Matt Whitacre

Recently I’ve been reading through John  and a couple of Jesus’ passion week monologues stuck out to me.

The first is John 17:18-19 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.  And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. (NLT)

The second is John 20:21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” (NLT)

In the middle of this truly epic series of events–events that have changed the world forever–Jesus says “Y’all are going to the world on my behalf…just like I came to the world on my Father’s behalf.”

I’m struck by two things: I am utterly humbled that Jesus would sacrifice himself–that the Son of God would give up everything–in obedience to His Father for the purpose of setting me apart for God. That’s crazy, man. But it’s truth. And it begs the question, what have I given up to follow God? Pride? Agenda? Fear of people?

The other thing that sticks out to me is the idea of sending as a missional activity. So often we only think of going or maybe praying. As if that were the only way to be involved in God’s mission…as if the only way to “sacrifice myself for God” was to go somewhere else to do missionary stuff. But Jesus Himself only came for 33 years…a relatively short mission trip, if you will. And now He is back home sending you, sending me…as if we were all on a lifelong mission trip. Really, we need both. Nobody goes unless they are sent. (Hmmm…I think I’ve heard that somewhere. 🙂 ) So where has God sent you? And who are you sending to further God’s mission?