How fascinating to talk about mission and missionary work, certainly for me it has been a topic of high interest. This article is especially for all those who are actively involved in ministry or to people who are committed to serving the Lord in whatever way possible (Matthew 9:37-38).
The seven sayings on Cross that flow right out of the mouth of the greatest missionary who ever walked on the face of this earth. Missionary Son Jesus sent by the Missionary Father to save the world. We are looking at these seven saying of the Saviour who is on the cross to grapple some life-changing lessons to learn. These words carry a strong pattern of lifestyle for every active Christian missionary.
Calling all those who are called and commissioned with the great commission Mt.28:18-20. Let’s us look into the seven sayings of the Saviour on the cross and derive seven lessons and obligate ourselves not just to be the hearers of the word but to be doers of the word James 1:22.
First Principle: “RELEASE” TO BE RELEASED.
Luke 23: 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Whosoever it may be, forgiving is much difficult than to take revenge. Paul Lewis Boese says, “Forgiveness does not change the past but it does enlarge the future.” Lewis B. Smedes the ethicist and theologian framed his thought, “to forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner (released) is you.” Past in a way can be altered but holding on to the mistakes of the past will surely spoil our present as well as future. To be released and to get rid of the guilty feeling is only possible when we release (forgive) and move on. Unforgiving heart grows root of bitterness, hatred, jealous, envy and so on. We must not forget that our life as a believer began with the strong conviction of assurance of being forgiven (1John1:9; Eph 4:32). The very prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, was to forgive to be forgiven (Mt. 6:12, 14-15; Luke 6:37, 17:4; 2Cor. 2:5-8,10). Imagine if we are not forgiven then how would be our life. Apostle Paul has made this wonderful appeal made to Philemon (Philemon verses12-16) to forgive and accept Onesimus as a fellow worker in Christ. Let’s not serve the Lord without the Lord being involved in. “Only when we forgive, we are forgiven” and only forgiven can testify the God who alone holds the power and authority to forgive sins and release us from the bondage of sin.
Second Principle: “REWARD” RESERVED FOR ALL.
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Everyone likes to be rewarded and the Bible speaks of various crowns and rewards. Apostle Paul calls his church to the hope of the crown that we will have at the coming of Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 2:19). Apostle Peter also speaks of a crown that will never fade away (1 Peter 5:4). Reward reserved for one of the two criminals; v42 requests Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into His kingdom. Jesus’ reply to him is nothing less than a reward assured. The criminal is blessed with this assurance of him being with Christ. All those who acknowledge that Christ alone is the messiah gets this assurance of living life in the presence and providence of God. All those who are called to serve him with loyalty; inheritance of His presence and providence is assured reward. While serving the Lord we may come across various crossroads. Every time, we give up what we feel right, to choose what is right in the sight of God; God’s presence is assured. While on earth we must not forget that one of the most beautiful gifts is freedom of choice. Every choice we make decides the destiny. The God promises us life in abundance (John 10:10). He has placed death and life in front of us to make a choice and based on the choice we have the reward of His precious presence. The criminal made his choice; now a lesson for us to learn that while we serve God, let God be on the top of our priority list. Even Paul made his choice to press on and acknowledges that a certain amount of strict training to win the crown (1 Cor. 9:25). Every right choice we make pushes us closer and closer to God. Let’s continue to hold on to Christ for the assured reward of His presence and providence as long as we are in this world and beyond.
Third Principle: “RESPONSIBLE” TO RESPONSIBILITIES.
John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Here again, a wonderful lesson to learn from Jesus, when Jesus is going back to His Heavenly Father, He simply did not forget the responsibilities that he was counted responsible. He has every good reason to just focus on what He was on the way to accomplish. Rather calls upon His beloved disciple and hand over His mother responsibly. We may be successful in getting responsibilities but not many are good at fulfilling the responsibilities given. Jesus was mindful of the responsibility on him even at the cross. The time of mixed feelings, the pain He physically was going through and the most awaited time of happiness, the time of the inauguration of His kingdom is at hand. No doubt often we want the power but never ready to fulfil the responsibility. We at several occasions act irresponsibly while we are counted responsible of. Let us not take things for granted but Apostle Paul calls all to test their own actions (Gal. 6:4). Anything and everything that we are counted responsible for is not from any human being but is from God. He wants us to be accountable for every small responsibility given. Just got reminded of young David when asked to visit his brother, he hands over the flocks in the care of a shepherd and went ahead (1 Sam 17:17-20). How responsible we behave while serving the Sovereign Lord. As we serve the Lord, let’s be someone on whom God can count upon. Let’s be responsible servant of the supreme God.
Forth Principle: REALLY “REJECTED?”
Matthew 27:46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). & Mark 15:34
Very first thought that popped up while articulating this was, why would the Father forsake His only Son! Well said by Jacob Cherian, a New Testament Scholar, in his recent article DID GOD THE FATHER FORSAKE JESUS ON THE CROSS?, “Wholly submitted to his Father’s will in Gethsemane, Jesus was perfectly assured of his Father’s presence on Golgotha!”[1] Probably this is when Jesus needed His Father to be with Him more than anyone else. This is not what our Heavenly Father promised; His promise is, “not to leave nor to forsake us” (Deut. 31:6, Heb. 13:5). Yes, often we feel like crying out aloud to God and complain why he left us all alone to fight our toughest battles. The truth may not be the way we are looking at the situation and condition. Think of occasions when God was right there but we miserably misunderstood of abandoning in the times of storms (Matt. 8:23-25; Mark 4:35,38; Luke 8:22-25). Someone rightly said, “only tough storms make real sailor.” While serving the Lord there will be times when we may feel that God has left us all alone to fight the battle. We may fail to realize this fact and question God why He left us but the fact is He never leaves us alone. Apostle Paul writing to Timothy wrote, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13; 2 Thess. 3:3). While we go through hard times it is only to make us stronger and to shape us. It is very rightly said by Bruce Milne that “Jesus knew that amid of the unimaginable horror of the physical and mental torture, Jesus retains control. He is conscious that this agony is fulfilling the Father’s plan and bringing it to triumphant conclusion.” Let’s never give space to negative thoughts to overtake and convince us that we are alone at any point of life. Let’s not give up! God never left Jesus alone at cross and nor will He leave us alone at any crossroad. God who never left Adam, who despite of rebellious attitude of Israelites never stopped leading them into the promise land, who loves the world so much so that He gave His Son to die, will He reject you? Let no crisis or failure push us to feel abandoned by God, be still and know that God is just at the reach of one call. When we feel alone ask yourself this question, was Jesus really “rejected”?
Fifth Principle: “READY” TO RAFT THROUGH PAIN.
John 19:28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.
I thirst is a clear evidence of how human Jesus was! It is normal for anyone who have been through all the days trial to thirst. At the natural level a wholly comprehensible cry in view of the dehydration which was a prominent feature in the torture of crucifixion. Without shadowing down the evidence of the fulfillment of the prophecy in Ps. 69: 3, 21. Either way, John wants to make his readers understand that every part of Jesus’ passion was not only in the Father’s plan of redemption but a consequence of the Son’s direct obedience to it. He is on cross thirsting can be also applied to the level of readiness to obey His Father beyond the pain. Are we ready to do what is entrusted to us? This is a reminder for all those called and all those who are committed to serve the Lord as the one who is sent forth to witness. The very truth Jesus was sent into the world was to die for the world. The moment He surrendered His will to fulfill the will of His Father, He knew that His obedience will cost His life. Lesson to learn from the thirst of Jesus on Cross can be understood as being ready to endure pain for the sake of fulling the will of Him who has called us with a high and prestigious calling. Pain should never be a reason to stay away from serving the purpose of life. Jesus learned obedience through suffering, but he was never hesitant to suffer for obedience. Forget not that, times of pain shapes a better person out of us. Apostle Paul regarding who God said he will show him how much he has to suffer for Christ’s name sake (Acts 9:16). Paul also states that it is a pleasure to suffer for His sake (Phil. 1:29), goes even further to say that, “for Christ’s sake, I delight in his weaknesses, his insult, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties (2 Cor. 12:10). If going through tough times and difficulties, experiencing pain, it is a confirmation of we being at right place and are alive. Anything that is alive, has growth and when growth happens, happens pain as a process and proof of growth. Times we go from pain, we will have peace when it is from God. Lesson to hold to without trying to escape through pain rather be “ready” to raft through pain.
Sixth Principle: “RUNNING” TOWARDS THE GOAL.
John 19:30, When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
A shout of accomplishment or completion of a given task. “His response to Father’s will, revealing of the Father’s heart and His redeeming of Father’s world was completed” (Bruce Milne, BST). As an active Christian, Apostle Paul calls us not to siege. Never to quit running the good race, ran in such a way as to get the prize, with eyes set on the goal (Phil. 3:13-16; 1 Cor. 9:24, Gal 5:7). The front-liners, serving in the Lord’s vineyard can we say with the same conviction that what we are called to do, have successful done without any selfish means and self-centeredness. There are many who claim to be serve the Lord. The question that raises is are we working for the pleasure of the Master who called us or to please the people who pays us. While working for the Lord, can we confidently say that I have completed what I am called for. It is waste of God’s time and money to work without any goal. Paul says he don’t run aimlessly (1 Cor. 9:26). It is sin to work without any vision, one must catch a vision before catching a mission. Missionary without a Vision is nothing less than machinery and no more a missionary. The lesson to all who desires to serve the Lord is to set goals and envision the end before starting anything. Shahrukh Khan, Bollywood actor, well said in 2010, India Today Magazine, “All that we do in the name of God, doesn’t necessarily is the will of God. Unless we know why are we working for will never be able to say that “it is finished.” Lesson to learn is to first set the goals right then start running towards the goal.
Seventh Principle: “REMARKABLE RELATIONSHIP” WITH THE FATHER
Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
So simple and clear are the words from the Saviour’s mouth. Jesus committing His soul into the hands of His Father, how wonderful it is to see himself get into the bosom of His Father (John 1:18) right after fulfilling the purpose on earth. Jesus’ life is a witness to how intriguingly He is related to His Father. He speaks nothing else but only what He hears from His Father (John12:49) He does nothing on His own but only what He sees His Father doing (John 5:19), He does not initiate anything but speak what Father has taught Him (John 8:28) He never places His will over His Father’s will (Luke 22:42), the very reason of Jesus walked out of His comfort zone knowing that his obedience will cost nothing less than his life. His Obedience to His Father is nothing but a reflection of the intimate relationship between Father and Son. Friends this may be the last words on the cross but is not the least in terms of the lesson we learn. This extreme level of submission is a clear depiction of Jesus dependency on His Father. Our ministry should be an outcome of a remarkable relationship. Never hesitating to obey and always depending on God with the belief that He is always in control. As Jesus never missed an opportunity to have His “me time” with God so be our interest also (Luke 5:16; Matthew 14:13-36; 15, 16, 17:1-20). Apostle Paul after doing a remarkable ministry expressed to the church in Philippi that he still strongly longs, “to know Christ more.” Yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in His sufferings, like in His death.” (Phil. 3:10; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:23). As Jesus lived a life so much so that He could boldly say that whoever has seen me have seen my Father who sent me. Let’s grow in confidence enough to say the same. When people come in contact with us, they may testify that they have comprehended pop the true image of Jesus in and through us. Lesson to learn is one of the most essential ones long for a deeper and deeper, closer and closer relationship with God without compromising at any point of life. Remark of our ministry depends on our remarkable Relationship with God, just as Jesus has.
Well if we are struggling in any of these above mentioned, then no need to panic. This message is coming to you and me as a reminder to set the thing back in place. Oh! wait a minute if you after reading everything feels that this is not for you then know who is a missionary. Who is a Missionary? Any individual saved in Christ, is a missionary witnessing Christ in and through his words and his works for the Saviour who laid down His life. N.T. Wright, well Said, “Remember your calling to bring God’s light into the world.”
Let’s start implementing these lessons learnt in our day to day life so make our forerunner Jesus feels proud of us. Blessings! Wish you a very meaningful Good Friday.
