Today’s devotion is based on the Message: Purpose Revealed (Watch Here)
Sent.
Many of us have been sent to do something.
Your spouse is cooking and missing an ingredient…you are sent to the grocery store.
A family member is arriving at the airport…you are sent to pick them up.
A child is sick at school…you are sent to bring them home.
When someone sends us, they send us with a purpose…even if that purpose is to leave and never come back!
What is ironic about Jesus’ appearance to his disciples the night of the resurrection, is that the focus of his appearing was two-fold. First to show concrete evidence that he was alive and second to send them.
John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
The sending was predicated on the evidence.
They would not go if they were afraid.
They would not go if they were not convinced.
But with those things taken care of, Jesus sent them.
Yes, the disciples who fled in the garden…he sent.
The disciple who denied him…he sent.
The disciple that had cheated people…he sent.
The disciple who was an insurrectionist…he sent.
Why were they qualified?
Because they all had experienced the forgiving grace of God. Jesus didn’t come to reprimand them (although he could have). He came to send them.
To do what?
Forgive sins or withhold forgiveness.
Grounded in understanding and personal experience, they were being sent to warn the sinner of the seriousness of their sin and announce the joy of forgiveness to the one who was grieving because of their sin.
The cry of “It is finished!” from the cross was the assurance that the payment for sin was complete. The resurrection of Jesus was the proof that the payment was accepted.
Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Ones who had experienced the grace of God, Jesus now sent to proclaim the grace of God.
The same is true for us.
Jesus steps into our world to communicate peace, joy and grace. He appears to us to give us peace of mind and then send us to bring peace through forgiveness to others.
Did you know this was your purpose?
After belief in the Lord Jesus as the Son of God, our Savior, the next purpose Jesus gives us is to proclaim his forgiveness to the world.
To whom will you go?
Apply: Think of one person in your sphere of influence who needs Jesus. How might you begin a conversation of forgiveness and grace with them?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your forgiving grace. Help me to confidently share that with others. AMEN.