Today’s devotion is based on the Message: Purpose Revealed (Watch Here)
Jesus knew he only had 40 days.
What would you do with 40 days if you knew at the end you would be headed to heaven?
You could check your “bucket list” and try to finish things that were on there.
You probably would spend as much time with your family and closest friends.
You would probably make sure your affairs were in order.
There would probably also be things you wouldn’t do.
You probably wouldn’t spend time work a job you weren’t interested in.
You probably wouldn’t spend a ton of time being angry about the past or people from the past.
You probably wouldn’t spend effort on people that had little impact in your life.
What we see in Jesus is a laser focus to do three things with the time he had before he went back to heaven.
- Ensure his closest followers knew with certainty that he was alive.
- Communicate clearly the teachings of the Scripture and his fulfillment of them.
- Convey his trust and confidence on his disciples to carry the mission of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Jesus wanted his disciples to understand with clarity their purpose once he was gone. When he appeared to his disciples, he made six statements of their purpose:
To the disciples in the upper room the evening of the resurrection:
John 20:21 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.”
To Peter personally:
John 21:17 Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
To the disciples:
Luke 24:44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
He was done healing. He was done teaching. Jesus wanted to make sure his followers understood their purpose: Be his witnesses that proclaim the Gospel.
His purpose for his followers hasn’t changed.
Apply: How can you embrace the purpose Jesus gives to be a carrier of the Gospel in your interactions today?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for entrusting me with the powerful message of your grace in the Gospel. Help me to carry and proclaim it with clarity and confidence. AMEN.