John 20:19–22 ‘Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”’ (v21)
This brief sentence carries a lot of weight. Jesus commissions, or entrusts, His disciples with delegated authority to go out and share the gospel with the world. Their mission is no different from that committed to Jesus by His Father. Indeed, the Church inherits Jesus’ call to make disciples throughout the world. This forms the basis for Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples following His resurrection. This commission is passed on to all the disciples equally and so we share responsibility today to realise this same commission, acting as faithful, and faith-filled, guides in a confused world. This is not something we aspire to or determine for ourselves; this is something that is bestowed on us by God’s own hand (Heb. 5:4).
We must ask ourselves a simple question. Whom did Jesus serve? As He chose to do the will of the Father, so we are invited to invest ourselves in serving God’s will through our life on earth. Scripture promises fullness of joy, despite our anxiety that this might lead to a rather austere life. Establishing how this commission plays out in our lives is critical to making decisions.
Jesus invites us to take up this responsibility for mission and join Him in revealing the grace of God on earth. We can feel overwhelmed and nervous, uncertain as to what this might lead to. Yet this is the same Jesus who promises His disciples ‘fullness of life’ (John 10:10). Surely this is what we seek from our brief mortal stay on earth.
SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Isa. 63:1–10; Matt. 28:16–20; Luke 24:36–49; John 13:12–38.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: What does commission mean to you? As one who is sent, how do you work that out in your everyday life? Where are the challenges for you?
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, thank You that I am ordained through Your Word and promise to live my life in Your service. Amen.’
