Read John 19
Highlights:
Christ's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection; His appearance to His disciples.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you (John 20:21).
Quite frequently the Lord used the word “as” in relation to Himself and God. Here, He links His disciples with Himself in His great mission, as My Father hath sent me, even so send I you. Jesus had been commissioned for a great work. He was to pay the sin debt for all of mankind by giving His own life as a substitutionary sacrifice. By this He also set an example of the way we should live. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16).
Christianity has always produced a completely changed way of life wherever it has been accepted and practiced. The supreme purpose of Christ's coming into the world was that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17). This was also the message of Luke, who wrote that Christ came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). In Mark, Jesus said that He came to call sinners to repentance (Mark 2:17). In Matthew, Jesus' words, Come unto me . . . and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28), are spoken. It is clearly made known by all four Gospel writers what was really important. To win the souls of the lost is clearly the mission for which Jesus came. It was these that He was calling to come to Him.
All four Gospel writers tell us that Jesus depends upon us, His disciples, to communicate His redeeming love. His words, even so send I you, are a true expression of evangelism. They never wait for prospects to come to us, but to go to where they are. The Spirit of Christ continues to prompt us today to share the witness of His salvation. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We are His mouthpiece. We are commanded by God to introduce the lost to Christ. Jesus has commissioned all of us to: Go . . . teach all nations . . . to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. He has promised: I am with you alway (Matt. 28:18-20). We are to bring these to Him.
Thought for Today:
Every Christian has a personal world for which he is responsible to tell of God's saving power.
Cross References:
For John 19:24: See Ps. 22:18. John 19:36: See Ex. 12:46; Ps. 34:20. John 19:37: See Zech. 12:10.
Word Studies:
19:1 scourged, whipped with leather cords weighted with sharp pieces of bone or lead; 19:30 It is finished, His physical ministry was complete.
Prayer Suggestion: Confess and forsake your sins that you may receive mercy (Prov. 28:13).
Memory Verse for the Week: Titus 3:3