Easter Pt. 3: The Mission—Jesus, Me, and the Nations

After the burial of Jesus, we find the disciples back in Jerusalem in doubt that the news they had just received from Mary Magdalene was true.

“I had seen the Lord!”

The only five words the Bible records that were spoken from Mary to the disciples in that moment. What else was there to say? Jesus has risen from the dead, the tomb is empty, and now He stands before Mary!? In the excitement of her voice and spirit and having known and walked with Jesus Himself, how could they have doubted?

Fortunately, Jesus did not come to prove himself. Seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10) was His primary mission as He walked the earth. And as He ascended from this earth He reiterated this mission to His disciples. Saying,

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

                                                                                (Mark 16:15)

This is our mission.

Jesus is calling you and me to GO.

Today is your mission field. He may not be calling you to Africa or India but He is calling you to step into this year, this month, week, day, hour and second with authority over your battles and the mission on your shoulders. Carrying the power of His command through every circumstance, job, and relationship in your life. Declaring truth wherever He leads your step and living a life worthy of your calling (Ephesians 4:1).

The calling is for today for we are not promised tomorrow.

What is Jesus asking of you today? Where is He leading you to share your faith and story?

In the time frame of one day I believe He calls us to live out His purpose. You may be called to go far and hard, but your mission field starts here, today. Just look at the doubtful disciples who are now convinced and excited.

“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere…”

                                                                       (Mark 16:20)

This year God is calling me to be the story. To reflect His Son and walk in His leadership. He’s leading me to GO and preach the good news to everyone. His story is my motivation. His death is my reason. His resurrection is the fire in my heart. And that fire gives me the power to be living my life worthy of His call!

Easter Pt. 2: The Relationship—Jesus and Me

I believe that God calls us to more than just to “know” the story. I believe that He calls us to be the story. To be like Jesus.

The greatest way Jesus was united with His Father was through relationship.

re·la·tion·ship: the state of being connected or related.

Jesus was/is connected. Jesus was/is related. And now His personal call for us is to connect to Him. We are related to Him. John 1:12-13, for we are called His children and we are born of Him! He has called us out, He has marked us, all we have to do is receive His gift of freedom and salvation and pursue Him in righteousness. God makes it easy. He opens the door and gives us the option to either deny or accept the invitation. No force, no bribe. Choice. Two feet in past the door we are His. We are now experiencing Him instead of just knowing of Him. We are persevering because we are not quitters. We are accepted because we no longer reject Him. We are in a relationship with Him. We are linked to His heart and now beat the same heartbeat. What He desires, I desire. What I desire, He gives because He is working for my good and His desire is to satisfy me more each day (Psalm 103:5)!

A different kind of relationship. A friendship with a radical bond. This is intimacy with Love Himself.

"Oh to be like You.

To give all I have just to know You.

Jesus there’s no one besides You.

Forever the Hope in my heart."

Easter Pt. 1: The Story- Jesus.

“…not my will, but Yours be done.” -Matthew 26:39

This short passage says a lot about the character of Christ. Selfless. Simple. Giving. Devoted. Strong, etc. The verse sums up the life of Christ on earth. Fulfilling God’s purpose and completely removing himself out of the way for the plan: God’s gracious yet critical story of the cross. We all know the story. We hear it every Easter and are reminded throughout the rest of the year of what Jesus did for us on the cross. But I feel God is reminding us the significance of His purpose through Jesus. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are all substantial, but it’s not enough to just know the story. God is calling us to see and live the way Jesus did.

We can see Jesus accomplish His purpose throughout the entire Gospel. Healing (Matthew 4:23). Calming the storm (Mark 4:39). Raising the dead (John 11:43-44). Feeding the hungry (Luke 9:16-17). Walking on water (Matthew 14:25). And essentially, conquering death!
“Death has been swallowed up in victory!” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Christ died for our sins, once and for all, to bring us to God (1Peter 3:18). What an obedient and humble move on Christ’s part. In the most perfect way our Father shows us the greatest example of obedience, sacrifice, humility, and most importantly, love. The cross—where humility now rests through the blood shedding event on Calvary. All for sin.

Coming back to the creation of this perfect man we find God Himself in humility. Sending His one Son to be crucified. So that in me and in you He would see Jesus, and pursue us for life.

God forms His son in the womb of a plain woman. Plain to us, but to Him, Mary held a special part of His heart. She was favored in the eyes of God because she was His devoted servant. In the appearance of one angel, Mary believed. And as if believing such news was not enough, she glorified the Lord in song.

From the creation of baby Jesus to the death on the cross, we see God’s plan unfold, not just for Jesus, but for us as well.

To be continued.