Today look at John 20:19-23. Here we see the commission. The end of each gospel is not the resurrection of Jesus but the commission by Jesus. Jesus didn’t just die to save us, He died to use us. Here we see what God intends to happen after a person believes. At the start of these verses we see the disciples scared and hidden indoors (in contrast to the women who are out trying to find Jesus J). You wouldn’t think these cowardly men would be the ones to start the Christian church but then we see Jesus enter and do several things. First He tells them to have Peace. Then He says, “I send you.” There is a purpose for these disciples and this purpose is to tell the message of God – of the forgiveness of sins. That is the ultimate purpose of all believers – to witness to the reality of Christ and His work on the cross. Lastly, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit – the source in which to fulfill this commission. Have you considered not just that Jesus died to save you but that He also died to use you? Do you realize that the Holy Spirit has enabled you for a purpose? Do you believe that “God’s will for your life” is really to declare Him and His message?
This really gave me food for thought,that Jesus died not only to save me, but also to use me. It's very easy to be filled with thankfulness and praise for the victory that was achieved on the cross, but to think of the suffering that he endured so that I could also be a witness to the reality of this work is convicting.
ReplyDeleteThese chapters of John were very timely as I was at a service last Wednesday night devoted to Israel and the Jews. The message was entitled "Israel, God's timepiece." It was amazing and also very eye opening about where we are in in this generation related to the fulfillment of prophecy. There were so many points brought up and so much scripture referred to that I couldn't begin to do it justice, but suffice it to say that Jesus' words, "It is finished", certainly don't end the story. We live in a very exciting time as we anticipate Christ's second coming and continue to experience events foretold in these end times.