When I read through the gospel of John, looking for and paying attention to the verses about Jesus being sent, the theology of sentness gets big and bold and obvious to me. Jesus was clearly sent by God the Father into this world “to seek and to save that which was lost.”
But the statement Jesus makes while praying in the Garden the night before the Cross changes everything for me: “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.” John 17:18
Just as The Father sent Jesus, now Jesus sends us.
According to Jesus Himself:
We are sent like Jesus is sent.
We are on mission like Jesus is on mission.
We are missionaries like Jesus is a missionary.
We are commissioned like Jesus is commissioned.
We are sent. Like Jesus is sent.
This changes everything.
Want proof? Go back to the last chapter and read the words of Jesus about being sent by the Father – only this time, read them realizing that you are sent just like Jesus is sent. Everything said of Jesus being sent now applies to you and to me.
This changes everything big time.
Now sentness is not just something we believe about Jesus.
Now sentness is something we believe about all Christ followers.
Now sentness is something we believe about ourselves.
It is the personal pronouns that change scripture.
John 3:16 is arguably the best known verse in all of scripture:
“For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
When I put myself into that verse, it becomes personal and powerful – and it becomes one of my favorite verses:
“For God so loved Dan Southerland, that he gave His one and only Son, that if Dan Southerland believes in Him, Dan Southerland shall not perish, but Dan Southerland
shall have eternal life.”
Look again at what Jesus prayed to the Father in the Garden:
“Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.” John 17:18
And now personalize that.
“Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending (insert your name here) into the world.” John 17:18
This changes everything.
I am sent.
You are sent.
Every Christ follower is sent.
This is the Trinity’s plan for reaching and redeeming the world.
God the Father sent the Son with the message of salvation.
God the Son now sends us into the world with the same message of salvation.
I am sent.
You are sent.
We are sent.
Every Christ follower is sent.
“The Father set me apart and sent me into the world.” John 10:36
The apostolic mission, the mission of those who are sent by Jesus, stands in continuity with Jesus’ own mission.
I started this book with a story about being sent by my dad to get peanut butter when I was seven years old. I was being tasked. I was being called out. I was being trusted. The future of our lunch was in my hands!
I end this book with this challenge. Our Father has sent us out. We have been tasked. We have been called out. We have been trusted. The future of the church is in our hands!