Our God is a global God!
“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you”. (John 20:21)
Jesus spoke these words to his disciples when he appeared to them after the resurrection. He was speaking to his immediate disciples, but it is clear that we are included in this mission as well (John 20:29). Jesus viewed himself as sent on a mission by the Father. In the same way, he is sending us into this mission, to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth.
“As the Father has sent me.” How did the Father send him? He didn’t arrive on earth like some astronaut in a spacesuit to protect him and make him immune from all the impurities and menacing things of this world. He was not born into royalty with all of its privileges and protection. He laid aside his immunity and his power and glory. He became one of us, he took on flesh and blood. He moved into our neighborhood. He touched people, he entered into their homes and into their lives. He took on our sorrows, our infirmities, our weariness, and even our death. He came into enemy-occupied territory and experienced rejection, scorn, and humiliation.
And so he sends us to this kind of incarnational mission in our world today, to get our hands dirty, to mingle with people’s hurts and sorrows as well as their joys and celebrations. It is a costly kind of mission. It is a “word and deed” mission, that is effective and life-giving.
Who is it that sends us into this mission? It is not from some dead hero that we receive this call, but it is the risen, living Lord who has accomplished our full redemption, who has won victory over death, who has overcome and confounded the evil forces of this world. This is the one who sends us, on the same mission, with the same message, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, the methods and tactics may change, but it is the same powerful, compelling, life-changing message.
As we continue our focus on the worldwide mission of our church, we can take heart that we are still a part of this 2000-year-old mission that Jesus began. He now sends us, Christ Church, with his words, with his works, and with his power into a needy world. We give thanks that our church has an active part in a mission beyond our own walls, and even beyond our own city. We are engaged in church planting, campus ministry, and prayerfully supporting 18 missionary families in 14 different countries around the world.
Our God is a global God!
Photo by Vladislav Klapin on Unsplash