.
2 comments:
awwww.... 'sent ones, like the sender!' I like that! I don't think we have much of an idea how offensive the "I AM" words were to the people of Jesus' time, or how heinous it was to them that he "made himself equal" to God. Most of us either grew up with the concept of Jesus the son and God the Father, or first heard of God at the same time as Jesus...but to have him introduced into an existing paradigm...whew! It's really no wonder it was so hard for the people of that time. And no wonder He used such amazing, tangible miracles to touch/amaze and draw them. But whether one believed then, or believes now, we are saved by grace through faith. And Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever! Thanks for the insights that stir my heart!
Very cool. Exciting!
I started reading at work and was very intrigued by the title because I was, believe it or not, having FedEx issues. =P
I love the simplicity of this message! I think people sometimes misinterpret what our purpose here is. And, actually, I'd like a little clarification from you. You first said, "What is our job/mission? The same as Jesus'." Exactly! We have the same job he had!
But many seem to think our job is to "be the same as Jesus", which is what you said shortly following. And those can be interpreted to be the same thing, but it seems to me that when we focus on being the same as Jesus or trying to become the same as him we're actually focused on ourselves, in a way, despite our best intentions.
I think Jesus gave us our mission in John 13:15. "I have set for you an example that you should do as I have done for you." It's about DOing. "Love like I love. Give as I give. Heal. Bring hope. Spread the good news!" (that's what I hear anyway) =)
So if we're saying the same thing, that our mission in life is the same as Jesus' mission was, I totally agree! And with enthusiasm! Very encouraged! Thank you!
=Drew
P.S. And if we do totally agree, here's a little disagreement I'll throw in just to make things interesting. =P I don't think Jesus calling himself "I Am" was really a deflective move to get the focus off of himself. It caused controversy, as you said, and that didn't do much to keep him from being the center of attention. =) But I guess it depended which people group you were in, the ones who believed or the ones who didn't.
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